Take a close look at the picture I’m using as my banner.
Sheep, right?
While it serves the motif of “Green Pastures” well, it’s what you cannot see in the frame that tells the bigger story. I’m going to “page-break” here and make you work a little–just a tad–to find out the, uh, rest…of…the…story. Continue reading The Rest Of The Story
Blessings to all of you. Sorry for the delay in reporting but yesterday (Thurs) was a bit overwhelming. surgery went well. Dr. Simon took out 6 pounds of scar tissue & bad “junk” from his hip area (I really didn’t think he had anything left), did the wash and then a muscle flap to replace what was taken out, then sewed him up. He did great but when they got back him back to his room his blood pressure bottomed out & they coded (red) him. It was a mixture of things that they say caused the “perfect storm” for him. His blood loss was substantial and it was his third major surgery in 5 weeks. They gave him four units on the table, four more through the night last night. He was also dehydrated which happens when you have that loss of blood & surgery, etc. so they gave him 15 ltrs (bags) of iv fluids through the night. His body temp was 95 which also caused problems. BUT, all that to say they were amazing here. Within 10-15 seconds of coding, the ICU nurse was there with the equipment, the dr was there immediately, they got him going but I will say it was rather scary because he wasn’t responding to them or me or anything. He said he could hear us, but he couldn’t say or do anything. I may be a novice on coding, but his regular nurses were all upset, and have been visiting him today and telling him he can’t scare them like that again. The recusitating machine is still at the foot of his bed with the case opened & the electrode gel ready….but he is stable. His blood pressure is too low so they are administering Dopamine & that can only be done in ICU. It is rising slowly but not consistent yet. Great news on several fronts though.
Kidneys were normal yesterday (which was amazing), but they are excellent today. They were afraid because they pumped so much fluid in him that kidneys couldn’t handle it, that his heart & lungs would fill up, but heart was checked this am & is excellent and it and his lungs are clear. Respiratory therapist just came in & said lungs are great & they are decreasing his oxygen. Yippee. He hadn’t eaten in over two days, so they were pushing him at dinner. He ate half an egg salad sandwich (yuk) & some grapes & has kept it down….He is fairly miserable but is doing ok. He will probably be in ICU until Monday because of the many areas they are monitoring. I can tell a big difference even since I got here this morning. OH, I almost forgot. They did a blood draw at 6 pm & there is no need for transfusions (PTL).
Your prayers were felt & treasured. Through everything, there was such peace & HIS presence. Even though I puked (no nice way to say it). I was sick with a sore throat fever & took a sinus pills on an empty stomach & publicly emptied said stomach at the nurses station. 28 years of this & I have never been sick while he was in crisis. Oh well…..they said I did it quietly & quickly & then all was well. We are both much better today. He still has a long recovery, but hopefully, we are heading in the right direction.
I came upon a Kay Arthur quote before this latest chapter in the continuing saga of Scott’s health, and I made a note of it because so many people have been asking me how we cope, or what is God doing, or why didn’t he answer our fasting & praying for Scott’s healing, how do you get back up when you’ve been knocked down? I don’t pretend to have the definite answer, but I know God had been patiently prodding me for the last several years in all areas of my life that I couldn’t change or control the outcome, or fix it, to trust in His Sovereignty, but also in His unfailing love for me. That said here is the quote, “no other truth has sustained me through all my trials like the reality of God’s sovereignty. Everything that comes into our lives is filtered through God’s fingers of love.” I have been trusting His Sovereignty in things that were little (which I thought were big at the time), and now it is a joy to wait & see what He’s doing with our lives while we are here at Shepherd watching the tapestry created above being revealed one stitch at a time below.
All our Love & Appreciation Scott and Sandy
Why am I at the Shepherd Center these four weeks?
I may not know the full answer to that yet, but I do have an idea.
I just prayed with one of the nurses here in my room, asking God to give her and her husband wisdom to know how to proceed with their adopted daughter. Nine years ago, a little girl was brought into their home who had horrific baggage (later learned) and tendencies. So violent was her Type 2 bi-polar disorder (the worst classification) their own daughter had to sleep with two locks on her door, as she seems to be the burning core of Cassie’s (not her real name) hatred.
This morning, Cassie bounded down the steps of their home walked straight up to her mother, and threw her arms around my nurse friend and told her she loved her. Totally unsolicited.
It had never happened before. In nine years.
This gallant adoptive mother broke down as she shared that, in her heart, she knew Cassie is experiencing a major breakthrough and on the road to healing. I could see years of fear, hysteria, hopelessness and exhaustion just melt away with those wracking sobs and a face that suddenly lost its lines and looked young again.
On this same day she found out that a Medicare-underwritten program has finally accepted their daughter after months of waiting and wringing of hands. After months of crying out for God to heal the pain in the home and torment in their daughter.
Then, this:
“I love you Mom.”
Can you think of four better words?
So my friend is torn. What if this is God’s witness to her that their daughter, after endless therapy and new medicine–not to mention the steady stream of prayers–is showing a monumental turnaround? What would it mean for them to put her in the program?
If they do not drive Cassie the hundred miles to a new rehabilitation center, they will receive no financial assistance for any of their daughter’s future therapy.
I didn’t have a word for my friend, but instead turned to the Word on behalf of my friend. “Dear God, you promised that if we lack wisdom, we can ask of You, and we have the assurance that You will pour out such wisdom without restraint, without guilting us or remonstrating us for lack of faith…”
With heads bowed in this room, we agreed that the Father loves Cassie and has an incredible plan for not only her but for my friend, her husband and their other daughter. We prayed with boldness knowing that God would lift whatever fog or gauzy mist shielded the Johnson’s (not their real name) eyes that they might see He who is true Wisdom, Jesus the Christ.
She wiped her eyes and hugged me and told me her dad had phoned her this morning and used the promise of James 1:5 for those who lack wisdom in their conversation also. The Word had given His word after all. Her eyes were wide with expectation, relief and settled confidence that all would be well.
As I finished that last sentence, my nurse friend just passed my room with a beaming smile. This is why Jesus has come into the world, to set captives (like Cassie—and hurting families) free.