Amazing Grace

I've always known that I was a blessed woman, but if I have ever expressed any doubts before, the past year has taught me to never walk in fear...God is always with me. Case in point...our recent hospital stay.

On Father's Day our children, the Bella Mama and the Oldest MelonHead, had came over to take their daddy to breakfast. (Have I ever mentioned what a good daddy he was? Just ask them...they'll tell you The Best!) When we arrived at the restaurant...I swear up and down...Cat Daddy looked like he had taken a shower with his clothes on. (He said later...much later...he was channeling "Flash Dance"!) When we went in, there was a waiting period, so he found a seat. Joey was with him and said he would like to take Cat Daddy to the E.R. Surprisingly, he agreed, but when he went to walk to the door, he collapsed. Luckily, the kids were on each side of him and were able to catch him before he hit the floor! Y'all...I don't know how they did....C.D. ain't no lightweight...but they did. Talk about an adrenalin rush!

A chair was rushed over and they managed to get him on it while he was still unconscious. As he came around, we all noticed two EMTs eating breakfast in the dining room and called them over. (See...God's perfect timing once again). While they went to get their equipment, another man walked up and whispered to Jenn that he was an off duty medic as well. (The kids were holding up their father, but the Father was holding them up as well.) While the different monitors were being hooked up, Danny passed out again and the decision was made to rush him to the nearest hospital. (BTW...don't you know the restaurant LOVED us?)

Tests were run and it was considered in his best interest to admit him....then the fun really began. Because all the indicators pointed to a heart attack (which was finally ruled out), he was interviewed for an episode of "House". (Just Kidding!) Seriously, they had no idea why he passed out, why his blood pressure had dipped dangerously low and why the excessive sweating. He did have a sore on his abdomen that wasn't healing properly (which he had been to his regular doctor on Friday for) and a specialist was brought in to look at it, but that didn't seem to be the problem...key word here...seem!

Imagine our surprise when an anesthesiologist shows up late in the day Tuesday to discuss his surgery the next day! I immediately asked to talk to a doctor, but didn't see any that day or early the next morning. I have to stop at this point and tell y'all...I hate confrontations with a passion. I will go out of my way to avoid them. I'm known far and wide as a peace maker...heck the U.N. should hire me I'm so good at it...BUT...when you're messing with my family...Katie, bar the door!

If they expected me to give them one of my prized possessions for even a half an hour without any guarantees it would be returned unbroken...uh uh...ain't gonna happen. I told them I would be asking for his discharge and moving him...that seemed to set the wheels in motion....temporarily. I did talk with the surgeon and was satisfied with what he told me, but the primary care doctor did not show up until after the surgery. When I started questioning her...all I got was evasive answers and the general runaround. Finally her beeper went off, she told me she was busy and left the room. EXCUSE ME???? Needless to say, a report will be filed. OOOOH, I'm getting mad all over again...so let's move on!

Next day...everything seems to be running smooth. The nurses are making noises about him being released, the wound care nurse comes in to change the dressing on his wound and to show me how to do it at home (can you say EEEWWW?!?!). Great...we are finally getting somewhere...when BOOM...the wound care doctor comes in and tells us his care will be different. A vac/pump will be attached to his incision and it will do all the work and speed up healing...great, right? Nope...she also tells us he has MRSA. (If you have time...google it. It will scare you to death! Also, keep in mind a culture was done when he was admitted with no staph showing up!) My heart stopped. Now suddenly we are talking about going home with an IV...and all the risks involved...and more testing to see if it has invaded his blood stream or lungs. We are scared spitless, but I turned it over to God. I knew He wouldn't have placed us where we were without a greater plan....and He didn't. The next morning, his IV's were removed which was strange. The nurses didn't know why the orders had been changed, but at 9:30am, another doctor came in and told us it wasn't MRSA, but MSSA. A staph none the less, but not as scary and totally treatable with pills. You tell me...how does one go from THE super staph to a regular one overnight? Exactly...God can do anything and everything. The doctors are still shaking their heads, but not me. I'm on my knees thanking Him who is always there.

I'm sorry this was so long, but I needed to get this off my chest, tell y'all thank you for your prayers, and I also needed to give the praise and the glory to the Great Physician who I always trust my greatest possessions to. How can I not...they are only on loan from Him anyway.

People...Elvis, I mean Cat Daddy has left the hospital!