Lynda Carman Wilson

Donations can be made to Mission Hills Church. The Story of Lynda's Miracle... Written by her sister and friend, with Love. Lynda Joanne Carman-Wilson lived a miracle for Seventy years. Born January 8, 1936, to Dr. J. Lyndon and Genevieve Druehl, in the old St. Luke's Hospital, Denver, it was discovered at age two by her doctors that the Patent Valve in her heart had not closed at birth as it was supposed to do, thereby causing a leakage... Her life-time was cut short; her days were numbered, "She will be lucky to live into her teens." Her parents were divestated; they had waited ten years to have this, their first child. Precious Lynda did not seem sick constantly being on-the-move, not to hold still like other ":normal" children her age. She was not a normal child for if she overdid, her lips turned blue...from lack of oxogyen to her heart. There were about seven other "Blue-Baby children at that time in the Denver area under the medical help of Children's Hospital. Due to their unique health issues, these children and their parents would meet together several times a month, and the children became friends. Lynda's mother, Genevieve, was told "to keep Lynda quiet.." Well, that was almost impoossible. However, with the assistance of their long-time housekeeper, Virginia, in their lovely Hilltop home, Lynda was partially kept physically restrained with quiet "busydesk and art work," She was a natural-born "Tom Boy," and she preferred to roll on the ground, toss and kick the ball, pull her little red wagon, and run everywhere... Another daughter was born in the family, Gretchen Dianne, when Lynda was Three and a-half; Lynda was the proverbial "big sister" and took care of her baby sister everywhere she would go-- that roll would reverse as Lynda got older. Gretchen can still remember vividly her big sister peeking over her crib when she was very young with those big blue eyes and her blond hair tied with a bow.... Even before the girls got to school age, Gretchen was told "to watch after your sister, and if her lips turn blue, call Mommie or the nurse right away.." School learning was difficult for Lynda, who actually had ADD and mild dyslexia, which was never diagnosed then, but later explained her "constant motion." As her early years passed, Lynda remained seemingly healthy, yet had several "lack of O2 bouts," when she'd have to go to the hospital.. Sadly, several of the other Denver Blue-baby children died. Also sadly, when Lynda was nine, Gretchen six, their parents divorced. Genevieve opted to move to California, and Lyndon married Barbara Sievers..and the girls gained a cute little blond brother, Rick. The girls moved with their mother, but visited Summers' their Dad... One of the major reason for the move to Southern California was so Lynda could become a patient of Dr. John C. Johns, who had developed a method to close that patent valve in a child's heart by bending the patient over head to feet, to enter the heart cavity through the back... However, the surgery was still new. When Lynda visited this fine doctor, he was amazed at how healthy she was. He urged her mother to wait until she was twelve, and her heart large enough to survive the surgery... That meant trying to keep "the little imp" as quiet as possible so her lips wouldn't turn blue.. The lower altitude helped; however, Lynda continued with her love of sports: archery, tether ball, baseball, riding her bike up and down the hills of Hollywood Riviera near Palos Verdes Estates, and riding horses in the Summers in Colorado. She would just not hold stillto do nothing..to be quiet and restrained. Remarkably, that may have been the very reason she was still alive, as was only one other Denver Blue-Baby at this point. The time came for Lynda to have her heart surgery; the event this family had hoped for that would save this remarkable child's life. She entered Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles, and bravely told her mother, sister and doctor, to hurry up the surgery because she wanted to hear the World Series...! Her family knew the danger of the delicate operation, but with faith in God and Dr. Jones, they proceded. Her mother and sister were in the Chapel of the Hospital waiting, praying; her father in Denver, was very, very nervous, almost unable to get through his normal day as an Orthodontist.. Five hours into the surgery, Genevieve, who was at the alter-rail praying, looked up with horror suddenly to tell Nine year old, Gretchen, " something is wrong.. Oh, my God, something is wrong with Lynda.. We must pray more... go and light eight candles right now, hurry!", she told her youngest daughter.. Gretchen ran to the back of the small Episcopal chapel and did just that... praying all the while for Jesus to take care of her precious sister.. Another hour passed... finally the surgeon found them, still in the chapel, to explain that Lynda had lived though the surgery, and should be all right..adding, "It was touch and go there for a while.." Genevieve's eyes widened through her tears of relief; she asked the doctor, "What happened more than an hour ago?" Dr. Jones explained, " as we were closing, her heart stopped for over three minutes,, and then just as suddenly, it started again. We thought we'd lost her, but obviously, God had other plans in store for her." The doctor also added how amazed he was that Lynda's heart was not enlarged almost at all, nor damaged.. .Gretchen then asked her mother why she had asked her to light eight candles in the church. Her mother told her, "Well, eight is the number of a Novena, and long ago, the Maccabees kept eight candles burning in the Temple with no oil, and God performed a miracle. I thought maybe God would perform a miracle for Lynda as well." Dr. Johns then encircled Genevieve and Gretchen with his arms, giving them a hug; they shared a silent moment of unity and joy. Then he said, "Well, there was a miracle, and Lynda may just live a long, happy, healthy life!" And she DID! A year later she went back to Denver to live with her Father, Barbara and her "little" brother, Rick. There she was able to do all the things she'd never been able to do, like riding horses for real - racing, jumping, even riding the barrel races in the National Western Stock Show. Horses became a special love for her..(except cleaning out the stable..) With her 1947 Ford, she wheeled around South Denver with her friends, even sneaking a few into the Drive-In Movie theatres.. She was having a wonderful time living in Dad's Cherry Hills home and visiting her Grandma & Grandpa Carman, who lived on the Greenwood Village farm, where she'd ride those horses a whole lot.. Sometime during that time, the final Denver Blue Baby died at age 17. "Pinky" had been her friend; her family never could afford the $20, 000 surgery that saved Lynda's life.. After she graduated from South High School, the following Fall she attended college at C.U. Boulder, pledging Alpha Omicron Pi (AOPi)...and she met a very handsome, dark haired fellow, named Bill, who aspired to be a police officer... She forgot about college, returned to Denver and got married... They had two healthy, beautiful little girls: Nancy and Barbie...lived on the farm in Greenwood Village, raising children and horses, and were married 25 years. Being a Mom was a full-time project for her, except she was learning a new craft...which later became her career. Printing! She dabbled in it, her creative and strong mechanical skills were highly challenged. She bought a press and worked in the basement out of her home printing everything from stationery, to flyers, and then advertising pieces for family, friends, and customers! That mild dyslexia rose up and smacked her sometimes here; like her mother, she would do some things backwards... and would have to re-do her printing job. She adjusted to become more and more proficient in printing. After her divorce and the girls were older, she went to work at Arapahoe Community College as a printer! She still made those magical Candy Houses at Christmas, as her desire to be artistic with her hands was a must. Her daughter, Nancy, now married with four children was a talented quilter, and so, Grandma Lynda became interested in quilting as well....and loved it. So she quilted and worked. Her job was hard on the body, standing for hours; she retired after twenty years at the College. Another major change occured in Lynda's life about thirty years ago..: She and her family began attending nearby Mission Hills Baptist. Having been raised an Episcopalian, that Church was a big change for her. However, it changed her life then and for Eternity... There she found a personal relationship with the Lord, Jesus Christ, and a spiritual mentor in Pastor Chuck VerStratten. And, she found wonderful friendships with beautiful Christian people, whom she cherished. Lynda was still a member of Mission Hills Church at the time of her death. Lynda had a wonderful sense of humor, and spoke her mind: sometimes gently, sometimes not.. Her sparkling bright blue eyes illuminated her entire face; her laugh was electric. She could be kind or stoic; willing or stubborn; whatever, she was totally ALIVE and vital in whatever she did: seeking, finding, serving the Lord. She remained that proverbial child in many ways, loving cartoons, which she watched Saturday mornings, and play "Mario" "Pac Man" and a myriad of other computer games... and no one was to interrupt her then..! Lynda also loved to attend Bible Class, to study "The Word" diligently, and the history of it. She loved music, all different kinds from Classical to Christian. Throughout her life she was constantly in motion whether it was being with her children or grandchildren, driving hither and yon on a million errands, or being with other family and friends, or partaking in church functions. She was friend to many, reaching out to help wherever she could, and felt it essential to try and lead others to the Lord. A wonderful mother, sister, and friend, she will be missed. Lynda J. Carman-Wilson, was a uniquely beautiful person, who most certainly will inhabit one of "mansions" of the Lord. For those Seventy years she was a walking, moving miracle.. I have no doubt that very soon she will be husseling around still doing the Lord's Work! Saturday, February 11, 2006....late in the evening. My Dear Friends and Family, might I share with you something special.... I went into Lynda's room at the hospice last night to kiss her and say "Good-Night" as I have for several weeks now. It was only 9:30, and she was deep in sleep -- too deep. Her evening Meds/pain pills et al, had not yet been given her. When I kissed her forehead, and squeezed her hand, there was no response; she was deep in her slumber. I knew this was not good news... After a while, and talking with the Nurses--some who had become special friends the past few weeks--(These hospice workers are incredibly kind...) I whispered "Good-Bye" to my sister, squeezing her hand again; her eyes moved, the faintest motion responded in my hand....and I left. When I got home I worked on E-Mails, played a computer game, watched T.V., ate some Pop-Corn, and felt incredibly numb. Finally I succumbed to the sobs which overtook me, and I lay in bed crying and entranced for hours, having mince-pie thoughts of my sweet sister and I as young children, of our riding horses in the mountains with our father and brother, of seeing our dear mother sewing for us, reading to us... and I also recalled how very ill Lynda had seemed last April at my son, David's surprise 40th Birthday...she could only sit without pain, not stand...and how I asked her if she'd gone to a different doctor, and she shrugged it off, to say, "No.." Dawn overtook the night, and finally at 7:00 I feel asleep, to be wakened at 9:30 by a friend calling, wanting to know if all was well. Several friends and family called to check in with me. I could not go back to sleep, so disquieted was I. I literally walked around my house to do nothing, until past Noon, I realized I needed a nap. I could not sleep; I could only grieve for my sister, Lynda...who had not died yet. The phone rang again; it was my friend with whom I was going to dinner and the Symphony; he was going to pick me up at 5:30. I showered, put on my make-up (which seems to take longer and longer these days) and dressed.. I was ready an hour and a-half early..Impossible for me! Deciding to call the hospice, I went into my office, I asked to be connected to Lynda's room: 505. My grand-nephew, Adam, told me "she doesn't seem to be breathing too well right now..but, I think she knows we're here.." I hung up, realizing I needed to go see my sister right now.. When I arrived Adam and Nancy, her daughter were leaving....and I did not dissuade them after glancing at Lynda's face. The masque was on her; her time had come... Two Christian friends of Lynda's were there as well. My niece left, and I was glad for her sake... I proceeded to pray for my sister with these sisters in Christ. Her breathing was labored and slow; no response from her nor recognition of anything. I washed her feet and legs with her Lavender cream; she moved slightly, and her mouth seemed to smile very slightly... The 23rd, 27th, and 44th Psalms were read, and The Lord's Prayer. I recited part of the Episcopal Communion Service to her from memory, which at one time, she knew well, to sign her forehead with the Cross, in the Name of the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit. I was so disquieted and almost overwhelmed with grief...yet in control. I wanted to pray more for her, and started to say something I wanted to say; however, my words did not come out of my mouth. Instead, I was gifted with Tongues, and the Power of the Holy Spirit took over my being and words for several seconds; I could not stop the seemingly jumbled syllables from being uttered; I couldn't translate what was being said. Then silence; I kneeled down to take my sister's hand and sobbed... then a quiet peacefulness came over me... I stood up, and decided I would leave as I knew I would be late to meet my friend. It was 5:10 in the afternoon. I hugged the two women, put on my coat, kissed my sister, and left. I only got to the front door; the young black woman who had been praying with us, yelled out to me, "Hurry, she is going...Come back..." I got to Lynda's side, grabbed her hand, and noticed she had stopped breathing. I called out to tell her I was there, and touched her forehead. She gasped, to breath again, her eyes flickered, and as suddenly, there was no more breathe in her... Again, I washed her feet, her legs, her hands, her face, to take her in my arms one more time. We called in the nurse, and I left in peace, just as Lynda had left in peace, suffering no more.. I met my friend, we had dinner in near silence...a few Margaritas, which definitely helped me at that point. Boettcher Concert Hall was almost filled to capacity; we sat in Second Row Orchestra seats, some place Lynda loved to sit... and she would have loved the Concert: Music of Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Phantom of the Opera and more.. It was beautiful. The two hours passed quickly for us; I was not sad anymore...even when thinking of Lynda as familiar, cherished melodies were played. I was amazed at myself. Driving home, I told my friend about how I spoke in Tongues at her bedside. He asked me, "What do you think God was saying..?" I thought quietly for a few minutes to realize the translation: Tongues had come to me before when I was praying with someone dying I had loved. Of course, now it was clear to me! The Lord was merely telling me, and Lynda, that the power of the Holy Spirit was right there....that The Lord was right there with us, with Lynda, and for us to be not afraid, and to be at Peace...as He was in charge...! Right in my car, weaving through the heavy after-concert traffic, I was in-filled with the same intense feeling of Peace as I had been when praying beside Lynda's bed. God's Word, His truth had become real.... I am not crying nor sad; I am comforted and at Peace as I write this to all of you I so love, of one I so loved. Thank you for your concerns and prayers for my sister, Lynda. They did not go unheard. We will bury her Thursday to have then a joyous Memorial Service for her at Mission Hills Church...a place she so loved. She had earlier asked me to sing, "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus," and believe it..."The Battle Hymn of the Republic." And that I will do, with no sorrow.. 'Mine eyes have seen the Coming of the Glory of the Lord.... Glory, Glory, Hallelujah; His Truth is marching on'.......! Lynda, precious to me and so many, 'Good Night; sleep tight. As you dream, dream of me, tonight'.. I love you, Your sister forever.. gretchen A joyful will be held at Mission Hills Church, 5839 South University Boulevard, Greenwood Village.