From The Front

main entrance of the ER to see them.

During surgery, doctors removed three clots from his foot and one from behind his knee, and replaced them with stints. When he awoke MacColl still had his foot, but within two days he needed a third surgery and by day four, with his wife and Pastor Jay Smith from Jamestown Presbyterian Church at his side, MacColl made the difficult decision to amputate.

Aug. 22, 10 days after the problem began, doctors performed a below the knee amputation (BKA) and MacColl had his first experience with phantom pain. Because he was considered too strong to remain in the hospital, MacColl went home Sept. 2 with the prevision he have outpatient physical therapy and continue taking between 40-50 pills a day.

“About 50-60 friends, family and neighbors filled my driveway and cul-de-sac holding signs of encouragement,” MacColl said. “Friends also built rails on the garage steps and I moved into the downstairs guest room. The longer I was home the worse the pain got and I felt like I was being electrocuted.”

Sept. 12 found MacColl back in the ER where his vascular surgeon readmitted him to the hospital. With a goal to save his knee, a revision and debridement was done to remove tissue no longer viable.

“A person with a BKA uses 30-40 percent more energy to walk than a person with two legs, and an above the knee amputee uses 100 percent more energy to walk,” MacColl explained.

“I developed an allergy to Heparin, the blood thinner I was on. My body was fighting against the drug so I developed new clots in my left thigh. On Sept. 22, I had an above the knee amputation. I came home Oct. 8 using a walker and crutches. Throughout it all, I lost a total of 43 pounds.”

MacColl says he spent 43 days in the hospital, had six surgeries, three amputations and an infinite number of blessings. He credits part of his recovery to an amazing team of caregivers — from the physicians to the people who cleaned his room.

“There was not one who did not pure themselves into me,” he said. “I believe they were God’s angels. The other thing that got me through was my faith. I grew up in a Christian home, but I did not realize how people brought into my life would help me.

“My mother-in-law stayed with our children and their school, Revelation Academy in Summerfield, embraced them. My wife Amanda was in the hospital every day with me. She even found a way to stay with me at night. Pastor Jay was there every day also. He is not just my pastor, but my best friend. He prayed over me and Amanda before each surgery. Prayer warriors from 15-20 states prayed for me. I was acquainted with about 80 percent of them and 20 percent were friends of friends or relatives of friends. Our church family rallied around us providing meals. It was humbling.”

Three months post amputation, MacColl got his prosthetic leg and within six weeks had learned to use it “hands free.”

“I had to get strong physically and mentally,” he said. “It was a process of learning to trust this ‘thing’ to support me and work the way it should. Each night I plug it in to recharge for the next day.

“Through all the pain and suffering I have had a powerful peace. I feel it is all part of God’s bigger plan. Max Lucado once said, ‘It is not up to us to know what the plan is, but to hold the hand of the one who does.’ I have a new outlook on life.”

MacColl’s prayer now is that God will put people in his path that he can encourage. He wans to give back to the amputee community the way other amputees have encouraged him. Although he is not sure what it would look like, he has hopes of establishing a non-profit or helping others to establish one so amputees who do not have needed insurance can get surgery and a quality prosthesis.

He also hopes to change jobs from pharmaceutical sales to prosthetic sales. The prosthetist at Hanger Clinic told him no one is more suitable to sell them than a person who has experienced using one. He is learning patience as he goes through the job search process, relying on God’s timing.

“My advice to others,” MacColl said, “is to never give up. When dealing with a physical or emotional problem it is easy to become isolated. There are people out there who want to help. But some do not want to ask for help fearing they will seen weak or scared.

“God has stripped me down and I no longer define myself by the things I used to do — such as being a college athlete. I have to deal with a new way of life, give up control and rely on others.

“I do not think God is done with me yet. My hope and prayer is that others gain a relationship with God. He loves you no matter what. He stands with his arms wide open ready to embrace you and that is amazing.

“A scripture verse that has been one of my ‘life verses’ since this all began is, ‘Praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! The Father is a merciful God, who always gives us comfort. He comforts us when we are in trouble, so that we can share this same comfort with others in trouble.’”

— 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 CEV comes out with this package all wrapped up and with a bow.”

Moore is new to the High Point Historical Society.

“This year’s recipient joined the High Point Historical Society only recently, but in a short time, has contributed a great deal of time and energy to the museum,” said Jim Morgan, who announced the winner. “This person began a project over two years ago simply to help out her neighbors in Jamestown. Little did any of them realize the journey they began when they started clearing an old house and barns. Our recipient especially became engrossed in all the documents, photographs, and family possessions they found and worked countless hours to inventory and research boxes and boxes and boxes of materials.

“Our recipient was not satisfied with just saving this interesting family collection. Through this individual’s devotion, persistence and desire to having a story brought to light and presented to our community, the current “Fields and Feathers” exhibit is at the High Point Museum. So much time and thought went into creating this exhibit, all given freely and joyously by our recipient.”

Over time, Moore’s house became so covered with mostly letters and photographs from the Armstrong house that it was difficult to find a place to sit.

“I had to get my house back sometime,” she said with a laugh about the need for the exhibit.

Moore is working with Bill Johnson, grandson of Edward (Ned) Armstrong, to decide where the collection will go after the exhibit ends. She would love to house the exhibit and collections in Jamestown if a space could be found.

But the history will not end after the exhibit ends.

“It’s cool how this story has so many arms,” Moore said of the new contacts she has had with descendants of people who worked at the kennels, the descendant of Stanford White who designed Mackay’s Deep River Lodge, the British Kennel Club which recently received from Moore 52 scans of photographs of hunting dogs at the kennel, and many others.

Marian Inabinett, curator of collections at the High Point Museum, told the story of community volunteer and Museum benefactor Walsh:

“Valette Jones Harris Walsh was an outstanding citizen of High Point. She was an artist, writer, painter, musician, composer, gardener, publisher, lover of animals, lover of history and lover of people. In 1979, Ms. Walsh contributed $50,000 to the High Point Historical Society. She donated numerous pieces of furniture to the High Point Museum and, at her death, over half of her estate to the museum. This made her gifts the largest made by any individual to the High Point Historical Society at that time. She believed history was important …. in remembering the past, preparing us for the future.”

Walsh died on December 23, 1988, at the age of 90. Jim and Ann Morgan began the Walsh Award in 1990 to honor this outstanding woman. Jim Morgan presented this year’s award at the annual meeting of the High Point Historical Society.

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