Strange Week

Now, some of you who are sympathetic to the fact that Su has lived with me week-in-and-week-out for over 36 years, are going to think that EVERY week is a bit strange for Su. Even I would have to admit that you are probably right. However, this one has been especially "different."

We began the week in beautiful, tropical San Isidro, Costa Rica, and have ended it in early fall in the Kansas City metro area. It is what has happened in between that has made it "special."

On Monday we had two pre-operative visits with the wonderful team at Research Medical Center in KC. As part of the pre-op procedures they went through the medicines that Su is currently taking. I would guess that they had to look up half of them on the internet because the names and dosages between countries are so different ... and at least two remained a mystery to them. The two nurses dealing with this problem kept saying, "These are very strange. We have never heard of these medicines."

The next day we returned to check Su into the hospital for her surgery. The first question that two doctors asked us was, "What is this medicine?" One also wanted to know where we got it. I was tempted to say Colombia, but Su always likes me to be on my best behavior in medical establishments.

I try. I really try.

Su's surgery was scheduled later in the day (The surgeon and his team had graciously added Su’s procedure onto their busy schedule). At 4:30pm, as Kari and I waited while Su was in the OR, the individuals attending the phones in the outpatient admissions and large waiting room stood up and said, "We’re leaving now. You are now in charge of answering the phones." 

I am NOT making this up! Since there were several other people in the room, I looked at the most professional-looking man among us and said, "She must have meant you." I will NOT write down his verbatim response . . . it probably wouldn't be appropriate for a missionary update.

So, strange as it may sound, I spent the rest of our time answering the hospital waiting room phone system. I must have sounded like I knew something, because I was asked at least one medical question. I was tempted to suggest the medicine the doctors could never identify as a possible solution, but remembered Su's strict warnings just in time and, instead, convinced a passing nurse to take the call.

Maybe the strangest thing of all is simply sitting in a hospital room day after day with someone you love very much and realizing there is very little you can do except to call one of the excellent nurses when there is a problem. 

Wedding vows used to include archaic language like "cherish and protect." Once you have turned your loved one over for surgery, it seems like there is little protecting you can still do, and the cherishing doesn't seem to help lower the pain levels . . . well, at least much.

While escaping for lunch one day, I found myself in another strange situation. Holding the door open for two elderly women, one very deliberately looked me up and down and said, "Thank you, sir. I just love your boots." Attempting some humor in what had been a hard (and strange) day, I responded by saying, "Well, ma’m, I thought you were going to complement my bald head." She quickly reached up and rubbed my chin and said, "No, but I do love your whiskers."

What hasn't been strange this week is the love, care and affection that we have felt from many of you. I genuinely want to thank you for your cards, emails, notes and flowers. They have meant a great deal to all of us. I especially want to thank Mark and Carol Kieft who have allowed us to invade their home and upset their normal schedule. With Su, Kari and me staying on, I can almost promise this next week is going to be another strange one for them.

Prayer requests - just two this week, but I would appreciate it if you would keep the second one in mind each day.

First, pray for Krista's safe return to Chicago. She is eight months pregnant and traveling with special permission from her mid-wife. I would think it very strange to have my next granddaughter's birth certificate read "Born: somewhere over Iowa on American Airlines."

Second, continue to pray for Su's recovery. She is obviously experiencing some normal, but significant pain. Pray that the surgery can actually provide a solution for some of the difficulties she has experienced during the past years.