What began as (what I thought would be) a 2 or 3 hour visit
to the hospital’s emergency care department for my daughter’s intense stomach
pain ended up being an 11 day ordeal for us… a case of
appendicitis that had
deteriorated into a ruptured appendix. We are relieved that she was finally discharged
from the hospital this morning, and is now sleeping in her own bed with no IV
lines and beeping equipment, no medication, and no pain.
The hospital allowed a parent to stay with their child, and
I ended up sleeping on a cot beside my daughter for nine nights (my wife took mainly
the day shifts with my son). I sketched my daughter regularly, as a way to fill
the hours, deal with my own anxiety, attempt to connect with my somewhat stoic daughter in some fashion, and (I think, in hindsight) pray for
healing and offer thanks… I ended up with over 60 drawings of her, in addition
to other miscellaneous scenes from the hospital.
Despite the circumstances of a child in agony, Christmas (and
most of the holidays) spent in a hospital room, lack of sleep, and general
stresses placed upon us, as parents we have come out of the situation with a
deep sense of gratitude… for my daughter’s bravery,
resilience, and the chance to witness her strength
of character in a new light; for the nursing care and medical attention we received;
for the wonderful, warm support lavished upon us by friends, family, and
community of faith; for the many anonymous donors and volunteers that helped
put a smile on our children’s faces through their philanthropic work; for the
opportunity for our family to be united in prayer and slow down at a busy time;
for
the memory of a unique Christmas to be remembered by us for decades to come;
and the opportunity given to me by my daughter to share with her so intimately this
journey of pain and healing. Rather than missing out on something this Christmas, we were
enriched in ways not possible in any other way.
