To be more informed, check out edition #1 on this blog.
I have never been fond of the phrase “It’s a God thing.” It seems to me to be a simplistic way to describe genuinely divine acts. But the fact I am still here, and writing may be proof of a “God thing.” My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ may not be finished with me yet.
Looking back, I see key people and events worthy of mention. Hindsight is handy for that. I do not always realize the significance of events or happenings until some time has passed.
My wife of 54 years cared enough to insist I go to the emergency room. She persisted in calling EMS, insisting I go on the ambulance to the Emergency Room in Liberal, KS. I had previously assured her I was not going. (Life Lesson: Pay more attention to your wife.)
I don’t think any of us knew at that point how critical time would become.
Also, I am blessed to have three beautiful, caring, compassionate, medically trained daughters who combined their various skill sets, gifts and abilities to make a scary time seem not so threatening.
Angela is a Kansas trained paramedic who thrives on emergencies. She lives near Chicago but managed to beat me to the hospital in Andover. Ashley, a medical doctor, is a resident of Scotland and was able to take part in the unfolding events via some of today’s modern technology. She also used some of those same resources to provide greetings and well-wishes from faces who, because of distance, are not often seen in person. Aspen, a physical therapist, lives not far from Andover. She, Angela, and Grandson Zayne from Owasso OK (think Tulsa) were there to welcome me when the EagleMed team rolled me into the Kansas Medical Center. After the long bumpy ambulance ride with people I did not even know, it was great to see friendly faces. (Maybe I should get a faster ambulance next time)
Angela helped us find our way through the suddenly appearing piles of insurance regulations and forms and found us a great place to “live” while we stayed in Wichita for my daily antibioticinfusions after I was discharged from the Medical Center. She made sure Joyce could get back and forth to the Medical Center from their nearby hotel when I was still in the hospital. Zayne was a great help in shuttling things and people around.
Aspen and Angela turned the suite at the Springhill Suites Marriott into our home away from home. Aspen, who came into our life after we thought we had raising kids all figured out, livened things up. Her favorite phrase, as she arrived in the room, was always, “You are going to love this!” It became kind of scary as she showed up with new things for me to wear or try out. She also provided and continues to provide transportation to therapy and daily antibiotic infusions. She sometimes brings her family for dinner in our downstairs living room. She also knows people who know people in Wichita, and that has proven very helpful.
They have watched over my condition like hawks, pointing out things that need to be looked at. I can suddenly find myself in a small room full of doctors poking on something they had thought should be checked out. Then they all agree its probably going to be alright. And I feel better again.
What do people do who don’t have a wife and daughters to look after them?
Without all of their help, I do not know how we could manage this.
I continue daily antibiotic infusions at the Infectious Disease clinic here in Wichita. This is the reason we are still here and not at home. I also have physical therapy a couple of times a week.
Hindsight tells me I might not have made it.
Touching just briefly again on the God Thing concept. I discovered people that I did not even know, some half a world away, were praying for me.
I think it was a God Thing!
For my wife and daughters, I am extremely thankful.
P.S. I have heard them all repeat with great glee things they said I said coming out of recovery from one procedure or another. Just for the record, I do not remember saying any of those things.