Journey into Light

I awoke two days after my surgery and began to wonder what had happened. I could remember little from the previous five days in the hospital.

Soon I learned that I had had extensive heart surgery involving the replacement of part of my aorta artery and six bypasses. One doctor described it “as one big hairy operation.”

However, I had the best surgeon in the best heart hospital in the area and the operation went like clockwork. No heart damage and a full recovery expected.

God made it clear that he was the one who guided me to this surgeon and hospital and that he was behind the doctors’ life and death decisions regarding my treatment. He also made it clear that he was not done with me on this earth. He still had works he wanted to do in me and through me. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

As my mind cleared, I began to fear what would happen to me. God responded by impressing upon me that he was in control and would help me through this experience. “God is a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).

We had a conversational relationship, as several times a day I would ask him for direction, protection, and encouragement and he provided the help.

I experienced fears, pain, and weakness each day. There were also dozens of rules to follow. One of them was not to move off the bed without assistance. Others were not to push up with the hands or lift my hands over my head.

I made remarkable progress in 7 out of the 8 measures of readiness to be released. The one area I fell short in was the systolic blood pressure. It was too high.

So, day after day, the doctors tried various drug combinations to try to bring the blood pressure down. Nothing seemed to work.

However, God encouraged me each day from the love and support I received from family and friends. Also, the nurses were very helpful and protective.

Many times I would thank God for being in the hospital and the good he was doing through this ordeal. One time a very godly nun came by and I voiced how I thought that I would never get out of this hospital. She said to be thankful for staying extra days in intensive care. She said that generally those who stay longer in intensive care recover faster when they get home.

Several times the doctors would tell me that I would be released from intensive care the next day. At least four times, this did not happen. The blood pressure was always too high to risk release.

After 17 days in  the hospital (12 days in intensive care after surgery while the normal time is five days), I was in tears and told God that only he could get me out of this place. A half-hour later I was released. “My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare” (Psalm 27:13, NIV).

My recovery at home has been going amazingly well.

The blood pressure problem is still a work-in-progress but I am attacking it through prayer, diet, medicine, exercise, and counseling. And it is coming down close to normal. I am confident that it will be eventually brought under control. “I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” (Psalm 27: 13).

God will help me!