1 Mile

Many of you have heard of the movie 8 Mile.  Tonight we are going to talk about 1 Mile, which is a much different story.  1 Mile is a story about a walk I took with my wife tonight.  To many of you, one mile does not seem like a long distance, but to me tonight, it was worth praise.

Four weeks and one day ago, my wife went in for a routine gallbladder removal surgery.  The surgeon explained to us that it was routine "as long as we don't have any complications."  We joked that it's okay because I have her covered with life insurance.  The surgeon and I both laughed and Tami just rolled her eyes at me like I have gotten her to do so many times.  This was her first surgery since being a young child, and I was amazed at how calm she was.  I have seen more panic in Tami when I have went into surgery.  She was pushed back to start prepping for surgery after one last "see you later" kiss. That was at about 11:15 am.  

The doctor returned to the room at 12:46 pm and had the most terrified look I have seen on a doctor's face.  He said, "Well, she's going to make it tough on us."  He went on to explain that when he went in to remove the gallbladder, he found that she had a hernia.  Not just your normal hernia was good enough for Tami, but much of her large intestine was in her chest.  He tried to reduce it back to where it should be but it wouldn't budge.  He explained that he wanted to contact the best surgeon that he knew at Abbott.  He didn't know if the surgeon would want to see Tami on in-patient or an out-patient procedure.  And I consented to this.  

He returned a short time later, and said that we were going to go to Abbott Northwestern where she would be evaluated.  That was about 1:00 pm.  At 4:00 pm, Tami was loaded into the ambulance and on her way to Abbott.

I got to Abbott about 5:30 pm, after stopping home, grabbing a couple things, and letting Bella out to relieve herself.  I walked in, noticed Tami's room was empty, and went to find a nurse.  We got to meet Mary who was Tami's nurse.  Mary had one of the most contagious smiles I had ever seen.  I did not find her aid but I found another one.  She told me that Tami had left a couple minutes ago and was headed to surgery.  Well, she had went down for a CT Scan, so I didn't miss the opportunity to see her before surgery.  A short time later, Dr. Kelly came in, and almost excited, asked, "Have you seen your scan?  This is crazy."  He pulled the scan up and showed it to us.  It was impressive.  Parts of her body were in places that they had no business being in.  

The surgeon showed up at about 9:30 pm.  She told us what she thought was going on, and gave the options.  She told us she could perform the surgery, but she would rather have Dr. Chong evaluate it the next day because Dr. Chong was the best in the business at this kind of hernia surgery.  We both said that would be okay because Tami needed some rest, it had already been a long day.  At the same time both her lactate and white blood count were growing.  I returned home.

Friday was an early day for me.  I wanted to get up there early and arrived at 6:30 am.  Her nurse that day was Myada.  Because I can't help myself, I get to asking questions.  Myada was born of Yemen and Ethiopian parents and was named after an Egyptian queen.  She told us about her husband and kids, but it was her gentle hand and loving nursing that stood out.  I told Myada that although she didn't know it, she was full of Jesus.  Of course, when I do these kinds of things, Myada seemed to get a little uncomfortable, but flattered at the same time. 

Dr. Chong arrived about 9:00 am.  She told us her concerns and our options.  She was concerned that Tami's white blood count continued rising.  But talked about the three options we had.  We could wait, trying to get the infection under control.  She could go in and remove gallbladder and repair hernia, although if gallbladder was source of infection, it could cause mesh to become infected.  Or she could remove gallbladder and see if it was infected.  If not infected, she would repair hernia, but if it was source, she would hold off on hernia because it would cause significant chance of mesh becoming infected.  After talking, we assured her that we trusted her and would do what she felt was best.  Dr. Chong decided the third option may be best.  But she also told us that many things need to happen in order to have surgery that date.  Dr. Chong had two surgeries ahead of Tami's.  She would need to get an operating room and a team.  And a robot would need to be available.  And Dr. Chong had to be gone by 4:30 pm that afternoon.  

So, we waited....

At about 12:15 pm, Myada, who had just snuck Tami some ice chips minutes before, returned to the room and said that they were on their way to get her.  That escalated quickly.  But we were ready.  We waited in the pre-op area until about 1:00 pm, when they wheeled Tami off to surgery.  I knew that God was on our side, when Paster Leif showed up as Lee (Tami's mom) and I were walking out of the pre-op area.  

After a bite to eat, we went and waited in the family waiting area and my dad joined us there.  I was pretty patient until the 4:30 pm mark came and went.  Then at about 5:15 pm, Dr. Chong came to the waiting area.  She was urgent, but told us the story.  She told us that Tami was very sick and proceeded to say, "If we waited until tomorrow, she would have died from surgery."  She had two holes in her large intestine and her body was filling with infection.  Those words shook me and still shake me today.  I was hours away from losing the woman that God sent to me when I needed her most. 

Still that night was going to be a struggle.  Because Tami's lung had been compressed by her large intestine for so long, she was having difficulty with her breathing.  Plus, she came out of surgery with a fever.   The team deliberated the ICU.  Then about 9:45 pm, Tami arrived at her room.  

Fast forward to the following Wednesday, Tami's white blood count and oxygen level finally made it back to normal levels.  We made our trek home the next day.  Seven days, eight nights at Abbott.  The nurses and doctors there were so awesome.  Dr. McDonough and her positive spirit was so enlightening.  Dr. Kelly and Koenig were great.  The nurses, Cheryl, Mary, Myada, Haley, Jess, Lauren, Madi and all the other nurses took such good care of Tami, I was able to come home to Bella each night.  And Dr. Chong and Cassi were the best.  

But this story is not about that.  This story is about the 1 mile.  Tami and I would not have been able to take that walk without her faith.  When it was routine, to hearing those haunting words, we both knew that this was in God's hands.  Whether it was the best outcome or the worst, it was God's story and we were comfortable with that.  There was nervous times, but we just kept praying.  Philippians 4:6 tells us, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."  That is just what we did.  We prayed.  We told Him that we understand that our story is in His hands and we accept that.  And we thanked Him for all that we had, for the team of the best medical staff that he allowed us to come in contact with, at both District One and at Abbott Northwestern, and we thanked Him for the miracles that He still provides us with today. 

God had his had in this in so many ways.  So, many pieces had to come together in order for Tami to be here today, and God provided.  We just prayed and prayed.  And God provided.  Don't ever mistake this story about being about Tami and I.  The story is completely about God and providing miracles today.  

Four weeks to the date after hearing, "If we would have waited until tomorrow, she would have died,"  Tami walked a mile.