Leave it up to my son, Jamie, to remember yet another anniversary.

Last Monday [Feb. 18] was the sixth anniversary of his last hospitalization, one of which changed his life forever he feels. And, it did.

It was then that he got diagnosed with severe sleep apnea as well as congestive heart failure. He spent eight days at Wayne Hospital [what it was still being called at the time] and was on oxygen 24/7 for several weeks afterwards, before doctors said he could just keep it on him at night with his C-Pap machine.

Jamie, in all of his infinite wisdom, looks at his experience as a life-saver, which it was. The year before the diagnosis, he had gained a lot of weight, and a year after his hospitalization, he dropped 120-pounds plus by watching what he ate as well as his intake of more water instead of soft drinks. I am proud of him…sticking to a plan such as that.

It’s a hard thing to do, and we’re not always faithful to the diet, but we know we have to do what we have to do sometimes. He doesn’t want to get sick like that again and neither do I. This mother doesn’t like to see her child hurt or ill.

Even though it was an eye-opener for both of us, that last hospitalization had some good effects on us, especially by having the opportunity to meet Tim Bang, who made a great roommate for Jamie during that time.

Tim and Jamie got along well, and I knew I could leave Jamie for a short while to get some things done at home, at the store and at work with Tim there to look over him.

The doctors and nursing staff were great, too, and sometimes we now run into some of those people. The women usually get a hug from Jamie. He’s good at that. I can’t take him anywhere without him hugging a woman or two.

Sleep apnea is not a good thing to have, but it has been an experience for us. We have to do what we do because we know we need to take care of ourselves as well as each other.

•••••

Don’t forget:

• The next regular fish fry at Ansonia American Legion will be Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. It’s free to children 4 and under, $3 for children 5 to 10 years of age and $7 to all others.

• The movie, “Wall-e,” will be shown during free movie night at Ansonia United Methodist Church at West High and Pearl streets, at 7 p.m. Popcorn and drinks are provided for free.

• The cancer benefit for Pam (Page/Arnold) Young will be March 2 from noon to 10 p.m. at PAWS bingo Hall in Greenville. Lots of activities are planned.

•••••

Happy birthday:

• Feb. 26 to Hope Snyder Brodrick, Dane Ganger, Judge Julie Monnin and Linda Manos.

• Feb. 27 to John Singleman, Becky McEldowney, Diane Weeks, Francis Bulcher (95), Nick Hahn, Brenda Bierly Burns, Collin Claywell, Sherry Hittle Baker and Chad Klingshirn.

• Feb. 28 to Richard “Joby” Hollinger, Bill Brown, Evelyn Shuttleworth, Stuart Powell, Eddie Grace Young, Bob Stammen, Rick Hittle of Arcanum and Doyle Burns.

• Feb. 29 to Liz (Waggoner) Esarey, Jeff Cole, Craig Ganger, Susie (Lawrence) Thompson, Janice Edsall Combs, Vickie Miller, Bernadine Miller, Ruth Brower, Kathy Daniels, Terra Gilbert Norris, Owen and Evan Hiestand, Donnie Jamieson Jr. and Travis Laux.

• March 1 to Carol Ungericht, Doug Albers, Barb Bullard, Tom Clevenger, April Hiestand Warren and Erin Jones.

• March 2 to Virginia Lee Riffell Scanlon, Aleene Tyo Cromwell (65), Norma Garland, Jason Wright, Dustin Hall, Peggy Nealeigh, twins Diane Zimmer and Donald Hathaway, Greg Schmidt, Roberta Crawford, Sue Holzapfel and Phyllis Williamson.

• March 3 to Eric Wagner, Wayne Anderson, Jean Derr, Rick Jones, Joan Klein, John McRoberts and Marvin Fourman.

• March 4 to Jeff Goines, Sheena Yeomans, Shaun Thornhill, Deb Hamby Kunk, Tori Staley, Mandy Saluk, Molly French, Ruth Bowman (90), Joanne Hileman and Sherri Jones.

Happy belated birthday to Kay Perez, Feb. 19; and Alice Dunevant Pierce, Feb. 20.

Happy anniversary March 1 to Jannie and Frank Barrow and Christoph and Tonya Keller (16); March 2 to Millard and Ruth “Ellie” Bowman; March 3 to Dave and Marlene Black (40)’ and March 4 to the Rev. Hershel and Barbara Fee (50), Carl and Carolyn York, Randy and Beth Wombolt and Troy and Laurie Otis.

•••••

Don’t forget to pray for: Shannon Peters Hall, Todd Walls, Earl Moore, Lee Moody, Linda Mallott, Pam (Page/Arnold) Young, Jim and Patsy Schneider, Barbara Caupp, Krista Fourman, Curtis Miller, Zuri Hines, Ron Kramer, Jason Newbauer, JoRetta and Jimmy Wilkerson, Mick Rinderle, Joe Floyd, Jane Braund, Al Hoschouer, Holli Anderson, Melissa “Missy” Helmer, Randy McGhee, John Newbauer, Terry Black Sr., Cindy Cunningham Fleenor, Hugh Linebaugh, Krista Fourman, Charlie Hubbard, Ralph Wood, Richard “Pappy” Harshman, Larry “Rafe” Elson, Robert “Bob” Melling, Donna Temple Leugers, Bob Leugers, Susie Gress of Nebraska, Angel Nicely, Bob Codling Sr., Gerald Kenworthy, Tom Brumbaugh, Barb Skinner, Wesley Crumrine, Jim Faller Jerry Paulus, Amber Kiser, Jody (Barga) Spitler, Delores Duncan, Jack “Papa Tiger” Amspaugh, Judi Schneider, Carol Schuh, Tony Printz, Wyoneda Stephens, Angela Ridout, Doris Curtis of Rossburg, Ron Dirksen, Amy Fashner, Coryann Strawser, Jim Rinderle, Kathy Walter, D.J. Miller, Jim Moody, Harry Moody, Rob Hathaway, Mac Goodpaster, Alberta Aukerman, Rick Jones of Ansonia, Natasha Kirk, Chuck Davis, Dolores Nestor, Linda Lore, Rylee Blanken, Becky York, Julie Widener, Deputy Dave Werling, Mike Custer, Karen Meier, Barbara Martin, Dana Holzapfel.

Leah Herron Huntwork, Rita Young, Kara Didier, Mike Rammel, Susan Dunevant, Nick Voisard, Laura Harman, Joe Whittington, Jared Marker of Fremont, Linda Manos, Tod Fink, Dorothy Rismiller, Joe Fortkamp, Betty (Koons) Tinkham, Tom Henry, Carla Welch, Keith Hiegel, Mike Collins, Chad Wert, Kathy Black, Jeremy Litten, Greg Eubank, Alice Broering, Peter King, Shane Wetzel, Brandy Reier, Gene Sharp, Lester Ward, Stephanie Klingshirn, Paul Hodson, Zane Wetzel, Dick Foureman, Leann Ressler, Roger Harbison, Mamie Warrick, Pauline Powell, Eddie Rhoades, Gertie Hampshire, Don Hittle, Bill Schuette, Tim Heck and all of our military people as well as this nation.

•••••

Jamie and I extend our condolences to the following families: Joseph Hunt, Marjorie Matthieu, Pat Brumbaugh and Dan Miley.

•••••

Think about it: “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” ― Dr. Seuss

•••••

Linda Moody is features editor for the Daily Advocate. Her column appears every Sunday. She can be reached at lmoody@civitasmedia.com