What a complete and total WHIRLWIND this week has been!
For those of you NOT on Facebook.... we did a WHOLE lotta waiting around today (to be expected when you're squeezed into an already FULL surgery schedule)
but by the end of the day John's second fusion surgery took place in 2014 and BEFORE Christmas shutdown!
It took longer than expected (again because of the extra waiting) but by about 5:30 p.m. I was able to get my first post-op look at him and see that he had pulled through JUST fine.
We had a bit of a rough go of it (a LOT of pain) around 9 p.m., but now he has walked the hall two different times, eaten two yogurts, and expelled air in the manner they were hoping for. He is currently resting peacefully.
Because I always want something good to come from my suffering, and before I forget them, I wanted to share with you a few lessons I learned in the waiting room.
1. Keep your eyes in your own fence.
When you're sitting in a hospital waiting room, without fail there are people there for much LESS serious issues than your loved one and people there for much MORE serious issues than your loved one. Paying attention to their situation, looking over into their medical "backyard" does absolutely NOTHING to change the situation your loved one is in. Therefore, it is best when you are in a waiting room (and actually in ALL of life) to keep your eyes in your own fence.
2. He's got this.
Perhaps more than ever before I was GRIPPED by the knowledge that God was in full control of this surgery, my husband's health, my entire life. If you came along for the whole ride (singing, "Rollercoaster... ooooh ooooh ooooh"... all the way) then you know that we were up and down, fast and slow, yes and no, ALL week long.
Because of Tuesday afternoon's MIRACULOUS 180°, I had such a strong and REAL knowledge that God HAD this in His hands. When I felt worry creeping in, I just reminded myself, "The God who put on a light and smoke show to get this surgery on the books did not bring you this far to drop you here. He WILL carry you across the finish line, Jami!"
3. Keep calm and crochet on.
I've noticed this phenomenon before. Sometimes when your are in the "thick of it" it is very hard to pray. I remember VIVIDLY when Hannah had her eye surgery I couldn't close my eyes to pray because every time I did I got this vision of my baby's eyeball being sliced open. I remember thinking, "THIS is why I splash my business ALL OVER Facebook." Because thanks to Facebook (and email and texting) right at the moment my baby was in surgery GOBS of people were praying us through. Today when the surgery stretched on.... when the doctor never came out to update me.... when they told me this time he'd be recovering in the ICU... when I tried to pray but couldn't get much past, "Jesus. ..." I picked up my crocheting and remembered we were COVERED in your prayers.
Thanks so much for journeying with us through yet ANOTHER surgery. I sure hope one of these times we'll be writing the final chapter of this medical saga.
Until then... THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart. Your prayers DO matter!
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Romans 8:31
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