This morning Joanie Adams had one knee joint completely replaced and the other repaired (via arthroscopic surgery). It is traumatic enough to have the arthroscopic surgery done on one knee but, mercy sakes, to have the other knee joint completely replaced at the same time is pushing the envelope a bit too far (at least in my opinion). Yes, I know Joanie, and I also know that she is a trooper, but how will she ever muster the courage to stand that first time? At best, her recovery will be difficult, not to mention painful, so please keep her in your prayers because prayer does matter!
It is my understanding that she will be in the hospital for four or five days, when means that she will probably go home Saturday or Sunday. If you would like to prepare a meal for them (Joanie, Larry, and Joanie's Mom), please contact Karen Purnhagen, as she is coordinating the "food brigade."
While I was waiting on Joanie to return to her room, I visited several other people, not the least of which was Rosemary Whatley, who fell this morning and fractured her hip. She is 84! Roughly a week ago, her husband, Dr. Ed Whatley, suffered a stroke and found himself in the hospital. He is 84, also. Today, they both are in the Coliseum Med Center (Macon), where he is undergoing various therapies and she is scheduled for surgery around noon tomorrow. As you might imagine, their children, none of whom live in this area, have their hands full. I tell you this because (1) they lived next door to me during most of my growing-up days, and (2) I believe prayer matters.
While I was visiting the Whatley family in the hospital today, Linda, one of the daughters, told me that her daughter's boy friend was killed in a motorcycle accident last night. As she said, "When it rains it pours!"
To continue the saga, last night my daughter, Amy, received a call from Sandra, her mother-in-law (well, not technically, anymore) telling her that she was having severe chest pains. Amy insisted that she either call 911 or have her son immediately drive her to the ER. She chose the latter, and Amy met her there. The long and short of this story is that her main coronary artery (LAD) was 98% occluded and she was on the verge of a fatal heart attack. Had she waited (according to the cardiologist), she would not be here today. Thankfully, some people do not live in the land of superstition, and, instead, take action when crisis comes!
At the same time all of this was going on, Sandra's husband, who has been in the hospital for two weeks (if not longer) developed pneumonia, which is very detrimental to his pulmonary problem, to put it mildly. He is very dependent upon oxygen therapy and will, therefore, have a very difficult time ever returning home.
At some point today, I called my brother, Bruce, who told me that the son of a friend of ours was involved last night in a auto accident somewhere along the I-75/I-16 interchange. I really do not know much about his condition but I do think he will be fine.
To complete my story: I had previously told David McLeighton (the owner of the funeral homes in Reynolds, Butler, and Roberta) that I would help him with a funeral yesterday morning, thinking that I would be back in Macon around 12:30, and Annis and I would be able to spend a lazy afternoon at home. Well, my "thinking" was off a bit! Just about the time the funeral service was to begin, David received a phone call telling him that his mother, who lives in Baxley, had just suffered a stroke and they needed him there. Well that would not have been a problem, were it not for the fact that, before he could finish telling me this, his phone rang again and he learned that someone had just died in the Med Center in Columbus. As you might imagine, he asked me if I would please embalm this body for him, and of course, I agreed to do so, which would not have been so bad (in and of itself) were it not for the fact that about the time I started that procedure, the local nursing home called and informed us that someone had just died there. So, after one funeral, and two completed embalming procedures, I arrived back in Macon around 7:00 PM.
As you can see, the past 48 hours have been filled with my dealing with the pain and suffering and loss, and trauma of others, which is emotionally and physically draining to say the least; albeit, a major portion of my calling. All I know to say is this: I am very thankful that I have been and continue to be privileged to journey with people during some of their most difficult times.
To be sure, this world is filled with hurting people and we must never forget them. We have been called to "bear one another's burdens" and I am praying that we will graciously accept the call! It is one incredible privilege!
Blessings and much love,
Your Pastor
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