Right now, our nurses and doctors are in the midst of preparing us for the celebrated event of discharge in the next few days. While we have an overwhelming sense of relief and joy, those feelings are not exclusive. In the midst of all of the stories we have seen and heard up and down the hall, we are left to wonder if we should feel lucky, blessed, guilty?
Earlier this week, we met a patient's grandmother (wearing a Rockford Ram sweatshirt). She told me about Devon, her grandson who was 13, has been in the hospital on and off for years, and is now waiting for a heart transplant. Devon's grandmothers and mother have made being here part of their normal routine and all that Devon can talk about is hockey and yesterdogs. I met another father over at the Ronald McDonald house who had a 3 year old son AJ who he and his wife had adopted from China (one of 5 adopted kids in their family). We had seen AJ up and down the hallways in a wheelchair as he is recovering from his second of 3 planned surgeries, which the father let me know was not a successful repair and would probably have to be redone after he has sufficiently recovered. I met a father whose wife went into labor at 24 weeks and was probably going to lose his first daughter. My heart broke for these people. Why are we preparing for discharge while they are preparing for future surgeries, complications, or funerals?
We are so blessed by God to have had the outcome we have had and the seemingly miraculous recovery that has doctors and nurses around every turn saying to us, "she had surgery how long ago?" Why us and not Devon or AJ? The answer comes back to John 9 which begs a different question.
"Walking down the street, Jesus saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, causing him to be blind?'
Jesus said, 'You're asking the wrong question. You're looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do. We need to be energetically at work for the one who sent me here, working while the sun shines.'" (Verses 1-4ish from the message).
I pray that Jodi and I can be energetically at work for the one who sent us here. I pray that Lucy can be energetically at work for the one who sent her here. I pray that God's will is done and glory is brought to his name through what he is doing with Devon and AJ and all of the other stories found up and down these hallways.
God is good.
Earlier this week, we met a patient's grandmother (wearing a Rockford Ram sweatshirt). She told me about Devon, her grandson who was 13, has been in the hospital on and off for years, and is now waiting for a heart transplant. Devon's grandmothers and mother have made being here part of their normal routine and all that Devon can talk about is hockey and yesterdogs. I met another father over at the Ronald McDonald house who had a 3 year old son AJ who he and his wife had adopted from China (one of 5 adopted kids in their family). We had seen AJ up and down the hallways in a wheelchair as he is recovering from his second of 3 planned surgeries, which the father let me know was not a successful repair and would probably have to be redone after he has sufficiently recovered. I met a father whose wife went into labor at 24 weeks and was probably going to lose his first daughter. My heart broke for these people. Why are we preparing for discharge while they are preparing for future surgeries, complications, or funerals?
We are so blessed by God to have had the outcome we have had and the seemingly miraculous recovery that has doctors and nurses around every turn saying to us, "she had surgery how long ago?" Why us and not Devon or AJ? The answer comes back to John 9 which begs a different question.
"Walking down the street, Jesus saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, causing him to be blind?'
Jesus said, 'You're asking the wrong question. You're looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do. We need to be energetically at work for the one who sent me here, working while the sun shines.'" (Verses 1-4ish from the message).
I pray that Jodi and I can be energetically at work for the one who sent us here. I pray that Lucy can be energetically at work for the one who sent her here. I pray that God's will is done and glory is brought to his name through what he is doing with Devon and AJ and all of the other stories found up and down these hallways.
God is good.
2 comments:
This is my favorite post so far.
What a privilege it is to watch your family go through this time...
Pure gold!
so glad she is being embraced by all her people....
Post a Comment