Out of the Blue (Hospital Thoughts - part 2)

"Out of the blue" - something that is unexpected, surprising, unanticipated, unforseen, unplanned.

We have used this phrase several times over the last week to describe the circumstances surrounding Mark's liver transplant: "He was out on the softball field, helping Laurie coach the 9th grade girls softball team when 'out of the blue' he got a call from the hospital, telling him that a liver was available that was a match for him and that he needed to come in for the transplant."

That sentence pretty much gives a perfect example of the definition. I mean, how much more unanticipated could it have been?? Mark was on the softball diamond, and didn't even have his phone on him; it was in the car and the hospital had to call Steve, who called Nathan, who then went and got his Dad. It's not like Mark didn't know that he was on the transplant list. But he didn't expect to get the call until a few years from now. And yet, here it was - right blood type, right tissue match, even the right size. So, ya, getting the call about the liver being available pretty much came 'out of the blue' in the dictionary sense of the word.

But I've been thinking this week that it came 'out of the blue' in a different sense. Over the past few months there have been small, almost undetectable signs that Mark's liver was deteriorating. His color was getting worse; he had gained a large amount of weight over the past 4 months; his MELD scores (indication of liver function) were getting worse; the lymphadema in his legs was getting worse; and he was very tired all the time. But there was no major crisis, like the last time, no obvious sign that things were about to go downhill. We just didn't know.

But there was a phone call, 'out of the blue', saying that a liver that was a match for him was available. And after they completed the transplant, the doctors told us that they expect that if Mark had not received the liver transplant this week, he would have 'crashed' sometime in the next 2 months and been in critical need of a liver immediately. Which, of course, is not really a good thing to need; 1 in 4 patients die while waiting for a liver transplant. But they didn't know that ahead of time. For them, as well as for us, this came 'out of the blue.'

James 1:17 tells us that "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." I think that Mark's liver did come 'out of the blue' - but in the sense that it was a gift from Mark's heavenly Father. He knew all about the deterioration of Mark's liver and how close Mark was to 'crashing,' and, out of His abundant love, grace and mercy, sent him this wonderful gift....truly 'out of the blue'!

Thoughts from the hospital - Part 1

My brother in law Mark was diagnosed with liver failure about a year and a half ago and has been on the liver transplant list since then. Tuesday, out of the blue, a liver that was a match for him became available. He had 20 minutes to make the decision whether or not to accept it and then, once he did accept it, 3 1/2 hours to get to the hospital. As the RN in the family, I have been blessed to be a support for Mark and Laurie in the midst of the medical emergencies they have dealt with over the last few years. So, as they packed and headed out, so did I. We have slept a little and prayed alot, and now it is Friday; Mark has had a new liver for 2 days and he is doing fantastic! I have spent the time hanging out with Laurie and the kids, visiting Mark, translating 'medicalese' into English, interpreting lab results and Dr's comments, and blogging on Mark's Carepages. Just basically being there.

Yesterday, my nephew's wife Jenn said to me "So, how are you doing, Lydia?"
"Oh, I think I'm doing OK" I said. "A little tired, but otherwise doing OK."
She looked at me for a second and then said "You're very 'behind the scenes' but you really make a difference. We don't really notice that you're there, but, if you weren't there, we really would notice.......kinda like the Holy Spirit........He's there, but you don't really notice that He's there, being a Comforter and all......but we sure would miss Him if He weren't there."

I chuckled a bit at that one.......I'm not sure I've ever been compared to the Holy Spirit before!
And I thanked Jenn for the wonderful compliment.......because really, I can't think of anyone else I would want to be like in this situation.

Our conversation brought to mind the verses that were on my heart the day of Mark's surgery: "God has promised 'I will never leave you or abandon you.' So, we can boldly say 'The Lord is my helper, I will not fear....'" (Hebrews 13) Here is just one of the ways I fall way short of the being like the Holy Spirit. Certainly I strive to always be available for Mark and Laurie but I cannot be there for them 24/7; I can help allay some of their fears, but not all of them. Thank God for His promise to never leave, to always be there; it is because of that promise that we can live fear-free lives, even in the middle of such major crises as a liver transplant. I am so thankful for the priviledge of being a small reflection of God's love and faithfulness to Mark and Laurie and their family, and I pray that it will enable them to trust and love Him more.