Against All Odds

After looking over my sightless husband’s medical chart, the doctor entered the room and introduced himself. He looked closely at my husband and, with a puzzled look, said, “You don’t look like a person who’s ready for hospice.” That shocked me. The physician proceeded to ask my husband a series of questions.

Then he said he would take a few CT scans of my husband’s brain to see whether there was something he could do. You see, my husband had been rushed by ambulance to the surgical intensive care unit (SICU).

The neurosurgeon on duty came into the room and said to my husband, “I have looked over your x-rays. There is no way I can operate on you because of your age and other medical issues.” The doctor showed no empathy.

I left the room crying, wondering what we were going to do. I told my son that, going forward, his father couldn’t live this way! My son, comforting me, said, “It’ll be OK. We just have to trust God.” My husband stayed in SICU for three days, then was transferred to the neuro floor. I was anxious, tired, and confused. Yet all along, God had a plan. An “angel” neurosurgeon then came into our midst. He said, “I just can’t leave your husband like this when I believe I can help him.” After he looked at the CT scans, he showed them to me on his cell phone, explaining what he saw and what he could do. I asked if he would explain this to our children. He talked to our sons.

They understood and agreed to surgery.

As the surgeon started preparation for the surgery, he kept telling me, “You’ve got to have faith.” Who was this man? Where did he come from? The surgeon and I exchanged several scripture references and talked about the love of God. He was constantly encouraging my faith. The surgery went well.

The neurosurgeon was pleased with my husband’s recovery; however, he had to spend two weeks in rehab before being able to return home.

We spent a total of twenty-five days in the hospital.

When we left the hospital, we had an assortment of medical equipment that was used for just a few days. With a thankful heart, I’m looking at my husband of fifty-three years, smiling, basking in his remarkable recovery against all odds.

God has been our Rock, our Healer, and our Doctor.

God knows what we need and when we need it, even before we ask or think it.

Elaine J. Johnson