Full of Answered Prayers

Jeremy and I left the hospital on Thursday, February 10th, with plenty of pain meds in hand; a drainage tube hanging from his back; and relief and excitement in our hearts.  

As he shuffles around the house, like a 90-year-old man, and slowly settles down and stands up with moans of pain, we keep high spirits and suffer joyfully in knowing Jeremy is cancer free.  God has provided complete healing for Jeremy and we are celebrating every minute.  We will not forget where we've come from, nor will we allow anything or anyone but God get the glory.  

Throughout the surgery experience, Jeremy's outgoing personality has shined through.  His jokes never stopped; from pre-op to checkout.  He got laughs from residents, doctors, nurses, visitors and family.  No matter how aggressively the pain or fear tried to take over, Jeremy's joy remained and it was contagious.  One nurse walked in at shift-change to introduce herself, and upon scanning the room said, "Where's the patient?  You don't look like a patient... you look so happy and well".  (Matthew 5:16  "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your father in heaven")

Jeremy and I are both happy to be home and praying for his continued, speedy recovery.  We visited the doctor yesterday afternoon, expecting to have Jeremy's drainage tube (called a JP) removed from the incision area.  But, the doctor decided there is still too much fluid draining to remove the JP.  We will have to wait until Monday.  These nursing duties that I've been doing have been a real test of my gore-tolerance.  I try not to show Jeremy my aversion to treating his wound.  But anytime I have to change a bandage or measure and empty the JP, my hands shake and I nearly faint from holding my breath so as not to cause any quick move or slip that may hurt him or accidently pull out the tube.  I look forward to Monday!  

Jeremy had hoped to go to a basketball game this evening, as ridiculous as that may sound to some of you - it's totally typical of Jeremy.  But, unsurprisingly to anyone but Jeremy, he's decided he's not ready.  Nevermind his hunched over shuffle of a walk, or the painfully slow sitting down and standing up, it's the JP tube that convinced him of his inability to attend the game.  He said with this bloody drainage tube pinned to his waistline, he lacked the usual "mojo" and cool-factor he usually exudes at Gator basketball games.  That's my Jeremy.  

So, we continue walking steadily, hand-in-hand, down the path of recovery.  I'm thankful for friends and family who have stepped up to help with the kids, allowing me to stay by Jeremy's side every minute of this journey.  And I'm more than thankful to our Heavenly Father for never leaving or forsaking us.  Hearing our prayers and the prayers of his other children on our behalf.  

"I've thrown myself headlong into your arms -- I'm celebrating your rescue.  I'm singing at the top of my lungs, I'm so full of answered prayers."  Psalm 13:5-6 The Message