Countdown to Surgery
September 19, 2009
4 days and counting. Saturday will be spent with D. We need some play time before we foray back into the sick wife – nursie wife mode. Sunday is church. Monday will be recording a meditation/worship iPod playlist to listen to in the hospital and baking cookies for the nurses station and OR staff. I know. It’s a little pathetic baking cookies for the hospital staff but if it gets me more medication, I’ll bake.
Tuesday morning is the day and I’ll just be honest here. I’m excited about having the work done, but I’m a little down about what’s in store for the first week or two afterwards. The occupational therapist came to our house the other day and spent two hours going over all our post-surgical preparations. She went through our house and looked at the support equipment I already have in place, made additional suggestions and pointed out some areas of concern. We went over a stack of paperwork that outlined my movement limitations. She put me through lessons in sitting and standing up, in laying down and getting up. She went through exactly what I could expect in terms of incisions and how to care for them. I listened. I watched. I took notes. And then when she left I laid on the couch and thought “What am I doing?” It all felt overwhelming to say the least.
Just don’t get the impression that I’m having second thoughts. Well….maybe I am but any second thoughts are only passing. I’m going to do this and in the end I know I’m going to be glad I did. It’s just the space in between when I’m uncomfortable (I choose that word over in pain), and I can’t do what I want to or go where I want to or move like I want to that I’m not all that eager to jump into. But it will pass. I keep telling myself it will pass. The hard stuff in life usually does and then you get to the other side where you wanted to be and that makes it all worth it.
So I’m praying and meditating and thinking good thoughts of healing and gratitude and of gratitude I have plenty. I have a phenomenal doctor and an incredibly caring and attentive staff at the surgery center. I have a wonderful wife who hovers and looks over me, gives me pills when I need them, scrambles eggs for me when nothing else sounds edible, and kisses me on the forehead in a way that momentarily makes all the hurt go away. I have friends who are faithful to pray for me and encourage me. And of course, I have a God who is there to watch over me, to calm my anxious heart and gently guide the hands of those who will be doing the surgery.
I really don’t have anything to complain about and nothing to worry about. There might be a few dicey days but I know I’ll be fine. And grateful. Always grateful.
Posted in Reconstructive Surgery
September 19th, 2009 at 4:58 am
Anita, you will be in my prayers. When the big day comes God’s promise to you is as it always has been, “my grace is sufficient for you.” I always get caught up in the “beforehand” and somehow forget that His “mercies are new every morning”. When I project an event, I am somewhat overwhelmed but as the occurrence is taking place God always provides exactly the strength and courage, the peace, and the freedom from fear and agitating passions. That’s my prayer for you today and throughout the coming few weeks. God bless you, my dear sister in Christ.
September 19th, 2009 at 7:15 am
Anita,
I thank you for all that you do for this group of ladies. You all know and so do I that God isn’t finished with you yet, so you’ll be fine. God wants you back to doing The Work as soon as you are able. Please take the time to heal and rest. I’m sure you’ll get many more posts with questions and well wishes, etc. Just know that we will all be right here waiting for the time when you’re able to get back to us. And know that you’ll be covered in prayer all day on Tuesday. You know it’s 3 hours earlier here than where you are. I’m an early riser, so I’ll be praying for you when you wake up to go to the surgery center and I’m sure there are those who live on the other side of the “big water” (Atlantic) and even farther that will be lifting you up before I awake. So while it’s still Monday there, you’ll already be lifted up in prayer for the surgery, surgeons, nurses, attendants, those who sterilize the instruments of all types that will be used, you (that you won’t be sick: nauseous from the surgery, anesthesia, pain meds, etc.) and Dana, your extended families, your church family and friends as well as your internet family across the world, that we’ll all stand strong and pray. That’s our job. The rest is in God’s oh so soft, gentle, strong, capable hands.
We’ll all be here when you get back. You rest and let God heal you.
I pray God’s richest blessings on you and Dana.
Bev
September 19th, 2009 at 9:30 am
Katie–> God’s mercies are new every morning. Thank you so much for reminding me of that. On Tuesday there will be new mercies, ones I’ve never known or never before needed but that will be perfect for that day. I’m holding that meditation with me.
September 19th, 2009 at 9:32 am
Bev–>Okay, you got me weeping on that one. I can’t tell you what it means to be assured that there will be prayers surrounding me.