One of the best parts of being a columnist is the feedback that finds its way to me. Frequently, I will hear from someone who has read a column and has something to say about it. A recent entry, “Fathers: Looking Back . . . Looking Forward,” brought one of the more remarkable comments.
More than thirty years ago, our office hired an excellent cardiac care nurse, Donna Althoff. She had been an experienced nurse in the Roanoke Memorial CCU so we knew her qualifications were beyond question. What none of us knew was how entwined our lives would become. She and her husband, Bill, a Roanoke policeman, had recently had a child. When the baby, a little boy arrived, joyful anticipation turned to heart-wrenching anxiety: Thomas was born with transposition of the great vessels of his heart. The life expectancy of such children is measured in months. Donna and Bill took him to the MCV where, at age 1, he had a procedure to partially correct the problem. He survived the surgery, grew stronger and at age 8 had a Fontan procedure, an operation to correct the malady. In those days it was a tremendously risky proposition, but it offered the only chance to approach a normal life. The surgery was performed at the Mayo Clinic under the watchful eye of Dr. Gordon Danielson, an international superstar in such realms. It went well and after a few years, Thomas could keep up with his peers.
His parents, both consummate professionals, went through all of that with a clamped-jaw determination and faith that all would be well. Not once did I ever hear a complaint about their difficulties or see any sign that they were discouraged. Donna advanced to head nurse in our office and Bill, rose from patrolman to Captain in Roanoke’s Finest.
Thomas and his younger brother, Daniel, continued their growth and my memories of family trials faded as decades passed. When retirement came for Bill, they moved to North Myrtle Beach and I enjoyed the Christmas cards that regularly arrived with tidbits of family information.
When I wrote my fathers day article, I wondered what, if any, responsive chord it might strike in those who read it. When I returned from a trip, I found an e-mail from Donna. Thomas, now 31, had seen the article and sent it to his parents. He and Heather now have a baby girl of their own. Her name is Kayden. It was wonderful to hear from them and catch up of all that has happened.
Thomas is manager of The Westlake Cinema and settling well into fatherhood. Donna commented as we recently chatted that when she watches Thomas holding his baby she sees a side of him that she had not known. That happens to a lot of young parents, of that I am certain.
To hear that he continues to prosper was reward enough, but it gave me a moment to reflect on what the Althoff family, and those like them, have endured. In times where Thomas’ life hung in the balance, I wondered if I would have the strength his parents showed if one of my girls were in a similar situation. One never knows what reaction one might have to such stress. I like to think that I would have found the grace and strength they did; I’m certainly not sure that would be the case.
Through it all, the Althoff’s have had an amazing faith in God and felt that was the sustaining force for them. Today, that belief is as strong as it was in those times so long ago.
Although I tend to put great stock in my personal strength to deal with whatever life may deliver, I find it hard to believe that those without an Invisible means of support could do as well.
Donna and her family are well settled; Bill in his retirement, but Donna still works in a cardiology office. Through the years I shared many patients with cardiologists in the Myrtle Beach Hospital. Should you have a cardiac problem while visiting there, you should count yourself very lucky if she were involved in your care. Just as Thomas and Daniel can testify, you couldn’t be in better hands.
By Hayden Hollinsworth [email protected]
