Updates, Us: Hospital Eve 4/15/13

Monday, April 15, 2013

Hospital Eve 4/15/13

With so much upheaval in Boston today, our thoughts and prayers are with those runners, bystanders and supporters injured. We pray that those touched in any way may find some measure of rest tonight.

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Tis the night before we go...

It all seems so anticlimactic. And yet there are still papers to sign, forms to fill out and talks to talk, and talk and talk.

Hearing from so many of you with cards and emails means so much.

The meds he must take before surgery have been making him lightheaded. Very congested too. Sunday two of our Christian brothers stuck out into the streets looking for him before services. It seems he decided to go home--without telling me. (Later he said that he did. Ummmm)

They walked me to our apartment searching hi and low, and no Raymon. As they turned to the elevator, who should they meet but dear dizzy Raymon.

Today has been a last fling downtown and subway riding.

Tomorrow is check-in and an overnight prep.

Wednesday is surgery.

4 comments:

♥ Boomer ♥April 15, 2013 at 6:43 PM
As always, I am praying for you. I love you so much. I do not like life here on earth very much, but it is what it is until He calls us Home.
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AnonymousApril 16, 2013 at 1:21 PM
OK -- and so it begins. Just talked to Terry, and I will keep him posted since his computer is out of commission. He said he caught you on the way out to the hospital. I didn't try, figuring you had plenty on your mind. I will be glued here waiting for word(s) on what's happening. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Love, Bozo2
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AnonymousApril 17, 2013 at 5:36 AM
I trust the check in and prep has gone without incident. I have resisted the urge to call you, hoping to see an updated post about Tuesday, but alas nothing new posted here. It's 5:35a here on the West Coast, and that probably means that things are getting underway, if not well underway in the Eastern Time Zone. I trust you will let us know ASAP how things went during surgery today. Love to you both. Bozo2
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2Shaye ♪♫April 17, 2013 at 7:50 AM
Been praying and thinking of you both this week. Can't wait to hear more news. Love you so much and we'll continue praying. <3 shannon rae
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Friday, 4/26/2013

Friday included doctor's visits, an MRI (my first ever), having 12 staples pulled out and witnessing a parade of life mostly featuring fellow veterans.

As a keen observer of the human condition, the parade of veterans @ Bronx hospital is a remarkable display of mostly men in various states of lucidity and flights of fancy. Until early afternoon Friday, I held a front row seat watching an endless stream of my fellow veterans coming and going.

Lots of them were suffering from making terrible choices; lots more were in agony from combat zone injuries. Their wives, girl friends, boy friends and various family members were colorful additions to the parade.

My serious abdominal surgery recovery pales in comparison to many many others. One man whizzed by on an electric-powered cart. He had no legs and was stomach-down, head up maneuvering deftly among and between the ambulatory, the wheel chairs. I detected a faint smile on his world weary face.

Saturday and today I feel worn down. I really wanted to be on hand for our Everyday Church seven baptisms this morning, especially for Adam. But, I did not want to be a distraction and my strength reservoir was depleted. So, I rested while Lindy lovingly and strongly represented our family.

More musings when the inspiration strikes!

Thursday, 4/25/2013

I walked out of the apartment, took the elevator to the lobby then gingerly stepped onto the sidewalk fronting our building. The breeze was fresh but the pungent odor of diesel oddly pierced the set piece.

Tomorrow morning will be a milestone. The 12 staples will be removed from the right side of my abdomen. After that presumably short exercise, I proceed to the MRI machine.

The MRI occurs after the staples are unfastened because --- please pay attention you physics and electrical engineering wizards --- there would likely be a magnetic incident in which I would be swept up into some sort of weird Star Wars/Star Trek black hole.

My dear Lindy continues to be the angel I do not deserve, the servant placed by God and the durable and enduring partner in this adventure.

Last week during my hospital campout, my friend Audrey came to see me with her mother. She sang a song infused with comfort and soothing words. It was just the right elixir that trumped the several needles stuck into my body. Thanks, Audrey. You are a sweetheart!

Today the sun is filling most every nook and cranny in Inwood. As my recovery continues, God's splendor is on display as is his magnificent, inexplicable healing power.

More musings...

It can now be revealed: If given a thousand votes I would vote a thousand times to be on the flying bridge ---- three stories above the main deck ---- in 40 foot seas v. enduring abdominal surgery.

But, hey, that may just be me.

While mostly prone in my seventh floor room last week, sounds became powerful benchmarks as the minutes inched by. One in particular sounded like a custodian's mop bucket with the squeeze mechanism. Another was the perpetual public address announcements: "Aslam Uru Kardasaf please call 3984."

In my drug-enhanced state just after being wheeled into the room, the announcements could have been something like: "Women's delicates, industrial solvents and infant specialities, fourth floor."

Today I got out of the apartment, out of the building and actually walked across the street with Lindy, of course, monitoring each step. Each day is progress; my voice is returning.

Well, don't worry, a certain unknown, maybe slightly legal drug inhibits me from showing those 752 slides which depict my edge-of-the seat, riveting Coast Guard life.

For now, Friends of Raymon, thank you for loving us. This life journey would have been pretty lame without you folks along for the ride!

Raymon's thoughts

4/15/13

Deep End...

The lead up to Wednesday's first surgery is a bit surreal. The first, first surgery was postponed less than twenty four hours before it was scheduled.

This adventure is somewhat reminiscent of the first day in the swimming pool during Coast Guard boot camp. None of us in the recruit company actually knew what it was like to jump in, swim laps and tread water. But, we managed.

Similarly, I don't know what to expect Wednesday morning when the surgeon and his team commence to dive into the deep end of my lower abdomen and seize the dysfunctional organ. What I do know is that God is in charge and Lindy and I are deferring to Him!

Raymon's Thoughts

4/12/2013

About this medical procedure scheduled to removed some unsound material from my innards...

During a lengthy walk below 23 Street between Seventh and Third Avenues last Saturday, I passed three store fronts each of which housed a psychic. The last of the three was most memorable because it was set off by a Sphinx.

Hmm...Sphinx; THE Sphinx? Pharaohs, Ramses, King Tut?

Had I entered and paid for psychic services, would I have been transported back in time and joined Moses and Aaron in their tete tete with Pharoah’s physics and mystics?

Would Pharaoh have ordered his magicians to heal the prostate and dysfunctional Adrenal gland? With a whistle for a NYC taxi cab, I was brought back to the Sphinx in the window. Why is it like in Pharoah’s day, people today put their faith in physics? People pay money so that a certified mystic will speak words mostly comforting.

What I know is that my sovereign God provides healing, comfort and love. This, I am sure: A psychic with a Sphinx in the window in New York City has not, does not and will not heal, predict the future and prescribe a perfect life path.