Monday's Heroine

I have talked about MaryAnn Kohl before but she has grown even more in my estimation than ever. Over 2 months ago she had a cold and missed church. I called her because I was worried about her. She could hardly talk to me and at the time could barely walk because her left leg hurt so badly and her right arm was in agony. Finally their home teacher convinced them that she should go and see the DR. The next day she was admitted to the hospital with a blood sugar level of over 600 and a bone infection in her shoulder. They hoped it was because of her gall bladder so the next day she went in for emergency gall bladder surgery. That didn't work so 2 days later they went in and operated on her shoulder. It was incredibly infected. They thought they got it all but less than two weeks later they were back in digging around again and found more infected tissue. She had an IV going straight to her heart and they thought they had it that time but then she started running a fever again. This time when they went in they realized that the infection was in her bone. MaryAnn has never had anything more invasive done to her body than deliver her 8 children. Now - in less then 2 months - she has had over 6 surgeries. Friday they removed infected bone and today they are going back and seeing if their work is done. She is at the Lahey Clinic in Boston and hopefully this is truly where she starts on the road to recovery. The reconstructive surgery will happen later. MaryAnn is upbeat and very positive as she goes through all of this. She is still her amazing - wonderful self. Since we have moved here she has been there for us in so many ways. We have enjoyed the ride up to the temple with them every other week. I was in the RS Presidency with MaryAnn. When Pam and Chris needed a place to stay with Bo - the Kohl's opened their home for them. The Kohl's are not like that just for us - they are like that for everyone. They are truly the most Christlike people I have ever had the privilege of being associated with.