What a beautiful group of people I got to meet today! I’d like to share our journey with you. 

Mike and I arrived at the Hospital at 6:30 am.

The first nurse to assist us was Van, short for a very long complicated name. So, she said to just call her Van 😃.  She is sweet and comforting. It makes everything easier when people are kind, right?  Van gently brought Mike through the first stages before the surgery.  

Then came Kelly, the Nurse Director. She came in to visit and see if we had any questions. Kelly lit up when we told her who was doing the surgery! Mike and I were so encouraged seeing her confidence in this surgeon.  Her sincere comfort reminded me of being with my oldest sister, Susan.  Susan brings an atmosphere (vibe) of “Everything’s gonna be okay.”  I love you, Sue (mommy). Lol

Dr. Lackey is confident and straightforward. He has a dry sense of humor, but nonetheless caring. He even told us about his dog who is safe and sound at a daycare. 🐶

Dr George Doss, is the anesthesiologist (very important). At first, I was confused by his approach, but as the moments went by and as the questions were answered, I realized his big heart and expertise!

Dr. Doss’s assistant, Mike, made us feel safe and assured. He carefully explained the approach that they would be taking since it was going to be a quite complicated procedure.  Apparently, Mike has had this condition since birth but we didn’t know it. Just recently, he had become very short of breath. We always assumed it was due to his asthma. The hernia was only detected after getting an endoscopy, at which time the gastroenterologist told him to get the surgery as soon as possible. However, we were delayed due to the pneumonia Mike came down with this past January. We have truly seen the loving care of God in all of our steps this past year!  

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.” – ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭37:23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

It’s been a year, this week,  since Covid-19 interrupted all of our lives! In all of it, though, God has been so kind and caring to my husband and I, and to our children.

Back to the story. Then there was Fatmata. We call her “Kebbie.”  What a sweetheart. She had taken care of Mike previously when he came in for the pre-admission and Covid-19 testing. She said to me, “your husband is such a nice person.” 🙂 While I was in the waiting room, she was kind enough to sit with me for a moment. She was telling me how the other day when Mike came in she had been having a tough day.  She said, “Ahhh, but your husband made my day…Everything else went away.”  She shared with me how she went home that night and told her husband what a tough day she was having until she met “this patient.” God will help anyone and everyone if we just allow Him to shine through us. I share this not only because my husband is a wonderful person, but because I know he would agree with me that it is the love of Jesus that shines through. Our purpose in life is to be “light and salt.”

“You are the salt of the earth…” – Matthew 5:13

“You are the light of the world…” – Matthew 5:14

Rayne (pronounced, rainy) is our OR nurse. She is very calm and encouraging. She asked Mike if he had any metal in his body and, of course, he said yes. He told her he had a steel rod in his head. You had to see her face!  Mike is always making someone laugh. His dad, Benny, had the same sense of humor. I’m so blessed to have him in my life for the past 35 years sharing our love and friendship and raising our two boys, but most importantly, serving God and walking with each other through mountain tops and valleys.

Today was a valley.   

Gem, came in last. She is another one of our OR Nurses. At this point, I said to all who were present that I was gonna write a story about them. They all laughed.  Kephar, who was tidying up the nurses station, over heard me say that I was going to write a story about today and said, “I want to be in it too!” …and so she is 😇. 

Currently, I am writing this journal entry while sitting in the waiting room with a tall coffee from the Starbucks.

I just had this nice conversation with a small elderly woman who was walking past me with her cane. She had white hair and a black hair bow. So cute. So sweet. Her name is Phyllis. Here she is, an 89 years old trying to get her knee replaced. She’s had five doctors tell her that it was not a good idea to get surgery on her knee. Obviously, due to age, but that’s not stopping her. She found a Doctor that will. She asked me why I was there and I told her that my husband was having surgery at this very moment. She started to say a “Hail Mary.” 

There are so many beautiful people that we can encounter each day. God loves us so very much and has made us to be like Him (His Image and likeness), loving, caring, and engaging.

“Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” – ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1:26-27‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Our lives become so much richer when we purposely and intentionally reach out to people.  When I’m at a store packing my groceries, I try to always remember to look at the attendant’s name tag and use their name when talking to them.  There’s nothing like hearing your name when talking to someone, right?  

…It’s 12:10 pm. Longer than expected.  Kebbie just went to check in on him.

…12:15. Van is checking on him too. He’s not in recovery yet. 

…The Doctor should be coming soon to talk to me…

…Still waiting.

This is what I am coloring while waiting.

Ok, surgery whet well! The Doctor said to me, “I’m astonished that Mike didn’t encounter many other problems due to this hernia.” He said that everything in his stomach was in his chest cavity leaning on his lungs. Without a doubt, God has and always is watching over Mike!  

My friend, Margie, said to me, ”the doctors will continue to be amazed.”  Amen, I agree! 

My heart is at peace. I’m full of awe at the works of God in our life!  He has answered so many of my prayers in ways that are impossible to explain.  

Sometimes, we can feel that we spend most of our time on the side of the “caretaker.” However, for me, the Lord Jesus is my caretaker.  He is the one I lean on.   He is the only One we can all truly lean on.  

It’s day 4, Psalm Sunday. I finished helping Mike freshen up. He was able to eat a little real food. Well, hospital food, but we are so grateful!  This is the first time he’s eaten since Wednesday.  We are anticipating being able to get home tonight. We’ll see how he tolerates solid food. 

I’m down in the lobby.  It’s raining.

I love the rain, but not here. I rather be home right now making lentil soup for Mike. Taking care of my best friend! 

… 

Today is Good Friday. We are finally home, on the road to recovery and so grateful for all of your thoughts, cards, flowers, fruit, and most of all, your prayers and love. 

Thanks for spending time with me. I was really looking forward to writing each day to share this journey with you. I felt like you were here with me and we were talking. I am grateful I wasn’t alone. 

Have a Blessed Resurrection Day! Remember. that Jesus is the only Way to the Father.

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” – John 14:6

May God’s favor and grace be upon you all!