Like most men I tend to be a “doer” or a “fixer”. I try to fix a problem or make a situation better. But from the moment I was wheeled into that big hospital and was taken to what would be “my room” for the next 5 days…I had a calming peace with putting my faith and trust in God to see me through.
Surprisingly I was able to sleep that first night before surgery, but nurses would wake me about every hour and ask if I could still wiggle my toes-not much, but slightly…soon I was prepped for surgery.
“He heals the broken-hearted and bandages their wounds.” Psalms 147:3 (GNT)
After I was out of recovery the doctor told Ruth and me that they were able to do all the operations in both legs so that I was all done with surgery. As the doctor told how I now had metal rods going down to a new ankle in my right leg and this “contraption” right below my knee with a rod into my left leg, and he’s describing screws and nails that he put in–no wonder the new pain I thought!
So, there we were, my incredible wife who slept right in the same room with me to be with me and help me, day and night! And because I was unable to even move, Ruth became my advocate making requests for me or standing up for me when necessary. (“Every inpatient needs an advocate because everyone working in every hospital is so busy.”)
I remember the hours looking down at my left leg elevated on that blue foam wedge and my right leg with that giant black boot brace on it. And yet there I was, unable to move either leg. All I could do at that point was wiggle a few toes. The doctor and nurses said, “That’s encouraging” (but not so encouraging for me at that point, I wanted to move my legs!) The doctor also said that it would be 12-14 months to truly know what my “new normal” would be, and that I would have to be transferred to a rehab hospital when I leave there…
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” II Corinthians 4:16-18 (NIV)
The next day the nurses needed to do something to my bed that required me to be out of the bed. So, they hooked me up to some kind of “sling” and hoisted me straight up and out of the bed! A nurse was holding my legs up and steady–and the only thing I could relate this whole event to was pulling an engine and transmission out of a car, waiting to slide it into another car–only I was the engine and transmission! They quickly fixed or adjusted whatever they needed to do to the bed, and I was eased back into the bed with very little pain. I guess this was an illustration of how in my mind I knew how helpless I was at this point.
As the reality of my injuries began to sink in I was becoming more and more thankful. First of all, with the force that the tree hit me, it really was a miracle that the tree stopped just below my knees. I then had time to think about how quickly the entire rescue had gone. And then from the first hospital to this hospital…I was very well aware how each and every step along the way could have had many delays, yet there were none. I was thankful! Then I continued to grow more and more thankful for my wonderful wife Ruth! She would be sleeping at the side of the room and always tell me to wake her if I needed her. Even though I hated to wake her out of a sound sleep, she would always jump right up with a smile on her face ready to assist me in any way she could! Amazing…
“There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!” Proverbs 31:29 (NLT)
Something else I started being so thankful for was “God’s never ending well of Grace.” Jesus made that well for each of us who believe in Him, when He chose to die for us. Some may call it “Grace to help in time of need”.
Since I now had 2 legs full of metal rods and hardware, I was getting advised about what rehab hospital I would be going to next…we selected a hospital in Mishawaka, Indiana so the arrangements were made, the ambulance transport was called as I was prepared for the next stage on this road to recovery!
To be continued…
Till Next Time…..
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