Thankfullness

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My dear readers,
Life has its surprises. At around 5 p.m. on Friday, towards the end of a routine day that included such dull tasks as going to the grocery store, the hardware store and a stop by our local Indian buffet, Kelly suddenly felt one of her legs go numb. Thankfully she had the good sense to know that she needed to get to the emergency room. By 9 p.m. she was being prepped for open heart surgery. She pulled through the surgery and her prognosis is good, but she is in incredible pain and is still in the hospital. We think this is a congenital condition and we had no warning. The doctors, nurses and staff of Kaiser Sunset saved her life.

Obviously we’re going to put this blog and podcast on hold for a bit while Kelly recovers, which will take many weeks. It’s a cliche, but your thoughts and prayers are greatly appreciated. And please promise me that if you ever experience chest pain, numbness in a limb or any other unusual symptom, you will call 911 immediately.

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102 Comments

  1. You are both in our thoughts. Please tell Kelly that RF and I are wishing for a speedy recovery, and relief from the pain very soon. Not the kind of surprise one hopes to encounter at any time of the year. MW

  2. Sending you healing thoughts and prayers, and calming images from my home to yours – of frosty grass, fuzzy goats and fluffed up chickens. If I could bottle the scent of wet leaves and pine needles, I’d send that, too, to make the hospital stay more bearable.
    Here’s to a wonderful medical team, may they continue to help Kelly recover!

  3. Praying for a speedy recovery and for patience during this time of rest and healing. So glad to hear that Kaiser was able to work swiftly and that you got such quick medical attention!

  5. Thank goodness she got to the hospital in time. Praying for a swift recovery and really good pain meds until she no longer needs them. This is a huge thing and I hope you get nothing but peace and quiet as Kelly’s recovery progresses. She really dodged a bullet.

  9. Wishing Kelly a speedy recovery and lots of pain-reducing drugs! That must have been very scary. So glad it turned out well and you are in good hands.

  10. So very scary, for both of you. Hugs and prayers from everyone here. What a blessing it is to have such marvelous medicine available.

  11. You are both in my thoughts. Take your time, do what you need to do. We will all be here when you get back.

  19. Praying for you both. Was going to post a comment hoping your Mom was okay — when Saturday post (my favorite) didn’t appear. Wish I was closer to help with the chickens, etc.

  20. I am sending you both good energy, blessings and prayers from here in the High Desert. You will be in my prayers everyday and I am sending the best of wishes to Kelly for a speedy recovery. Take care of yourself too, Erik. Please keep us informed. We are all here for you.
    Namasté

  21. HOLY WOW. Sending all good vibes to you both from The Mitten. Rest up and I hope Kelly is on the mend soon!

  26. My thoughts and prayers are with you in this difficult time.

    I’ve enjoyed your website and all it has to offer for years now.
    Thank you for all the hard work.

    I wish you the best in facing all the challenges that will come your way.

  28. Dear Eric and Kelly,
    That’s a shock indeed. I guess you never know what lies ahead in a day.

    I’m thankful that Kelly got such timely and skilled care, and I hope she’s feeling better soon. I’ll be thinking of both of you (which feels a bit weird to say to people I’ve only “met” through blog&podcast, but that’s the modern world for you I guess!).

    -bec

  30. Praying for complete and quick healing.

    Thank you for the work you do to educate and inform and inspire. My life is different because of yours.

  31. Best wishes for a speedy recovery for Kelly and thank you for all your sharing on the blog and I know all of us are grateful to you for your research and work. Please take care of the important stuff and come back when you can.

  32. wow. just. stunned. you two are such amazing people for so very many reasons. for everything that your hearts have done for all of us, may it now, more than ever, come back to you a thousandfold.
    and…
    on a practical note, there will clearly be medical bills. you have an audience. we are listening. we love you. so don’t be shy.
    meantime. just love. lots and lots.
    P

  33. Thinking of you both and wishing you a speedy recovery Kelly. Thank you so much for creating the wonderful resource that is your website and the community that surrounds it. And thank you for the reminder that life is precious and not to take any of it for granted.

  34. Of all the people that you would “expect” to have to be rushed into open heart surgery, Kelly would be near the last on my list. Which, goes to show how important it is to pay attention to any symptoms and take them seriously. I’m so glad you guys acted quickly.

    Heal quickly, Kelly! You’ll be in my thoughts daily!

  37. Kelly and Erik, I will hold you both in my thoughts as you navigate this scary and unexpected new situation. I am thankful that Kelly reacted quickly to her symptoms, and for good medical care, and wish her a full recovery.

  38. Many, many thoughts and prayers being sent your way. May Kelly be back at the Root Simple Compound, well and healed, soon. Caregivers need to take care of themselves, as well, and that’s important for you, Erik.

  39. What a shock! So glad going to the hospital happened quickly. I’ll be thinking good thoughts for a quick recovery!

  41. I’m thinking of you here in Michigan. You are both beautiful souls whose work has touched many. Thank you for that, and please heal well and quickly, Kelly.

  43. My sincerest wishes for a speedy recovery for Kelly. You are both in my thoughts, and, Eric, take extra good care of yourself during this trying time.

  46. Kelly – You’ve inspired me and lifted my spirits many a morning here in my drab cubicle. I imagine that hundreds of others have been like me – never responding, so giving you no indication of how you’ve helped, but being helped by you nonetheless. Thank you!

    Now focus on yourself. We’ll think our best thoughts your way and we’ll be here when you get back.

  49. Like many others, I’ve come to regard this blog as a trusted resource, and always appreciate the candor, open-mindedness, curiosity, humor, and deep research behind what you both post!
    All our best thoughts go out to you! Please take the time you need. We’re wishing you the best recovery possible!

  50. So glad that she received the care she needed. You both are in my prayers. Best wishes for her recovery.

  51. Wow, shocked to hear this 🙁

    Kelly, you and Eric have made Root Simple an integral part of our lives, especially for those of us living in LA. Wishing you a speedy recovery and sending you healing thoughts. Hope you’ll be home soon!

    Maggie

  52. You guys are a light in my world. Sending you guys encouragement and thoughts of strength, so grateful that Kelly got to to the hospital.

  53. Best wishes for a speedy recovery Kelly! Eric, please take care of yourself too, being a caretaker is a very difficult job. And you have the love and support of your readers. And thank you to the medical staff for their healing hands!

  54. I am thinking of you both from here in NYC. What a shock to read and I am so happy Kelly got good care right away. I will play a Cat Stevens record tonight and send healing vibes out to California.

  55. So scary! Sending healing thoughts northward from S.D. county. Know that we are all rooting for a speedy recovery.

  57. Sending healing thoughts to you both. Godspeed recovery to Kelly and strength to you! Your blog is one of my blessed bright spots and has been followed for many years. Thank you for all you do, Nancy

  59. Sending thoughts your way from Pennsylvania and prayers for a speedy recovery for Kelly and strength for all the caretakers.

  60. I am a long time reader and listener, sending all of the get well vibes and cat cuddles I can!
    Take care of yourself too, Erik

  61. dear Erik and Kelly,

    Thank you for sharing this story with us.

    May you both have a complete recovery, and know that however long it takes, we will still be here.

    You are LOVED LOVED LOVED!

  63. Oh, I am so sorry to hear this. What a shock! Relieved that Kelly is okay and wishing her a smooth and speedy recovery. Both of you will be in my thoughts.

    Thank you for all that you do. I have found so much inspiration here through the years, and always, always appreciate your thoughtful and illuminating posts–they are among my favorites in all of the blogosphere. We will definitely miss you in your absence, but take the time you need to heal and process all of this. Sending you lots of love and healing wishes from the Pacific Northwest!

  67. Glad to hear that Kelly was able to be treated quickly. I will be missing and thinking of you both while the blog and podcast are in hiatus. Best wishes and hopes during her recovery!

  69. Thoughts and prayers from the rainy NW! So glad Kelly pulled through the initial crisis, and please gods, let it be smooth sailing from here.

  70. May the health you’ve shared over the years be returned. May the love you have for this earth enfold you and keep you safe. I grew up in Los Angeles and moved far away but your website keeps me close. Be well

  75. Monday Nov. 21, 2016 was a warm beautiful day and my sister Velma and her daughter Julie decided to spend the day together and clean up her yard and get last minute things done before Thanksgiving. About 3:00 PM they finished and my sister Velma went into the house to set down and wait for her granddaughter Melody to come home from school. Julie lived next door and the bus would stop in front of their homes. It was lucky that Melody her granddaughter went home first instead of grandma’s as my sister sat in her chair and fell asleep and had a massive heart attack and passed away. She did not know what happened. Please cherish friends and family and always take every symptom and pain seriously. You are so blessed to have caught Kelly’s in time. I will say prayers until you get well. Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery.

  77. While I only know the two of you through your podcast and blog, both of which have been valuable and thought-provoking to me over the years, I feel like you’re my own neighbors and send much support and love to you by way of this wild Internet. I’m passing along Kelly’s story to my friends and family in the hope that they, too will take unusual symptoms seriously and get help right away. Get well soon!!!

  78. Best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery, Kelly! We’re all so very glad you got excellent and immediate medical care.
    Thank you both for letting all of us know that even odd symptoms could be far more serious than they appear. You may save even more lives.

  79. Having read your books, listened to your podcasts, and visited your blog almost daily for the last 3 years or so, I was unprepared for this news and it hit me as though it was from close friends. I’m thinking about both of you and sending good thoughts. For all the good you both do in this world, we need you now more than ever. Mend quickly, Kelly!

  80. As a former LABB member, I will bake healing thoughts, wishes and prayers into my next sourdough loaf, and send them wafting down with the scent and my gratitude from Vancouver to LA. Please get well soon, Kelly!

  81. We ask God for a quick and complete recovery for you, Kelly. Thank you for sharing your compassionate selves with us over the years. Rest up, take your time getting back to blogging and podcasting. Your health and time with eachother is more important.

  82. Thinking of you both and thankful you have a good prognosis. How frightened you must have been. May you have a peaceful recovery free of pain.

  83. Shocked and saddened by the news. Wishing Kelly all the love & care in the world, and great strength to Erik. If anyone deserves to live a happy, healthy, and long life – right up until the Zombie Apocalypse- it’s you guys.

    Though im not religious by any means, there will be a candle lit tonight in dark, icy Holland. Get well.

  84. This was a very shocking post, and I’m so glad that Kelly is ok. For two people I’ve never met in person, you have both influenced many parts of my life, through this little corner of the web and your books. Lots of gratitude and healing thoughts to both of you from up here in NorCal; I’ll light a candle for you tonight! Take care.

  85. What a shock. Best to you both. I live up in the Valley; if there is anything I or other locals can do, please put a note on your site.

  92. Stay strong Erik. WE are all channeling positive thoughts and prayers for a complete and speedy recovery for Kelly.

  94. I just visited here to look again at how to make the caledlndula oil for my healing wounds.

    My loving energy goes out to you both and wishing a restorative recovery.

    Mark, Auckland, New Zealand

  95. So sorry to hear this. Hope you are better soon, Kelly! I also wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for your blog, which has been my favorite for years. Your writing is a gift to all of us!

  99. I’ve followed your work for so long that I’ve come to think of you both as friends, and found instant tears in my eyes when I read about Kelly’s surgery. You’ll both be in my thoughts as I go about all of the garden and household tasks I know we all share, and I’ll do them with an extra measure of love and appreciation. Kelly, heal fast and well and know that you’re surrounded by the love and good thoughts of friends — even those of us you haven’t met yet.

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