Don't hold your breath!

The doctor was behind schedule, and we were growing impatient.  The staff at the hospital had given Christopher stellar care, but we were still very anxious to go home.  His ticket out the door depended on the surgeon's assessment of his overnight progress.  Whether or not we would sleep in our own beds that night, all depended on what the doctor had to say.

Hospitals are inherently unpredictable places.  Schedules can easily get turned upside down due to sudden emergencies or procedures that don't go as planned.  Healing can be somewhat of a tricky business too.  Sometimes patients don't respond as expected, and sometimes healing is cruelly interrupted by nagging complications. 

I can't hold my breath that long.

Whatever the reason for her late arrival, we were just glad to see her.  The doctor began her usual thorough examination.  She asked a long list of questions and reviewed Christopher's chart.  I think I was literally holding my breath waiting for her to give the go ahead for our discharge from the hospital.  Unfortunately, I wouldn't be able to hold my breath that long.  The surgeon concluded it would be best for Christopher to spend the rest of the day in the hospital.  She wanted Christopher to receive one more round of IV antibiotics, and she wanted to make sure that he could eat food without the incisions leaking.  I knew her reasoning was sound, but I still didn't like it.  Christopher wasn't too thrilled about it either, but we both decided to make the best of it. 

The dream!

We certainly didn't want anything to do with an infection, so the IV antibiotics were a welcome idea.  As for food, Christopher hadn't eaten in over 24 hours.  He was starving.  He could definitely sink his teeth into a big juicy bacon cheeseburger with hot salty fries.  However, when his first tray of food arrived it was filled with nothing but liquids and soft foods.  It wasn't exactly what he had in mind, but it would do for now.  After all, this was just the first go round.  If he tolerated it well, then maybe he could advance to that burger and fries.

The sad reality!

Christopher relaxed back into his hospital bed.  There was still hope that we might get to go home later that night if everything went well.  It was best not to fight it. Just sit back, relax, cooperate, and heal.  Some things just can't be rushed, and this was definitely one of them.

As it turned out, a little extra time in the hospital turned out to have an "up" side  The nursing staff had orders to check Christopher's vitals, manage his pain, and assess his surgical sites regularly.  Our nurse spent a lot of time caring for Christopher and helping us pass the time away with small talk.  When she found out that Christopher wanted to become a nurse too, the conversation really took off to new heights.  There was so much talk about nursing school that we almost forgot that Christopher was still a patient in the hospital and not a nursing student just learning the ropes.

Tell me ALL about i!

Christopher's mind was firing on all cylinders.  What's the best nursing school?  How long does it take to graduate?  Is it hard to get a job?  The nurse may have thought she "unleashed the beast," but she was gracious and answered all his questions.  Christopher continued.  He may have to be in the hospital, but he was determined to make the most of it.  What are you listening for with your stethoscope?  What are you looking for when you examine the surgical sites?  What do all those wavy lines mean on that monitor? 

It was almost like Christopher was preparing and rehearsing for his new future.  A future full of real food.  A future with a completely healed and intact abdomen, and a future that included a career in nursing.  Something told me that Christopher would make an excellent nurse someday.  His personal experience, his sense of compassion, and his healing testimony would give him a unique perspective that could be very beneficial to his patients.  Whatever his future held, I was excited to see how God was going to use Christopher and the healing miracle that He had done in him.

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord.  "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you.  Plans to give you a hope and a future."
 
If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you can pray like this:

More tomorrow...