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Thursday, March 15, 2018

Let God Be Magnified

Leaving ICU.

Yesterday morning (Wednesday) less than 24 hours after surgery, Ed was able to walk slowly down the hall and was booted out of ICU. ICU had taken great care of Ed, but he didn't mind being detached from the wires and tubes and be sent back to 7th floor. 


My lovely accommodations in the family lodge.

After two nights of very little sleep both Ed and I were exhausted. Ed was given a quiet room with no roommate last night though the nurses made sure he didn't sleep too long. I collapsed into bed and didn't hear or move for seven hours. I felt like a new person this morning.


Beautiful stitching.

When I saw Ed's incision I wondered why Ed was having no pain. His nurse has to convince him to take an occasional Tylenol as a precaution. He is practicing walking the hall and taking the stairs with naps in between. This morning (Thursday) he had the drain in his incision removed. They will watch the incision for another 24 hours, but if his recovery continues this well we'll be home before I consume all the snacks in my bag.



My parents brought our children to visit this afternoon. A friend whose husband had brain surgery here in January sent along a wonderful lunch to share. 



The children had so much fun in the playroom that my four-year-old didn't want to leave. She asked if she could come again. I'm trying not to think about the fact that she might have that opportunity.

If you know me in real life you know that I like conversations, but in this huge hospital I feel like a country mouse prepared to dart to the nearest hole. But I've been trying to pretend I'm bolder than I feel and initiate conversations this week. 

Because this is a research hospital every patient has a story to share. Many come here with serious medical conditions to volunteer to take part in experimental research. I have found that most are eager to chat. 



Yesterday Ed had another MRI scheduled for 3:00, but because of an earlier opening they asked him to come at 1:00 instead. I considered waiting for Ed in his room since the nurse was pushing him in the wheelchair, but I decided to walk down with Ed and sit in the MRI waiting room for a change of scenery. A man and his wife came and sat beside me. I knew instantly that I had seen them before. 

When researching immunotherapy I had watched an interview of this man. Before I could lose my courage I introduced myself. He and his wife were back for a follow-up visit after three years of being cancer free. Soon the lady seated on the other side of me joined our conversation. She is involved in an immunotherapy program as well, taking part in the same protocol that Ed is considering. 

Only God could have arranged that the four of us were sitting in the waiting room at the same moment. I was able to ask specific questions about their treatment, but even better, these were believers who shared their testimony of God's faithfulness in their lives. Though they are viewed as part of medical breakthroughs, both were quick to glorify God for their healing.

I've been looking up verses on joy this week and liked Psalm 70. The plea for help turns into praise to God.
"Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O LORD...Let all those that seek Thee rejoice and be glad in Thee: and let such as love Thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified. But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: Thou art my help and my deliverer; O LORD, make no tarrying." (Psalm 70:1,4-5)
I don't have to be strong and capable; I have a capable God. A God who can orchestrate details as insignificant as MRI appointments and a wife who needs encouragement. A God whose name can be magnified from hospital beds.

21 comments:

  1. God is so good! Thank you for keeping us updated about Ed. Your children are adorable. I'm sure they were very excited to see their dad. You are being prayed for:-)

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  2. Amen and amen! I know that He is with Ed right now and in his amazing progress after his surgery. Seeing the scope of the incision I feel as you do and can’t believe Ed has no pain. What a blessing from God!
    And God is in all of these tiny details. So often at church on Sundays, the sermon, the music and the meditations all work so well together and each of the people arranging each individual part of the service had no idea what the other person was planning at the time. But God knows. And I believe he delights in showing us how he cares in such seemingly small details.
    Prayers and blessings, Betsy

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  3. Amen!!! God knew you needed that positive encouragement and knew just who to send at the right time. Ed looks so good I can't believe he's not in alot of pain just seeing his poor head makes me hurt for him. I'm so glad your babies were able to visit and see their daddy and I hope your daughter doesn't have to come back to that play room. I know what's its like sitting in as waiting room and feeling out of place when my husband had his eye surgeries no one talked with me I don't know of my veil made things awkward and I was too shy to approach anyone myself. I am praying you and ed get to go home soon. Blessings. Love and prayers

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  4. Thank you so much for taking the time to update us. I'm continuing to pray for you, for Ed, and for Parker as well as the others on my prayer list. I hope Ed's progress continues as it has been and he's able to go home and I pray that the immunotherapy trial will give him the blessings that it has delivered to the other people that you mentioned. I'm very happy you got a chance to talk to them because I know it probably helped answer your questions and ease your mind. God bless you and your family.

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  5. Thank you for once again sharing your story, as painful and difficult as it is. It’s so beautiful to see how strong your faith is. You are indeed being held up in prayer by many people. God is great! We continue to pray for strength, trust, peace and healing. May God continue to walk with you and sustain you!

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  6. Amen! Our God is truly an awesome God!! I'm so happy things are going so well. I ,as well as my family will continue praying.

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  7. Thank you for keeping us updated. Ed looks wonderful for just undergoing brain surgery. Much much love and prayers for you, Ed and your family.

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  8. GOD IS SO GREAT! Lord, great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Your love for us! Praise the Lord! Thank you for sharing all your updates with us, Gina! It's so wonderful a blessing that Ed is recuperating so quickly! Blessed is the name of the Lord! Such joy there is in His blessings! God bless your family!

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  9. First off, I'm so happy that Ed's surgery went well and that God is meeting your needs.

    I clicked on the video and imagine my surprise when I saw my cousin Galen Oakes as the featured patient!! What a testimony their story was on Facebook as his wife kept us updated with their journey. He seems to be doing well, and their faith in God has carried them through. Continuing to pray for you and Ed.

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    1. Your cousin and wife were an inspiration to us. So glad I had the chance to meet them.
      Gina

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  10. I love how God arranged that meeting in the waiting room. May you continue to rest in Him. Rejoicing with you that Ed has so little pain...what a blessing!I pray for you much.

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  11. Oooo praise the Lord for such a wonderful report!!! πŸ™ŒπŸΌπŸ™ŒπŸΌπŸ™ŒπŸΌ

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  12. Dear Gina,
    Praying for you all, how amazing is God when He puts the people you needed to chat to in front of you in the waiting room. What a blessing to have that opportunity Also how wonderful that Ed is already out of ICU, amazing. I know how you feel about a country mouse you made me smile as that is how I used to feel in London with my sons when they had hospital stays, we live in the country and I used to find it all too overwhelming in size and noise. Praying that all goes well and that you all are blessed with strength in these circumstances.

    Blessings
    shelley p
    from over the pond

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  13. Dear Gina, It gives me goosebumps and brings me to tears as I read of the amazing ways God is working on your and Ed's behalf there in the hospital. "Sometimes I just look up to the sky and say 'I know that was you, God. Thanks!"

    Continued prayers for you and your family. Janelle

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  14. I've always thought that angels are not the flighty things with wings but more often just the right people put in our path at the right time.

    Looks like you met several angels just yesterday!

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  15. Amen. Glad Ed is doing as well as he is. God be praised!

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  16. We are happy and grateful to hear your positive update. This little song is going through my head right now....

    My God is so good!---So strong and so mighty!--- There's nothing my God cannot do!!

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  17. I don't often comment on your blog, Gina, but I'm always coming back to check in on how your family is doing and praying for you all! So good to hear God's provision and goodness in your lives and how your faith can see His hand working. May He continue to draw you close and bless you in this time of trial.
    By the way, your husband has beautiful eyes--so gentle. He looks amazing for having had such a big surgery so recently.

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  18. God is amazing to send those people to you, he is incredible like that. Keeping you all in prayer. God bless you all.
    SUE X

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  19. So glad to hear he is doing well.

    The immunotherapy seems hopeful. I watched the interview you linked.
    I’ll be continuing to pray for wisdom for you and Ed to know the direction you should proceed in.

    Thanks for sharing your lives with us.

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  20. WHAT A great god we have, amen,

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