The Work of His Hands

"Let Your work appear to Your servants and Your majesty to their children. Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; and confirm for us the work of our hands; yes, confirm the work of our hands" (Psalm 90:16-17)

It was one week ago today our family understood experientially what it was like to undergo transplant surgery not for just one family member, but for two. The morning of surgery, there were so many thoughts that went through my mind. Our wonderful transplant coordinator, Julie Hudson, encouraged my heart with these words. As a matter of fact, she said she had prayed these words (specifically verse 17) over our family and the doctors that very morning. I look across the days since last Friday and what I see is that His worked has appeared to His servants and His majesty to His children. Furthermore, the confirmation of the work of our hands has been underscored. What an effort goes into a transplant operation of this type! Nevertheless, I see things from the other side of transplant, I look at how God has worked and moved and literally stepped onto the stage to not only "show up" but to also "show off," and it reminds me that her prayer for God to confirm the work of the hands of the surgeons, nurses and other medical staff has occurred.

We still pray this, though. For we realize we are traveling a long rode. Micah, although there have been many signs of improvement and healing, has struggled some over the last two days. His red blood cell count has been low and therefore they have given him a few units of blood. Blood has shown upon his stool. This may indicate there is some bleeding at the site where the surgeons connected the intestines and the liver for the bile to drain out. Not a great concern, but still being monitored. Today, however, there seems to have been no blood in his stool. He also did not rest well yesterday evening or last night. Very irritable and restless, the doctors have concern as to why he is this way, since his pain should not be so great this far out that it would cause this level of discomfort.

His bilirubin level, which had peaked to the mid 30s before surgery, had about two days ago dropped to 5. Currently, it has risen to around 8 or 9 and is under watch. This could be for a number of different reasons. The one of greatest concerns it that the passage of bile from the liver to the intestines is closed off (again not allowing the body to excrete bile and the bilirubin properly). Should this be the base (which they may determine tomorrow by a scan if the level continues to climb), he will go back to the operating room for them to try to open this up to allow the flow to resume.

I on the other hand have thoroughly enjoyed being home. With moments in each day which are great and others which are not so great, it continues to be a healing process. Of course, I'm only at the front end. I was informed just prior to leaving the hospital yesterday that I may not be able to pick up my children for another 4 to 6 months. Somewhere I missed that prior to surgery. It wouldn't have changed the decision. But that indicated what a long rode to full recovery for me and Micah lies ahead.

Micah will likely spend no less than 4 weeks in the hospital. So early on right now, it is difficult to even project.

One thing I struggled most with going into the day of surgery was leaving my wife alone. I mean there is no way to reconcile the two--the operation and being with my wife--in order to get an outcome more preferable. Even though I wouldn't change the events, if ever there had been a way to do both, I would have sought to move heaven and earth to accomplish that.

Even so, I say that to thank the many of you who became the hands and feet of the Lord Jesus. One thing is for sure: I may have not been there with her, but she was never alone. Now I realize there is a difference in having your husband/wife and a close friends nearby. Yet, when the one was impossible, the other was so helpful. It really caused me to ask, "How do people face uncertain without knowing Jesus Christ in a personal way AND being part of His family which (though often showing many signs of being severely dysfunctional) is the greatest family in all the world? How do people do it?"

I think there are those who even stumble across this blog and don't know what it is like to have the greatest love in all the world, the love of Jesus Christ, and to be in the greatest family in all the world, the family of God. Oh friend, if ever this blog did anything, I pray it points to a God who is Mighty, whose Son Jesus died on the cross for our sin and rose again, and who desires right now to have a relationship with YOU. If you have questions, I've got time. All you have to do is contact my information on this page.