SHELLY SUE’S MANTLE

MAY 4, 2025

Dear Joe,

I don’t really even know where to start, but am COMPELLED to share with you, Shelly’s BEST FRIEND, AWESOME HUSBAND, and now widower. (Such a sad word!)  

SHELLY SUE was the most COMPASSIONATE, CARING, KIND, GENTLE, WISE, STRONG & SPIRITUAL WOMAN I’VE EVER KNOWN!! Shelly NEVER JUDGED! SHE LISTENED! SHE EMPATHIZED! SHE CARED DEEPLY FOR THOSE THAT NOBODY NOTICED!

Shelly completely embodied the song, “AS A DEER!” SHE LONGED TO WORSHIP IN EVERY ASPECT OF HER LIFE, AND DID SO WELL!

Shelly was a PRAYER WARRIOR! Not only did she pray OVER people and situations, she prayed THROUGH THEM! 

She mentored sooooooo many along the way!!! I’m sure she passed pieces of her MANTLE OF ANOINTING TO MANY!!

So here’s how she impacted me: Tho we seldom physically connected. I never felt like we’d been apart! I wish I had kept closer tabs on y’all to know her journey! Last I heard, SHE’D BEAT THE CANCER!! But I know that little c word is INSIDIOUS and often sneaks back in when we least expect it, and some organs just can’t fight as well as others. (funny: I have her as a character in the end of one of my novels: she’s just BEATEN THE CANCER and is helping her bestie plan her wedding!) I WILL GET THAT BOOK PUBLISHED FOR SHELLY!! )

In case you didn’t know,I’m a bit ADD, so I digress alot! Read my blog wynnelovelesswrites.com to see how badly!!

My journey:

In June ‘23, while on a trip to Maine, I had an EXCRUCIATING NERVE PAIN ATTACK that literally doubled me over. I was already using a rollator walker because my left titanium hip wasn’t working well. When I got home, I called my orthopedist, because the “nerve pain attacks” (I now call NPA’s) were escalating. He ordered an MRI and said other than my ABSURDLY HORRIBLE SCOLIOSIS, which was probably pinching a nerve, he didn’t see anything. He wrote it off as sciatica and said the hip was fine. He didn’t read the report well, “POSSIBLE NERVE SHEATH TUMOR ON LUMBAR 4 – SACRAL 1”

I went to a neurosurgeon when it didn’t get better. MEDICINE IS A MESS!! 

Dr. Lapsiwala saw the MRI, was GREATLY CONCERNED THAT I HAD A TUMOR IN MY SPINE, but ….. He was OUT OF NETWORK, so I had to go elsewhere!!!! 

Funny interlude: What do normal people do when they’re told they may have cancer!?? 

Jonathan had taken me (Larry is NOT GOOD WITH MEDICINE, and Jonathan is an EMT now.) I TOOK MY BABY OUT FOR MEXICAN FOOD! DUH!  

Insensitive me: when we got home, Larry came out to ask what we found out, and I said what I just said above. Larry almost FAINTED!! His dad died of cancer! My mom BEAT IT AND LIVED  ANOTHER 40 YEARS! Little “c” cancer has never scared me, cuz I have a BIG J JESUS!

Fast forward to late August ‘23 by the time I got a referral & appt w/an in-network neurosurgeon. He required another MRI. I have a pacemaker due to my AFIB (Now that’s another long sordid story!), so it takes a few weeks to get that scheduled! Late Aug, MRI done, surgeon wants to remove apparent tumor. (I have pix of all MRI’s if you want some serious TMI!)

Surgery Sept 5, 2023. Removed small mass; nerves started misfiring and afraid he’d paralyze me, so stopped. Sent sample to lab: “Never seen anything like this before!” (Are you surprised?! I wasn’t !) Sent off to MAYO CLINIC! Just blood. No cancer. No irregular cells. 

Nerve damage that was already started by the pressure of the tumor on my spine was exacerbated by the surgery. Loss of feeling from the butt down (stop laughing!), numb feet and legs, minimal ability to lift them and move well. Walking is like walking on fence posts: I’m doing it, but can’t feel a thing! Rehab helps somewhat, but due to the OUTRAGEOUS TINNITTUS FROM MY 2 FAILED COCHLEAR IMPLANTS (YEP! I’m a MESS!), VERTIGO makes it best to revert to a wheelchair for balance and safety issues. I make myself walk occasionally so my muscles don’t completely atrophy and leave my legs totally useless!

Surgeon left the state!! Had to WAIT again for referral and appt w/new neurosurgeon at UTSW in Dallas. Loved him: kind, conservative; let’s just watch it! MRI seemed to show no new change (but it sure looked the SAME TO ME as the first one, with a bit more. Just watching and taking MRI’s every 6 months, tho symptoms persist as before (but not escalating); No pain or nerve agents help at all: make me dizzy, but no effect on NPA’s. Prescribed several different pain and nerve block Rx: NOPE! Honestly, 3 ibuprofen work best when it’s bad!! My “pain mgmt Dr” gave up on me!

Tests were run to see if I would benefit from an Spinal Cord Stimulator (SCS), where they insert an electrode into the spine to shock the nerves to tell them to stop misfiring. The MRI showed that my stenosis from scoliosis was so bad, there was NO ROOM FOR AN ELECTRODE!! (and you KNOW how tiny an electode is!!!) That didn’t really matter to me, since I had ordered an external version while waiting, and it MADE THEM WORSE INSTANTANEOUSLY!!! NO THANKS!!!

Got a letter stating that this new neurosurgeon has left the state!!! I HAVE THAT EFFECT ON PEOPLE!!

No answers. In limbo. Symptoms continue. 

Started water therapy! Water is my FRIEND!!! No gravity, so I can DO THINGS WITH MY LEGS I CAN’T DO ON LAND!! (In case you didn’t know, I’m actually part mermaid!)

Between Dr’s leaving the state, insurance changes (REMEMBER, we turned 65 and got to join the DELIGHTFUL WORLD OF MEDICARE!), I lagged for another several months, but the symptoms started DRAMATICALLY INCREASING!!

NPA’S MULTIPLE TIMES / DAY! INTENSE!!!! EXCRUCIATING!! NOTHING TRIGGERED; NOTHING STOPPED!

Got an appt with MEDICARE Neurosurgeon, and HALLELUJAH, it was Dr. Lapsiwala, the one who first diagnosed me that I loved and TRUSTED!! New MRI scheduled quickly (like he literally told me to go to ER for a 2nd one when he saw it that day!!!) Tried to do a myelogram where they inject dye into spine to get a better pic of tumor. EXCRUCIATING!!! Told the tech to keep doing what he needed to do to get answers! Stenosis so bad, MRI EXPERT couldn’t get needle in for dye and said if he’d seen MRI first, he never would’ve tried cuz it was NEVER GONNA WORK! 

Admitted me!  Kept till Thurs (that was Mon), but couldn’t schedule surgery till following Wed. Sent me home for weekend. Enjoyed Joy’s Plaza Theatre Play, Newsies and got to be “the bag lady” who bags the food containers for our Homeless Outreach Sunday!! SOOOOO HAPPY to have some NORMAL AND GET TO SERVE!!!! But ¾ thru the Homeless Outreach, tremors hit and I couldn’t use my hands! Had to pass the torch! Cried! Could barely get from wheelchair into car! (Did I tell you I had to sell my beloved truck, Bobby, cuz I could no longer get safely into him!!! I CRIED AND CRIED AND CRIED!!) We had bought a Honda Odyssey van cuz Jonathan had one we could get into easier. It’s really NOT easier: all smooth surfaces!! Nothing to grab ahold of to pull yourself in!! But those door handle helpers you see ads for WORK (until my hip give out and Joy literally has to LIFT ME INTO THE VAN!!!) 

Forgot to mention that Larry had neck spinal fusion surgery May ‘24, so he’s very limited in liftng, etc, and his knees keep him from doing much! If we had not adopted JOY, we’d both be in ASSISTED LIVING!!!! GOD HAD A PLAN!! 

Mon, Apr 21st: Run a million errands trying to get my ducks in a row, and they’re really just SWARMING PIGEONS!!!! 

I can’t drive any more due to the vertigo and and and, so Larry has become chauffeur, taking Joy and I everywhere. EXHAUSTING, BUT HE’S NEVER COMPLAINED!

Had a GLORIOUS trip to Florida planned for May 11-19: Meet Mik in Tampa: swim w/Manatees! Drive down the coast; Miami, Everglades airboat tour; drive down Keys: dolphin swim at Dolphin Research Center, and they CATER TO HANDICAPPED!! Drive down to Key West and ferry over to Dry Tortugas for history buff Larry, then fly home from Miami. 

ALWAYS BUY TRAVEL INSURANCE!! I actually called each venue personally and explained: Cancer surgery, rehab, maybe radiation; CANCEL. All were very helpful and accommodating w/o having to use trip insurance, and cancelled and refunded well (one requires a Dr letter, as if anybody is gonna really READ that!!) . But SOOOO GRATEFUL we had travel insurance just in case!! $400 well spent for peace of mind, and they can slide it to a future date if I book new trip by May 11th (Not hap’nin!)

Dr office called Fri or Mon?: Surgery scheduled for Wed, Apr 23rd, but kept getting texts reminders from the hospital to come Tues, Apr 22nd 0530

Called Medical City Ft Worth surgery scheduling (who know me well!) and they said, “Call your Dr office to  verify”

Called Dr office at 4:30 pm:  VOICEMAIL!!  Emailed URGENT. No reply!

We are on our way to Texas de Brazil, and my BRILLIANT HUSBAND WHOM I HAVE TAKEN FOR GRANTED FOR 40 YEARS say,  “Let’s just go by Drs office now; not that far.” So at 4:52 Monday, Joy  runs into the office to Facetme them for me. They are APPALLED, but CONFIRM THAT SURGERY REALLY IS TUESDAY! 

I am DEAF!, so ALL PHONE CONVERSATIONS ARE IN WRITING IN CAPTIONS. I HAVE IT IN WRITING IN 3 PLACES: WED, APR 23RD!

So GRATEFUL LARRY SAID LET’S STOP AND MAKE SURE!!! I’M GLAD IT’S TUESDAY!! DETERIORATING AT A SCARY ALARMING RATE: Legs not working; TREMORS!!! Blurred vision (some from tinniitus and stupid no-line trifocals!)

Went to Texas De Brazil Mon nite and GORGED ON MEAT, since it was a rebook of our 40th anniversary dinner, where I ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL cuz of a FALL from this mess! Mik made me go! I would not have! She had just arrived home for Christmas leave and I SCREWED THAT UP!!!!

You know, if this were comedy, it’d be FUNNY! BUT THIS WAS OUR LIFE!!

BTW: Larry can do as well or BETTER than Texas de Brazel. It’s the AMBIANCE AND FLARE that make it so EXPENSIVE. All the food was STELLAR, as was SERVICE (and I’m in a wheelchair, so that takes extra attention.) Just saying that we need to get Larry those same cuts of meat and let him BBQ 

I keep a hospital backpack packed (sad, but true!), and Mon nite, started pulling superfluous stuff out and repacking! It was ALREADY PACKED!! But there were too many toiletry things I wouldn’t need. Always have a deck of cards! UNO! Spare cath supplies (That’s a whole story in itself!). One set of clothes (besides the ones you’ll be wearing to the hospital). The night before any surgery, I seldom sleep. Not up praying like you’d expect, just piddlin’, getting things straight, logging receipts and medical bills.

I TAUGHT MATH AT JUNIOR HIGH INNER CITY SCHOOLS AND CROWLEY HIGH SCHOOL!  NOTHING SCARES ME!!!! 

Tuesday morning, arrive hospital: check in, prep for surgery, talk to and pray for surgeon, anesthesiologist, anesthetist, nurses, etc. Off to sleep. Surgery update is a different blog!

Fast forward to 2nd day in Medical City’s Rehab facility.

THIS IS WHERE SHELLY FITS IN!!

0330, a nurse named CELESTE (older male) came in to follow orders and remove my foley catheter and scan my bladder to see if I was retaining urine. I explained to him that I’d been self-cathing for a year and a half, and YES, my bladder would be full and YES, I could take care of it myself if he could get me to the toilet. (Remember, my legs have very little feeling, my hip does what it wants, and sometimes I really CAN’T get from one place to another on my own! HUMBLING!!) 

He was so professional, kind, compassionate, and I never felt defiled (not that I ever do, but he was ANOINTED TO RETAIN HIS PATIENT’S DIGNITY!!) After he left, God told me to pray a stronger outpouring of that anointing over him.

“Uh! Wrong person, Lord! I don’t DO that!”

Silence.

“SHELLY DID THAT!!!” Tears! “God, Shelly was SOOOOOO ANOINTED TO PRAY OVER PEOPLE!!!”

Silence.

You see, Joe, most people think I’m spiritual, but I’VE NEVER BEEN SPIRITUAL!!! I FAKE IT WELL! Spent years teaching in Christian schools when I was barely living for the Lord, hardly ever prayed or read my Bible…. After a dear friend died after a VALIANT LONG FIGHT against leukemia, my faith failed and I said, “What’s the POINT?!?” But the words of Peter brought me up short: 

Jn 6:68 Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom will we go? YOU HAVE THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE!!

That kept me hanging on.

Then a dear friend, whom I resented for doing so, continued to send me Gloria Copeland Healing School videos, and took me to 2 different crusades. I was NOT HEALED AT ALL in either (that was way back when we were focusing on my AFIB and hearing.) But I did read and quote the healing verses as instructed, just not as diligently as I should have.

Back to Celeste: “Lord, Shelly did that!” (Yes, I said it several times!)

Then it HIT ME LIKE A FREIGHT TRAIN!

It seemed arrogant to even consider, but this is what came out of my spirit.

“Lord, can I have Shelly’s mantle of anointing?! I don’t deserve it! Not even sure how to use it, but Lord, I’d love to have SHELLY’S MANTLE OF ANOINTING!!

God LAUGHED!! Like He’d been waiting for me to ask!!

“Shelly would be DELIGHTED FOR YOU TO HAVE HER MANTLE!!!” (I’m bawling writing this, cuz it’s still so fresh and new and powerful and humbling and overwhelming and indescribable!!!) 

I didn’t feel anything special physically (Like the mantle falling on my shoulders), but this BUBBLING UP STARTED!! I CAN’T STOP PRAYING FOR EVERYBODY! God gave me a special prayer for Celest (haven’t seen him to share yet!) and has me praying over every person I meet, not just the Num 6:24 blessing I’ve used for a few years (Say that over the Sonic kids when they deliver your food!! It’s INSPIRING!!), but ANOINTING THAT BREAKS THE YOKE OF BONDAGE of …… (so many things in a hospital!) 

THE EXPLOSION OF GOD IN ME IS INCREDIBLE, AND CAN’T STOP IT! LOVE IT!  

Everyone is RECEIVING IT AND GLAD TO HAVE ME PRAY OVER THEM! DRS! NURSES. CNA’s. Cleaning lady! Cafeteria staff. PT STAFF! (actually counseling one now who’s divorced and having a rough time w/her teen daughters! DRAMA! God gave me a whole page of fun, easy ways to build relationships. I KNOW THAT’S SHELLY!!

JOE! HER LEGACY WILL CONTINUE IN SO MANY WAYS THRU SO MANY PEOPLE!!!

YOUR LEGACY: YOU ENCOURAGED HER, SUPPORTED HER, PRAYED WITH HER, WARRED WITH HER, LET HER WALK IN HER ANOINTING!! 

(So many husbands are intimidated by POWERFUL wives and either stifle or discourage them, but YOU WERE A TEAM!!! YOU WERE A MIGHTY FORCE BEHIND HER!! THANK YOU!!!)

TWO YEARS SHE’S BEEN GONE TO GLORY! GLAD FOR HER! DEVASTATED US!! The wound never really heals, but knowing how POWERFUL HER LEGACY IS makes it a bit easier to bear. 

Other side notes: When I have an NPA, I sing Scripture songs to help them pass as I pet the Lite Dragon Ty Beanie Baby (HAPPY!) my G’daughter gave me the Sunday after surgery when I was DEPRESSED!! The other day in PT, I was singing “As a Deer,” and started bawling, as I always see and hear Shelly singing it w/her guitar. Then the 2nd verse started, and I was A MESS!! We wrote that verse together and she tweeked it PERFECTLY!!! Crying now just remembering those SWEET TIMES OF WORSHIP TOGETHER!!!

ALSO: The last time I talked to Shelly, she had BEATEN THE CANCER!! She is a character in one of my novels, “Pirated Plot,” having beaten cancer and come to help her bestie plan her glorious wedding! Her part is about four extra chapters cuz I COULDN’T STOP WRITING ABOUT THIS VIVACIOUS, FUNNY, LOVING LADY WHO PUT HER LIFE ON HOLD FOR HER FRIEND! I WILL GET THAT BOOK PUBLISHED! (or at least online so folks can meet Shelly Sue!)

Ok, I think I’ve exhausted most everything! This letter has been CATHARTIC for me! I’ve probly benefited from it more than you, but you needed to KNOW!! 

SO DELIGHTED WE GET TO SPEND ETERNITY TOGETHER!!!! WON’T THAT BE A HOOT!

wynner