We Spent Our Anniversary in the ICU
Today was our 18th wedding anniversary. Instead of celebrating, we stood in a cold and comfortless hospital room, waiting for my precious daddy to open his eyes.
Today marks his 14th day in the hospital, and most of that time has been spent in the ICU. After being life-flighted to a larger hospital and undergoing two emergency surgeries, he still wasn’t doing well. He was losing a lot of blood and no one could figure out why. Eventually, they told him he needed to have his colon removed, as that’s where the bleeding was coming from. They told him he didn’t really have any good options. In the end, my dad decided to have his colon removed, as it’s his best chance for survival.
Ever since that surgery last week, Dad has been very weak and in pain.
Every day I pray for a miracle. I pray that when I talk to my mom, who is living at the hospital, that she will tell me good news. That Dad is going to be okay and recover. But every time we talk it seems there is a new difficulty or a new setback.
Today he has a fever. His breathing is raspy and his eyes have a sad and tired look. He’s on IV antibiotics to fight off the infection, and so many other drugs for the various other issues his poor body is dealing with.
I’m trying to be strong, but sometimes you feel like you can’t be strong anymore. That’s how I’m feeling right now.
I want life to go back to the way it was before all of this happened. I want to see my dad the way he was before. I want to laugh together until we cry, the way we used to, rather than crying together in the ICU because there’s nothing to laugh about anymore.
Despite the sorrow I’ve been feeling lately, I still believe God is good. No matter the outcome, I will trust Him. He is my refuge.
I know I can’t carry this myself, and I’m looking to Jesus for help and strength.
Thank you so much for praying for us! Would you please pray for my dad to be healed, to be given a second chance? Would you pray for my wonderful mother to be strengthened and given an extra measure of grace, as she watches over my dad in the hospital at the beginning of his 3rd week there? It would mean so much to me…
Praying for you and yours sweetie — just as you asked! Many blessings and days together for you and your hubby. I hope you two are able to have a sweet, private, anniversary celebration soon. (:
Love,
Mitzi
Thank you so much, Mitzi! ♥
You and your family remain in my daily prayers. May God bless and strengthen you all.
Thank you so much for praying!
Oh, and congratulations to you and your husband on 18 years!
Thank you!
I'm so sorry your going through this, Joy. I'll be praying for your dad's recovery, for your mom as she keeps vigil at the hospital, and for you and the rest of your family.
Thank you for praying, Bridget!
dear joy,
I will be praying for you and your dad & mom…don't give up because GOD is able! A sweet friend of mine has been going through something similar with her dad…he was so near death and so sick! developed a hole in his colon and many other things. they tried to repair and they caused another hole…anyway he was in hospital for weeks and on IV for months and no solid foods. Well, praise the LORD he is now at home and taking solid foods and doing lots better! And, believe it or not, my friend's name is JOY! I will be praying!!! Take care and try to get some rest 🙂
Kay
Kay, thank you so much for sharing that. How amazing that you have a friend named Joy who is going through something similar! I'm so glad to hear that her dad is recovering. And thank you so much for praying. ♥
Praying for your dad and all the family.
Hugs,
Anne♥
Thank you, Anne. ♥
Dearest Joy, I am praying for you and your family during this time of "wilderness" knowing that it is in these very times that God provides, protects, and restores His people. May you ALL be overwhelmed with His presence. Most Sincerely, Deidre
Thank you so much for praying, Deidre. ♥
You have all been in my thoughts and I checked often to see if there was any news
been praying for healing and strength for you all and will continue to do so-I am so sorry your Dear Father is still suffering and has had to go through so much
God Bless
♥ Fiona
Thank you, Fiona. ♥
I'm continuing to pray for you all, Joy!
Your prayers mean so much to me, Nancy, thank you.
Lifting up your Daddy and all of you!
Thank you. ♥
Keeping your family in my prayers!
Thank you so much.
every time I've seen your blog this past week I have prayed and wondered how things are going…. as a nurse (which I haven't practiced since my oldest was born), it's easy for me to see the drugs, the statistics, the pain, the heaping of bad news…
BUT YOU MUST BELIEVE GOD IS BIGGER THAN THAT… I watched a dear friend's 15 year old son fight leukemia and receive 2 bone marrow transplants… and that was her motto— every day— GOD IS BIGGER–and HE IS… cling to Him tightly because He is already holding on to you and your precious family…. He has already enveloped you in His Mercy and Grace… He loves you…
I know we've never met this side of Heaven… but know that the great gathering of saints and the Lord Jesus Christ, Himself, are in CONSTANT, LOVING, HOPEFUL intercession for you, your mom, your family… right now… and in the future… they have interceded for you since the moment you were a thought in the hand of God… will continue to pray… I pray these words are a sweet salve to your soul right now…
You really encouraged me, Leanne, thank you so much for sharing such encouraging, hopeful words. ♥
Praying for your Dad, Mom and family (((((hugs))))
Thank you for praying, Kathryn.
Prayers for you all. Be Blessed
Thank you, Peggy.
Dear Joy ~ praying for your family today and for God's perfect peace to be with each one of you, including your father! I get email encouragement from Revive Our Hearts and this was in my inbox this morning …. hoping it's an encouragement to you no matter what the day brings! ♥ Becky
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Perspective
Nancy Leigh DeMoss: I’ll never forget years ago at my brother’s funeral when one speaker said, “It’s not wrong to ask God why , as long as we ask not with a clenched fist but with a searching heart.”
I think David has a searching heart in Psalm 10:1. He looks at the pain and evil in the world and says, “Why, O LORD, do you stand far off?”
But halfway through the psalm he moves from an earthly perspective to an eternal one. He says, “You, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand.” Then he goes on to say, “O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry” (vv. 14, 17).
From our earthly perspective, we sometimes wonder why certain things happen. But God will never let our pain and suffering go on longer than needed. Would you ask God to give you an eternal perspective today?
With Seeking Him , I’m Nancy Leigh DeMoss.
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I love that Becky, thank you for sharing it with me. And thank you so much for praying.
Reading this brought tears to my eyes, and made my heart ache. I pray your dad will be healed very soon, and God's mercy is with him. Psalm 23: "The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength…..
That's very comforting, Sara, thank you so much.
Praying for you Dad and the whole family.
Thank you, Ana. ♥
Yes!
A big hug,
Franca
Thank you, Franca. ♥