WOW Part 2

I Can't But He Can

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Philippians 4:13

Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power...

Thanks so much for joining me today for the continuation of I can’t, but He can! It’s hard to believe we are nine days into the New Year; I guess that’s because I lost so many of them to the hospital! And yet, they are not lost for each one reiterates the truth of this month’s WOW. Grab your coffee and come in for a bit.

Before getting to my room, George let me know that the guy we were both staring at was who we thought it was and his wife was here for almost the same thing, having to do with her gallbladder! Tuck that little fact away for later.

So after getting situated in my room, the RN came in and introduced himself, made sure I was comfortable and asked if I needed anything. I had since gotten a nice big shot in the arm for nausea and pain. All I really needed was to be told everything was going to be okay, but I knew I couldn’t ask him for that. He also told me that they had set up a procedure for me the following day at 10 or 11 – I forget which because the days are beginning to blur together and without food, whew, it’s hard to think! Because of that procedure I was NPO, no food allowed! When he told me it was an MRCP, I asked him what in the world that was. He said an MRI of the upper abdomen and large intestine. When he said MRI, the hair on my lip stood up – time for a wax job!

“So is this an enclosed MRI? “

Well, not totally enclosed but –“He indicated with his hand the tubular shape.

My beady eyes got big as half dollars and I let him know I would definitely have to have something to relax me because I was extremely claustrophobic, and not just a tiny bit, but a whole lot. He was super nice, had the gift of compassion, and patience, and a great sense of humor.

About ten minutes after that announcement, he came in to let us know that I was getting a roommate in a little bit. Immediately I thought about our friend’s wife – let’s give her a name. Wynona! And let’s give him the name of Craig. I knew his last name so I asked my nurse, if by any chance it was -- and I said their name. And he looked at me curiously and said, “As a matter of fact, I think it is”!

Sure enough, within thirty minutes, if that, in comes Craig followed by Wynona on a hospital bed. My roommate was someone I knew of, but something told me that would change to become someone I was getting to know. When the RN came in, I just know he thought there was some sort of reunion-type party going on and he let his entire shift know of the coincidence that I now know was a God-incidence. By the time George got ready to leave, I was somewhat calmer at the prospect of spending a night away from him in a hospital bed. After all, I had a new friend. What if I wasn’t the only reason I was there? That thought lay with me on my pillow when the guys finally went home and the lights went off.

The little sleep I did get that first night came in bits and pieces. If my blood pressure wasn’t being taken, or I wasn’t being stuck for more blood, or the IV wasn’t beeping some warning message, or I wasn’t clenching my jaw because of the horrible noises an obviously older man was making in the room next door, or wincing in pain for the person who was coughing so hard I just knew they were going to call Code Blue, I was thinking about how my New Year was starting out, wondering where it would take me and if there was anything I could have done to avoid this. And how in the world was I ever going to make it through this claustrophobic procedure that would, I thought, give them the answers they were looking for?

Yeah, that first night was much like a whirl-pool of thoughts overflowing like a broken water faucet, pushing me into their spell and pulling me from the gift of sleep.

At 5:30, I gave up trying to sleep, unplugged the IV from the wall and went for a walk. I had decided the hospital was not a place for rest, at least not the REM kind of sleep I like to get! At 7:00 a.m., on Thursday, the day after New Year’s, the shift changed and we met a whole new shift of nurses. The CNA, Brices, came in and took my vitals, introduced herself, and then she proceeded to write on the white board the name of the RN, the LVN, her name, the visiting doctor – whom I never saw – as well as the Charge Nurse. Wynona and I had two different nurses but the same CNA who was very sympathetic to the fact that we both were NPO. Wynona’s condition was more critical than mine and they were thinking she might have to have surgery that day. She suggested a cup of ice chips for us both.

When she brought them back, one for each of us, we both savored tiny bites of ice chips as if they had been made by a chef. We were both starving and about three bites in, she was talking about how good it felt to have them and I began to laugh at the absurdity of it, because she was right. The ice chips did help the hunger pains!

Shortly after my feast of ice chips, my hubby came and was I ever glad to see him! Funny how an unexpected circumstance can either pull you apart or bring you closer; and watching him love and care for me brought us closer.

He had brought my computer with him, knowing I’d probably want to write, but at this point, I didn’t. All I could think about was getting answers and getting the heck out of there. After all, I had things to do, places to go, people to see! :)

When the new RN came and gave me my anti-anxiety pill, I swallowed it, wondering if it would really do the trick and calm me enough to get in that tube that I just knew would cave in on me. That may seem like an over-dramatization to you, but let me assure you, I was getting more and more freaked out the closer the appointed time came. I can’t but You can, Lord.

Join me for more tomorrow,

Evinda