November 17, 2008

Melanie has updated on the month I kind of missed, October 2008. When I say missed people could see me, my eyes were open, but 5 minutes later I could not tell you were there or what was said. It’s a pretty scary feeling and to go through it for 18 days you do wonder if that’s just the way it’s going to be because if it was some decisions needed to be made. But constant patience from loving life Melanie, Reassurance from one of our best friends Robin Juhren and the passionate spirituality of my sister-in-law Dee who were all my “sitters’ I finally “came back!”. Trust, faith, and prayer – good things to pass some time away.
I thought I’d end this part of the year with the beginning of this year.

New Year’s Day; January 1, 2008
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly!

As my precious 5 year old nephew, Prescott, would say, “Happy New Year Everybody!” Most of us get to the end of a year and think “I’m glad that year’s over!” Every day, every month and every year our lives are filled with good things, bad things and ugly things. How we deal with each one of these is the secret to a full and blessed life.

January 13, 2008     

My 54th birthday

February

Went to Vegas for 10 days; meeting with 2 groups MDA and ALSTDI as we are seeing if it’s feasible to have a charity golf tournament in my name in Las Vegas.

March
Shawn, my sister, Alex, my brother-in-law, Prescott, my 5 year old nephew and Aubree, my 10 month old goddaughter came and visited for Easter. March Madness was as good as ever. DR. Silver became my new pulmonologist so I don’t have to always drive to Portland. I like him, he’s smart, he has a wealth of information and he spends quality time with you. On March 26th Melanie and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary; I had something designed that has been in mind for over 10 years.

April
As always the second week of April kicks off golf with the Masters. Congratulations Trevor Immelman, your life has change. Dana Londin, our Club’s head pro had planned a special event to kick off May, which is ALS Awareness Month. H had 10 of the top local PGA pros compete in a 9 hole shootout and the pros procured “pledges” from their members. We raised $23,601.00, an unbelievable amount and that’s when I thought of the Spotlight Person of the month because Dana did as good as job as anybody could possibly do on this event.

May                      
Sometimes you really get surprised in life and this is one of those times. May is ALS Awareness Month. National MDA picks 31 people (one per day) as “their day” for fighting through the disease and helping in some way to help spread the Awareness of ALS. I had just been honored to be named MDA-ALS Research Spokesperson for the State of Oregon for my fundraising efforts that were starting to get some media coverage. I was honored and proud to have May 13, 2008 proclaimed Jim Culveyhouse Day forever.

June                           
It took a lot of years but while we were in New York for the US Tennis Open I saw the neatest fountain. I grabbed a couple of napkins and copied it in small scale on the napkin. I found a great guy here in Salem through a mutual friend who was willing to take it on. He did a great job and it is an exact small replica of the one in New York City.

July
I thought I wrote one of my best updates that month. All these are on the website www.jimculveyhouse.com’ It was called Body, Heart and Soul. My body was deteriorating, my heart was broken as I couldn’t play golf anymore, but the one thing ALS could never take from me was my soul. Our best man and my old running buddy JT, Jim Terry, from Atlanta stopped for a day in between some business in Seattle and a late flight. It was great to see him and we had a nice talk.

August
Met with everyone we needed to; Sarah will go to South Salem High School and Pari to Sprague High School. Melanie had her 54th birthday on the 18th. Please go to Past Updates at the bottom of Jim’s updates page and read the tribute I wrote for Melanie, people have no idea how good she’s been for me for the past 25+ years and here she is again being ask to sacrifice everything for a dying husband, This lady is something, I lucked out big time in world of romance.

September 
Did the US really win the Ryder Cup? And by that much? I still must be dreaming. My beloved Dodgers made a pretty good run and if they wouldn’t have gotten Manny in the best trade for one team I’ve ever heard of since Babe Ruth. I received a brace to strengthen my right leg, that matches my left leg.

October
On the 3rd I received the most memorable thing, next to my darling wife; I’ve ever received that is on the front page. A day’s tribute with an award that will be presented every year to someone who portrays what I tried to the game of golf and that’s the spirit of the game. (Please refer to the front page.
October 6th I was rushed to the hospital (see Melanie’s update) and returned home on October 23rd.

Lots of ups and downs, but I honestly feel like the luckiest man on the earth.
The more you give you get twice more in return.