Hurry Up and Wait!

Well, I think I need to learn to curb my feelings of excited anticipation, because I think it's what leads to some of the frustration I end up posting after appointments! I just always eagerly expect progress and answers each time we get to interact with medical personnel in some way.

I got very excited this morning to find two messages for David on the answering machine - one from his local doctor's office and one from the office of the surgeon in Sacramento. YEA!

I called him at work to give him the numbers to call back. When he got home I found out that the local doctor's office let him know that his knee x-rays showed nothing - which is good, because it means that he doesn't have a torn meniscus - but is also frustrating, because he's in a lot of pain, and it's affecting his walking, and we don't know what is causing it. The PTs tell him it doesn't have to do with his ligaments or tendons - which is also good news, but what is it?

Now his left elbow is beginning to hurt too (and if he knew I was writing all these details right now he'd probably be embarrassed and feel like a whiner - but it's ME sharing it, not HIM, so he's not whining! In fact, I think he is often too stoic.). He's wondering if these joint pains are normal after a stroke and recovery from paralysis, but my thought is that if this is normal he would have been told that. So we yet await answers.

As to the surgeon's office, they called to get insurance info, and it turns out that the hospital the surgeon is affiliated with does not contract with our insurance company, so the surgeon's office has to work to get this approved (for him to even do the procedure) AND to find another hospital in which to have the operation take place.

I think this is progress, but I keep expecting full steps forward, and it seems we are taking quarter-steps only.

We have seen God answer "yes" to so many of our prayers, we recognize that and are so grateful. If you are someone who is praying for us, would you please pray that the insurance details will be worked out so that it can happen sooner rather than later that David can have the heart repair that he needs. Thank you so much!

(PS We just went to see the movie "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," which is the true story of a man who at age - get this - 42 - has a stroke. He is left totally paralyzed except for his left eyelid. He has his eyelid, his imagination, and his memory, and that's it. Boy do we have it good!! This man, Jean-Dominique Bauby, editor of the French Elle magazine before his stroke, is able to dictate his inner life one letter at a time by blinking. It was a very impacting movie for us to see. I'm reminded again to be so thankful David's clot lodged where it did in his brain instead of someplace else. Warning: if you decide to see the movie, be aware it does contain some nudity and sensual scenes.)