On Wallin Pond

We were sitting in the waiting room at the doctor's office on Friday afternoon, when I noticed Andy's restlessness. It didn't take me too long to wonder if he was suffering with another infection. We were at the doctor for a scheduled cystoscopy, but this was a development that made me wonder if the procedure would take place. Andy continued to be agitated and in distress. He wanted to leave, but I was able to talk him into staying. He seemed to feel more at peace with the promise that the doctor was going to see him and take care of him. 

Sure enough, the culture results revealed an infection, so the cystoscopy had to be rescheduled. The doctor prescribed an antibiotic, calling it into the pharmacy and I took Andy back to Care One. I spoke to the nurse there, filling her in on what had developed and that an antiobiotic had been called in. She said the pharmacy usually delivered the medicine to the facility and probably Andy would be able to take his first pill that evening yet.

Well, that did not happen. When I visited on Saturday, he still hadn't taken any medicine, he was still in distress and very uncomfortable. In talking to the nurse (a different nurse from the evening before), I explained the situation to her and she said she would call the pharmacy to see what had happened to the medicine. Believe it or not, the pharmacy was closed. They close at 3:00 on Saturday and are not open on Sunday either. Grrrrr. 

How is this possible? The pharmacy that the nursing home uses is closed on the weekend??? 

This morning at church, I told a couple of people this situation and one of them, a nurse, advised me to call Andy's doctor, explain what I was dealing with, and ask him to call in the prescription to a different pharmacy. So I did. The doctor I spoke to was very accommodating and said he would call in the prescription that Andy needed.  I expected to get a text from the pharmacy when the prescription was filled, but when I didn't, I gave them a call. I was told the prescription could not be filled because insurance rejected it. It had been filled by a different pharmacy. Talk about a run-around. But when I explained the situation to the pharmacist, he said I could pay for the medicine myself since it was only $9.99. Ok - I can handle that. 

I was finally able to get the medicine Andy needs and took it over to Care One and the nurse said she would start him on it. (I called just now to check on her and she assured me she had given him his first pill.) What a saga!

Earlier this week, I received an email from Grief Share. I am including it below.

Sometimes when you ask why, He answers by reminding you of the eternal picture. Learn to live your life in light of eternity. Live each day from the perspective of one whose life lasts forever.
Dr. Joseph Stowell says, “I can’t underscore enough how important it is to prepare for grief and sorrow ahead of time. One of the ways to do that is to get a grip on eternity, on the world to come. Learn to live here in the light of there so that you are seeing all of your daily affairs and daily routines in light of the world to come. You need to see all of your interactions and reactions and value systems in light of the value systems of the world to come. Then when grief or sudden loss or wrenching sorrow and deep disappointment shatter your world, you are already schooled in all the realities that give you strength in that moment.”
There is much more to this life than just doing your best day by day until you die. The big picture is that a glorious eternity is in store for those who know the saving grace of Jesus Christ.
“Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off” (Proverbs 23:18 nasb).
“And this is what he promised us—even eternal life” (1 John 2:25).

 My heart is so heavy for Andy's distress, but I keep reminding him and myself that this is only temporary. We should not be surprised by the pain and sorrow we experience. This is common to us all. But the good news is that some day it will all be over. 

Then this morning's email from grief share also was a good reminder to rest in the sovereignty of God:

Because God sees your real need, He wants to give you an answer far better than the answers you seek. You may demand reasons and explanations, but what you need is something more—you need the Lord.
“For in him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).
Think about the astounding reality of this Bible verse. God is all-sufficient for you. Your very being is in Him. You need Him for survival; you do not need answers.
Joni Eareckson Tada says, “Because God is at the center of the universe holding it all together, and because everything in Him moves and breathes and has its being, He can do no more than give Himself. To do anything less is to be less than Himself. Why seek pat, dry, formulized answers when you can actually receive the flesh-and-blood reality of the love of God?”
God would not be God if He were not sufficient for everyone.

And that is what we constantly need to be reminded of:  Christ is enough; He is more than enough.

Our youngest daughter, Amy, is very good at getting us all together. A couple weeks ago, she said it was time again. So we were able to come up with a date - today! Everyone was able to make it down to our house for dinner together. I was pretty excited to see the weather was going to be beautiful - a nice warm, but not hot, summer evening - perfect for eating outside on the deck.

Christy was able to get here earlier than everyone else, so we decided to go see Andy before dinner. In spite of the fact he hadn't been feeling well all weekend, he looked like he was doing pretty good. He greeted everyone with waves and hugs, then we sat in Care One's conference room and listened to Grace play her violin. She is so good and a pleasure to listen to.

The music was a hit with all the residents, not just Andy and us. Plus, everyone also enjoyed the two puppies they brought along. I have noticed that Andy gives us a broad hint when he's had enough. He tires easily and can only take it so much, then he'll say, "Well, I've got to get going." That's the clue that we need to get going! If I then ask him if he's tired and wants to go back to his room, he agrees that yes, that's what he means.

Having my family here with me this evening was such a blessing after the stress with Andy's medicine. The kids had fun playing together, the adults enjoyed each other's company, I love serving them and feeding them and providing a place for them to hang out.