"I'm sorry, sweetie, this one popped out."
TX children's is a teaching hospital. Sigh.
The new nurse tried again. Thank goodness we used the numbing cream. The stick worked that time. The last vial of blood was collected. Elisabeth was done with the needles before surgery.
We went back to the waiting room. She had to meet with four different groups pre-surgery. They checked bloodwork and vitals, discussed anesthesia options, and got her case history. Over and over.
"hey!! There's my friend!!!!" She scooted over to the child-life worker. The worker smiled at her, remembered her as the pretty little ballerina from the EEG unit. She checked her schedule, and said she'd be the helper on the morning of Elisabeth's surgery. Elisabeth was thrilled.
"Oh, yay! There's Dr. Curry!!!" Elisabeth waved and smiled her biggest smile. He took the time to stop by, and tell her hello. We reminded him that Elisabeth was next Thursday. He said he's see her then. She grinned.
She went on charming every nurse and worker and child in the waiting room, until we were finished.
She was actually looking forward to coming back. That hospital is very good with children.
The nurse told me I could give blood for Elisabeth. "We might not need it, but if we do, she would have yours."
It felt so good to actually do something for her. Besides driving. And hugging. The girls loved it that Mommy got the needle that time. They watched the blood bag in horrified fascination. Elisabeth wasn't thrilled that she could need so much blood. But, accepted it, because it was mommy's.
My parents flew in two nights before. They were a wonderful distraction. I didn't notice my hands shaking as much. The kids didn't talk about surgery as much. Parents make everything feel better.
Papa told me that he had mentioned Elisabeth on an email to many, many pastors. That they all had their churches praying for her. That was comforting.
Our own pastor sent out an email. The church family signed up for prayer times. Someone was praying for her every minute starting at 6:00 a.m. surgery morning. My eyes couldn't stay dry. Neither could Elisabeth's.
She got cards from people we didn't even know. Pictures from children. Notes from adults. All full of kindness, love, and hope. Elisabeth cried every time she got one. "Oh, Mommy, they are so nice!"
The night before her surgery, we played in the sunshine, watched them all together, took pictures, and just soaked in the beauty and joy of living.
When Elisabeth went to bed that night, she told me she was a little scared. "What if something happens to me?"
"Honey, people are praying for you all over the world. Even in China. I don't think anything is going to happen to you, except healing. But, if it did, do you know what would happen then?"
"I'd be in heaven with Jesus."
"Yes, Jesus said 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father, but by me.' Papa used to say when he was preaching, that no one ever goes to hell, clinging to the feet of Jesus."
She smiled. "I believe, mommy." She settled into her soft pillow, and smiled off to sleep.
"He shall gather the lambs with His arms, and carry them in his bosom." Isaiah 40:11
No comments:
Post a Comment