Oh What A Day!

Yesterday was one of those big days that you know might take a day or two to get over!  My wife had another follow up appointment with her Specialist in San Francisco.  Therefore the day started with a bang as I arose early and commenced to get everything ready for our timely departure.  All was going as scheduled until we attempted to get out the door and make our way to the detached garages.  Time was becoming of the essence and it seemed like I kept forgetting to grab all the things that I needed before we made the hour long trip.  I ended up jogging back and forth from the car to the house 3 times before I had it all!

Once we got on the road everything went like clock work.  Even the migraine I woke up with felt better!  The trip was relaxing, the weather was terrific and I never lose the sense of awe when I cross the Golden Gate Bridge on a clear and sunny day.  We even arrived at the large block long office/hospital building with time to spare!  It is always interesting for me when we drive through the underground parking garage to look at the pot puree of makes and models of cars that are there.  Yesterday was no different and we were treated to the pleasure of parking next to a new Bentley Continental GT.  I had never seen one up close and enjoyed the view.  I even did my best to see if I could talk the parking attendant, whom I’ve gotten to know in past visits, into letting me take it for a spin in the 3 story garage.  We had a good laugh, but that’s as far as it got!

The appointment itself went well.  We spent time first with a Clinical Social Worker and then with our Neurologist and a young Doctor in his last year of his residency.  All agreed that my wife’s condition had stabilized over last few months except for one symptom that was now prevalent enough for the Doctor to put a name to it, even though the last MRI does not necessarily confirm her potential diagnosis.  My wife was very responsive and in tune to her surroundings and seemed to be having a good time.  As I have mentioned before, this is the first Doctor that we have been to that REALLY takes the time to connect with her.  She always gives my wife a hug, talks directly to her and waits for an answer.  Her compassion is very visible as it is with everyone in the office.

The hardest part of the day came as we were getting ready for bed.  I’m not sure if you’ll understand this or not, but it is like I had to be “On” all day long, ready and sharp for anything.  I needed to be prepared to talk about symptoms, daily care, medications and results, food and exercise, any irregularities in my wife’s daily habits and health, along with any other subject that came up.  When we got upstairs for the night I finally was able to turn myself off.  It was at that point that I found myself standing in our room mentally reviewing all that we had talked about during the appointment.  The thought of the newest symptom’s progression and the consequences of the potential future physical difficulties for my wife began to take its affect on me.

Once again, you have to remember that it had been a long emotional day and the migraine had reappeared and gotten worse on the way home.  It is usually at your weakest time that the enemy of our souls likes to attack.  I am thankful though, for the uncanny ability of the Holy Spirit to bring up the Word that has been hidden in one’s heart at times like this.  Without allowing the negative thoughts to bloom, my mind was quickly drawn to Hebrews 12:2 where it says “we must focus on Jesus the initiator and the completer of our faith” (personal compilation of the verse) The previous verse says “we must run the race that lies ahead of us and never give up.” (Hebrews 12:1 God’s Word ©)

That was enough to snap me out of that line of thought and return me to our stand of faith that is in agreement with God’s will for my wife’s long term health.  While the natural course of this disease says that she must get worse and progress to the final conclusion, God has promised us that she has work to do and “will not die but live and tell what the Lord has done.”  (Psalm 118:17 God’s Word ©). 

That was all it took to put a tired but triumphant smile on my face as I wearily climbed between the sheets and turned off the light.  I’ll share more tomorrow, but suffice to say, the Lord is always faithful and His word is the truth on any subject.  (I Corinthians 10:13 / John 17:17)  No matter how tough the situation and no matter how exhausted you may be, never allow the lies of the enemy to contradict the word of God that you are standing on.  Have a good Wednesday, tune into His Word and keep asking yourself… “What am I expecting today?”