19. Waiting
1:07 pm, Tue, 14 May
"Wait on the Lord. Be of good courage and he will strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord." (Ps 27:14)
It's been over a week since Dana was admitted. Her name has been added to the list of people waiting for a kidney but it looks like that could be years. Dad and myself and even Zoe overseas, were all tested but none of us is a suitable match. Mom, who is now home is obviously still too unwell to even consider this, although she sure tried to force us to have her checked. I even put out the word on the web but it’s not like some distant relative is going to come running forward and say, "here, snip out my kidney, it's all yours." What is going to happen?
It's been over a week since Dana was admitted. Her name has been added to the list of people waiting for a kidney but it looks like that could be years. Dad and myself and even Zoe overseas, were all tested but none of us is a suitable match. Mom, who is now home is obviously still too unwell to even consider this, although she sure tried to force us to have her checked. I even put out the word on the web but it’s not like some distant relative is going to come running forward and say, "here, snip out my kidney, it's all yours." What is going to happen?
3:45 pm, Thu, 16 May
"Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land." (Ps 37:4)
I spend most of the day with Dana, but she seems to be sleeping such a lot. They are still trying to get the infection under control. What is wrong with doctors. Can’t they even get simple things right!
I'm sorry Lord but I find this waiting nearly impossible.
I spend most of the day with Dana, but she seems to be sleeping such a lot. They are still trying to get the infection under control. What is wrong with doctors. Can’t they even get simple things right!
I'm sorry Lord but I find this waiting nearly impossible.
9:17 am, Fri, 17 May
I am determined that life must continue. It will continue. I visit the agent selling the property Dana wants for her dance school. I am going to buy it so when Dana is well, she can live her dream.
11:42 am, Fri, 17 May
Yes! I have put an offer in. I'm so excited to tell Dana. This is her dream and when she is well I will do everything to help her live that dream.
Arriving at Bethesda, I run up the stairs to Dana's room. She's not in her bed but the nurse informs me that she is in the dialysis room. I'm surprised as I'm sure she was on the machine yesterday. I quickly make my way down the corridor to the end where the dialysis room is situated. It's busy today with all four units being used by people. What a sick world we live in. Surely God can make this right?
"Hi Dana," I say in an excited voice. She looks up from the magazine she's reading. "Hi Malo. Was wondering when you’d appear," she says with her usual sparkle. I'm pleased she is looking well, but then she usually looks better when she is on the machine.
"How come you in dialysis again today?" I ask.
"Oh, I don't know. I just do what I'm told," she replies a bit too dismissively.
"I've got some exciting news for you," I beam at her. "Are you ready for it?"
"As ready, as I'll ever be," she replies. "Let me guess, you re-tiled the kitchen." She has been wanting that done for ages but also knows its something I hate and am unlikely to have done. I see the teasing twinkle in her eye.
"I was going to do that," I reply, "but then I decided I could do much better. Instead of re-tiling one kitchen I decided I needed a much larger project to develop my handyman skills. So I put in an offer on some old barn that needs lots and lots of work."
A yelp of delight escapes from her. Throwing her arms around me she says, "Oh Malo. Did you? Did you buy my dance studio?"
"Well, I've put an offer in. So it's nearly bought. They have two weeks to decide. But seeing as its been on the market for so long I can't see us not getting it."
“This is so exciting, Malo, so exciting!”
Arriving at Bethesda, I run up the stairs to Dana's room. She's not in her bed but the nurse informs me that she is in the dialysis room. I'm surprised as I'm sure she was on the machine yesterday. I quickly make my way down the corridor to the end where the dialysis room is situated. It's busy today with all four units being used by people. What a sick world we live in. Surely God can make this right?
"Hi Dana," I say in an excited voice. She looks up from the magazine she's reading. "Hi Malo. Was wondering when you’d appear," she says with her usual sparkle. I'm pleased she is looking well, but then she usually looks better when she is on the machine.
"How come you in dialysis again today?" I ask.
"Oh, I don't know. I just do what I'm told," she replies a bit too dismissively.
"I've got some exciting news for you," I beam at her. "Are you ready for it?"
"As ready, as I'll ever be," she replies. "Let me guess, you re-tiled the kitchen." She has been wanting that done for ages but also knows its something I hate and am unlikely to have done. I see the teasing twinkle in her eye.
"I was going to do that," I reply, "but then I decided I could do much better. Instead of re-tiling one kitchen I decided I needed a much larger project to develop my handyman skills. So I put in an offer on some old barn that needs lots and lots of work."
A yelp of delight escapes from her. Throwing her arms around me she says, "Oh Malo. Did you? Did you buy my dance studio?"
"Well, I've put an offer in. So it's nearly bought. They have two weeks to decide. But seeing as its been on the market for so long I can't see us not getting it."
“This is so exciting, Malo, so exciting!”
8:56 am Sun, 19 May
I had intended to join the church service downstairs, but today Dana, despite her protestations, needs me. She is not looking well.
10:44 am Sun, 19 May
I spot Dr Aldridge walking in the corridor when I head out to get something from the vending machine.
"Dr Aldridge," I call after him. He turns and looks at me. "Please can I speak to you briefly."
"Sure, Malo," he replies. "What can I do for you?"
"Well, I'm just concerned about Dana. She seems to be going for dialysis more often recently. She is not looking well. What's happening? It does not seem like things are improving."
"You must understand Malo," he replies, "that Dana's condition is serious. While we are using dialysis to help her, unfortunately her kidney function is deteriorating at an increasing rate and we seem unable to arrest the infection’s spread. The dialysis will help, even if we need to do it more regularly. However the only long term solution is a kidney transplant. You're a believing man Malo. Pray." With that he turns and walks off.
I'm left playing his words over in my mind. "You're a believing man Malo. Pray." Is it that bad that even the doctor thinks prayer is the only solution.
On my way back to Dana someone in a soft spoken voice says, "Hello Malo. We missed you today." I look up and see it’s the young girl from the church meeting. "Hello, um..." As usual I can't remember her name.
"Beth," she says.
"Hello Beth." I say. "Sorry I was not there I really wanted to be there but Dana, my wife, was not well today. How was it?"
She smiles shyly. "It was so helpful, as it always is. Dave has a way of helping us connect. Not just with each other but with God too."
"So who is Dave?" I ask. "Is he like the hospital chaplain or something?"
"Oh no," she replies. "He's just a regular guy like you and I."
"What do you mean? Is his wife sick too then?" I ask.
"Yes," Beth replies. "She has been in a coma for over six months now. Dave comes everyday and reads to her and talks to her. During that time he saw the need of others. People sitting unvisited in beds or family members struggling with the situation. So many people in need of help. So he started a regular meeting in the family room. A time to talk, to share. A place to feel God. And that is what he is still doing. Caring and showing Jesus to us."
I'm stunned. A regular guy who in a real way is living the talk. Walking the walk. Touching lives.
As we part I promise Beth I'll be there next week.
"Dr Aldridge," I call after him. He turns and looks at me. "Please can I speak to you briefly."
"Sure, Malo," he replies. "What can I do for you?"
"Well, I'm just concerned about Dana. She seems to be going for dialysis more often recently. She is not looking well. What's happening? It does not seem like things are improving."
"You must understand Malo," he replies, "that Dana's condition is serious. While we are using dialysis to help her, unfortunately her kidney function is deteriorating at an increasing rate and we seem unable to arrest the infection’s spread. The dialysis will help, even if we need to do it more regularly. However the only long term solution is a kidney transplant. You're a believing man Malo. Pray." With that he turns and walks off.
I'm left playing his words over in my mind. "You're a believing man Malo. Pray." Is it that bad that even the doctor thinks prayer is the only solution.
On my way back to Dana someone in a soft spoken voice says, "Hello Malo. We missed you today." I look up and see it’s the young girl from the church meeting. "Hello, um..." As usual I can't remember her name.
"Beth," she says.
"Hello Beth." I say. "Sorry I was not there I really wanted to be there but Dana, my wife, was not well today. How was it?"
She smiles shyly. "It was so helpful, as it always is. Dave has a way of helping us connect. Not just with each other but with God too."
"So who is Dave?" I ask. "Is he like the hospital chaplain or something?"
"Oh no," she replies. "He's just a regular guy like you and I."
"What do you mean? Is his wife sick too then?" I ask.
"Yes," Beth replies. "She has been in a coma for over six months now. Dave comes everyday and reads to her and talks to her. During that time he saw the need of others. People sitting unvisited in beds or family members struggling with the situation. So many people in need of help. So he started a regular meeting in the family room. A time to talk, to share. A place to feel God. And that is what he is still doing. Caring and showing Jesus to us."
I'm stunned. A regular guy who in a real way is living the talk. Walking the walk. Touching lives.
As we part I promise Beth I'll be there next week.
2:16 pm Wed, 22 May
"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his Word do I hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning." (Ps 130:5)
I am waiting. I am. But how much longer. When will a kidney appear? How long oh Lord? I went online and read what others have said. Most say that it's unlikely to get a donation in less than three years. I just know that Dana won't last that long. Why? Why must this happen? How long must I wait?
I am waiting. I am. But how much longer. When will a kidney appear? How long oh Lord? I went online and read what others have said. Most say that it's unlikely to get a donation in less than three years. I just know that Dana won't last that long. Why? Why must this happen? How long must I wait?