How can one small toe cause so much havoc and turn one’s
life upside down? The hospital Emergency
Room scrambled to alert the surgeon and his staff about my husband’s infected
toe, the one next to the big toe. How
far had the ugly infection spread? The
surgeon said he would amputate and keep going to get all the infected bone. Thankfully, he only removed one-half inch of
the toe. These last two weeks have come with
a whirlwind!
Thankful
for so much!
I am thankful Tom finally listened and stopped fighting
me to go to his primary care doctor.
Men! I’m glad his primary care
chewed him out for waiting when he saw his toe looked infected.
I am thankful for the wonderful healthcare he received
during six days in the hospital and for loving daughters who came along side us
to help and encourage.
The first hospital night felt like Tom won a week’s
vacation stay at a one-star hotel to hear him describe it. Even with two blankets, he froze. Awful food.
I learned the place picked up quite a few COVID patients challenging the
busy staff. Hospital COVID rules denied
me entrance. I stayed home and pounded on
heaven’s doors for my man who felt forgotten.
God heard and answered my prayers for Tom quickly the next morning. I’m still laughing.
God Can Use a Zombie
A new nurse introduced herself and happened to be a
huge fan of the popular Zombie series Tom watches. They bonded.
Tom pulled out his phone and showed her a photo of his close friend with
a famous cast member from the series, her son.
As Tom tells it, “They treated me like I was a king after that.”
God can use a Zombie.
Tom’s bacterial infection has a long name with lots of
I’s and t’s. It is rare; twenty five
people in a million catch it in their lifetime.
Though antibiotics do nothing for it, there is one that kills it and
that one is available at our hospital.
The surgeon believes he got all the infection in surgery, but now for prevention,
the doctor prescribed the killer antibiotic.
Thankfully, he does not have to stay in the hospital to be on this
medicine via a drip method with a picc line to his heart. When he came home, a nurse came to teach me how to
administer this antibiotic and care for him.
Our days are filled with lab blood work, hospital wound
care visits, podiatrist, and environmentalist/disease doctors. Next week is D-Day When the drip will end and
be replaced with pill form. Thankfully,
my energy sustains me and I am able to do all the watering outside and keep up
with cooking nutritious home-cooked meals, grocery shop and drive him to appointments. Tom and I are thankful, so very
thankful! We avoided a disaster and know
it.
What
Have I Learned?
Where would I be without girlfriends? I appreciate every call, every prayer, every
text and email. My on-line friends came
alongside us in a powerful way praying with support. I am filled with peace and courage. Tom knows he is in the Lord’s capable hands.
We marvel at the fact that a toe, insignificant as it
seems compared to much larger parts of our body, can raise so much
disruption. It reminds us how every part
of the body is valuable. So when the
days of normal every-day living return, be it keeping up with
home/family/friends or watching a good movie together, may we never forget this
toe journey realizing how valuable we all are to God. And may we never forget how valuable others
are to us.
Sounds serious!
ReplyDeleteI had an infected toe once after having been at the chiropodist. (It was a posh, expensive salon, but after that I never went back to any chiropodist. I do the feet work myself).
Thank God, I've managed to treat the infection at home, but it took time and effort.
Wishing Tom a perfect recovery!
Best wishes to you all!
I never miss taking vitamins these days, Duta! Need lots of energy to keep up with it all!
DeletePraying for you now!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sandi!
DeleteOh my goodness what an adventure! But our Lord is so gracious to walk with us through the adventures of our lives. I'll be praying a quick recovery for your Tom.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Regina, for being there for us!
DeleteOh my word, Mary … I had no idea! Does Tom know how/where it was first injured? Love your sense of humor - A 1-star hotel, then God can use a Zombie. Pretty sure Mr. God's chuckling at that. Praying for a speedy recovery!
ReplyDeleteI know we can't be in fear and be thankful, a choice, so I'm thanking God for everything and enjoying each day.
DeleteGoodness, what a difficult time this was for you! So thankful that the infection could be treated with lesser interventions! Thanking the LORD! Praying He continues to bless you both on this road to recovery. It is amazing how something so small can cause such a problem!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Marilyn, for those prayers. We feel them.
DeleteOh my mercy! GIRL! Bless his heart and yours! I am so sorry to hear about this dreadful infection but praising the Lord that he went on to have this taken care of before it got past restoration. MEN...you are right!!!! Don't even get me started. LOL! I will pray for total healing and so thankful that we serve a God that does indeed hear our prayers. Hugs and blessings, Cindy
ReplyDeleteNo fun growing older, Cindy. Haha. Thank you, dear one, for your valuable gift of prayers.
DeleteI laugh at the way you shared the hospitalization story by bro. Tom being confined in the hospital that felt like a "one star" hotel :) Glad that he listened to you to see the doctor. He must have a high tolerance to pain to not want to see the doctor. Then again, you said it... "men!!!: :) Just kidding.
ReplyDeleteI'm that way, too. Not wanting to see 'til there's a red flag. It's hard to trust especially nowadays with the advices being given to the public regarding this Coronavirus. And I could feel how hard it must be for both of you to not be with him during the hospitalization. Thanks be to God for the peace and joy He gives to the hearts of those who believe.
You're always in my prayer but especially now, I just did for his quick recovery and no complications from the treatments. For the Lord to always strengthen you both and of course, the whole family because you also have very supportive and loving daughters. Thank You God for turning around everything into good for those who love You, who are called according to Your purpose... (Even "zombie!"). Love and prayers and hugs to you sister Mary.
Rosel, I know you pray for us as we do for you & yours as we have been aligned beautiful over a decade now. Your counsel is so appreciated and under girding at this time! Can't thank you enough.
DeleteDear Mary! Bless your dear hearts! I am SO thankful God heard the many prayers on your dear Tom's behalf! He is a faithful God. You know where my mind was going when you talked about how such a small member of the body can wreak such havoc. One small, undealt-with sin can infect not only our lives but the lives of all who dearly love us. Like the Bible says "Lest a root of bitterness springing up trouble you and many be defiled." A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump! Okay, I'll stop preaching now! LOL! But, SOOOO thankful things are going better for you dear ones, and I will surely continue to pray.
ReplyDeleteI like your truthful preaching, Cheryl. Your friendship is golden! Thank you for being there for us.
DeleteHi Mary,
ReplyDeletethat was so awful to hear about your husband's infected toe, and his first night in the hospital. Praise the Lord that after his sharing about the 'Zombie' thing his treatment improved there. What comes to my mind as I think about your husband's circumstance, and his waiting upon his healing, is Jeremiah ch. 29 v. 11 where God says that His plans are for our welfare and not for harm, so I pray this for your husband, and that a speedy recovery will come about. God bless you and all your family with what the Lord has in store for all of you.
The Jeremiah verse is a powerful way to pray. Thank you for your input but thank you for your powerful prayers, Brenda!
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