Our life detour began on March 10th, 2019, and as I shared last week, it has been a stressful time of waiting. When we found out that the first surgeon consulted in North Carolina did not feel she was the right one to operate on my daughter, Erica, we were sent to a Minimally Invasive OBGYN. But it would be almost another week until we could get in to see him.
Her appointment was at 2:00 p.m. and we arrived at 1:30 p.m. Erica filled out the necessary paperwork and we began the “fun” of waiting for her to be called back. We waited…waited…and waited some more. Finally, at 2:30 p.m. they came out and told us that there was a problem with her insurance and since her appointment was to be 30 minutes prior, she had missed it and she would have to reschedule. We sat there in disbelief. This appointment had been on the books for almost a week, and it was their office that was to verify insurance, etc, ahead of time and they had dropped the ball. But, they were taking no blame…and my blood pressure was rising. Remember, we had been told, a week and a half prior, that Erica’s surgery was urgent and she was to be very careful in the meantime, since her kidneys could suddenly shut down…or one of the cysts could burst which wouldn’t have good results. Again, surgery was needed ASAP…but no one else was in a hurry.
We asked to talk to someone dealing with the insurance, and they (Duke System of NC) told us that they were no longer taking Erica’s insurance. Now the other doctors Erica had seen leading up to this had been in the Duke system and had accepted her insurance, but this doctor would not.
We left with Erica in tears and me feeling somewhat desperate. At that moment I realized I was experiencing just a small taste of what mothers must go through in third world countries. Mothers who so desperately want medical care for their children and there is none to be found. Our situation wasn’t nearly as difficult as theirs…but mothers everywhere can understand the love we have for our children…no matter what their age.
Fortunately, as we were waiting for this appointment, we had also contacted my son-in-law, John, who is a doctor in our area of Indiana. We asked him if he knew of any Minimally Invasive OBGYNs, just in case I needed to bring Erica back to Indiana for the surgery. There weren’t any of these doctors in our immediate area, but he had a friend who is currently in residency in Indianapolis with an OBGYN. John said he would contact her to see if she knew of any of these specialists in her area. Her answer? The doctor she is currently working with is a Minimally Invasive OBGYN and was willing to see Erica. Isn’t our God amazing?
For the next two days following our “missed” appointment in North Carolina, we worked on trying to get the doctor there to agree to see Erica so that she could stay in her area for surgery. We were praying that God would slam doors shut and open doors wide so that we knew exactly what we were to do. I didn’t want us to make any mistakes because I knew we needed the best surgeon out there, so I told God He had to make it crystal clear to us. On Friday of that week, Erica received a call from the head of the Duke financial department, saying that it was definite…the surgeon in North Carolina would not see her.
I told Erica that we couldn’t get a harder slam on a door than that, so I was going to take her back to Indiana. By the time the weekend was over, we were back in my home and we had an appointment scheduled for Wednesday in Indianapolis. In our minds, we were disappointed that she couldn’t be seen Monday or Tuesday…but as only God can do…we would find out that God had a reason for the appointment to be on Wednesday and once again, we were blown away by His timing and His attention to details.
Watching your child suffer, is one of the hardest things a parent will go through. I would have given anything to trade with Erica during this time, but I couldn’t, so she was going to have to face it and endure through the suffering herself. All I could do was be a support to her and pray like crazy.
This week we will observe the day when Jesus gave His all for us. I honestly can’t imagine what it must have been like for Mary to watch her Son, being crucified on a cross, for you and for me. He was spit on…whipped…and finally hung on a tree; not because He was guilty…but because we are guilty. I can’t imagine her anguish…her sobs…her begging God to save her precious Son. I’m sure she would have given anything to take this torture from him, but she could not. She knew He was going to have to endure unimaginable pain and suffering…for you and for me.
What will you do with His sacrifice for you? Will you turn your back on Him? Will you make His suffering worthwhile, accepting Him as your Lord and Savior…or will you be one who joins in on the ridicule and torture of the One who loves you so? No one can make the decision for you…no one else can reserve your spot in Heaven…make sure you accept Him as your Lord and Savior today.
Until next week, when I will share with you about our God who is still in the miracle business…
P.S. Many of you have inquired as to what is currently happening in Erica’s situation…and you really want “the rest of the story” before you know all the details that led up to today. Erica has had her surgery and has been recovering in our home. Today I am driving her back to North Carolina and she will continue her recovery there. It has been a very long five weeks…but God has been so faithful as you will discover when you read next week’s post J
“Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother,
and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas),
and Mary Magdalene.”
John 19:25
“He was beaten, he was tortured; but he didn’t say a word.
Like a lamb taken to be slaughtered and like a sheep being sheared,
he took it all in silence.
Justice miscarried, and he was led off—
and did anyone really know what was happening?
He died without a thought for his own welfare,
beaten bloody for the sins of my people.
They buried him with the wicked, threw him in a grave with a rich man,
Even though he’d never hurt a soul or said one word that wasn’t true.
Like a lamb taken to be slaughtered and like a sheep being sheared,
he took it all in silence.
Justice miscarried, and he was led off—
and did anyone really know what was happening?
He died without a thought for his own welfare,
beaten bloody for the sins of my people.
They buried him with the wicked, threw him in a grave with a rich man,
Even though he’d never hurt a soul or said one word that wasn’t true.
Still, it’s what God had in mind all along, to crush him with pain.
The plan was that he give himself as an offering for sin
so that he’d see life come from it—life, life, and more life.
And God’s plan will deeply prosper through him.”
The plan was that he give himself as an offering for sin
so that he’d see life come from it—life, life, and more life.
And God’s plan will deeply prosper through him.”
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