Let me attempt to paint a picture for you. Its noon on Monday morning, I am in San Jose, Costa Rica at Clinica Biblica Hospital. I am laying in a hospital bed, and I am currently stopped at the nurse station outside my room. My blue plaid gown and blanket are not really keeping me warm. The sounds I hear are of medical personnel giving report in a foreign language. Its all a bit overwhelming. I get the shivers, and we continue rolling down the hall. I look up at the ceiling lights as they pass by. I get the feeling like I am in a TV show, the part where the person is semiconscious and being wheeled to the ER.
But that is not the case. I am being wheeled to the Operating Room. Before we turn down another hallway I look back over my shoulder to see if Sara, one of my squad leaders is back from downstairs. She isn’t. I sigh in resignation that I am being wheeled off to surgery without a last hug or anything. This makes me even more nervous. I just really wanted a hug from my Mom.
I know that Sara and I prayed 15 minutes before the nurses came and got me, but I just imagined I would say bye as I was actually being wheeled away. My mind… yeah. And my lack of speaking up. Need to work on that. Its just, I’ve never been under general anesthesia and this looming appointment with the OR was making me very nervous.
My two surgery techs or nurses wheel me out of the elevator a few minutes later and we wheel into pre-op. I got the shivers all over. The nurses tried for an IV again, finally with success. About 15 minutes into my time there, a nurse comes in who speaks English. It was such a relief to be able to talk with someone who was going to be with me the entire procedure. She greatly calmed my nerves. It was great, but not enough.
After the necessary questions and double checks are complete, everyone leaves the room. The room is freezing, I try huddling under my blanket, and realize I am all alone. After sitting in blaring silence for 5 minutes, thoughts racing a mile a minute in my head, I realize I am not alone. For the Lord Jesus is with me wherever I am. Including pre-op. I start praying, and peace starts coming over me. It was amazing.
Around 12:45, they wheel me into the actual OR. My blood pressure reads high, the nurse makes a comment about me being nervous, and I tell her I am shaking and cold because I was nervous. The anesthesiologist gives me something through my IV and says I may feel dizzy. About 3 seconds later I was dizzy, and a minute later I woke up groggily in post-op. I did’t even realize I had closed my eyes! I tried to keep my eyes open and I eventually find a clock and it reads 2:30. Apparently I survived general anesthesia. Yay me! lol
At 4pm they wheel me back to my room and Sara was there to greet me. The nurses came and did all their checks and I pretty much slept the rest of the day. I don’t remember too much of that afternoon, but I know I was in good hands. The Lords hands. Weds afternoon I finally got to leave the hospital.
So much has happened in the last week. I am now 6 days post-op. I’ve been recuperating in Heredia with team Kingdom Shakers. We are staying in a school, sleeping on our mats on a classroom floor. Haven’t been sleeping the greatest but all things considered, I feel pretty good. Good enough to go explore Heredia on foot last night, and good enough to walk a few hundred meters to the rim of a volcano today. Still sore, still have some bruising and the incisions look pretty good. My post-op appointment is Monday morning, then I will finally be able to join my team in Jaco.
One thing this whole experience has taught me is to continue to trust in the Lord. This time, it was basic. It was with my life. Apparently I needed that. Hope it doesn’t happen again, but definitely willing to continue learning about this. And I am constantly thanking God for a speedy recovery.
Now for some snapshots of this week. 🙂
Me rockin the plaid gown while getting prayed for by the chaplain.
6 days later, its adventure day, and I can’t bear to sit. Definitely felt good enough for a walk to the volcano rim. Except there were too many clouds… oh well. Selfie time with most of the Kingdom Shakers. I LOVE this team!!! Sooooo much!
Since we saw no volcano we found a waterfall instead. 🙂 I LOVE Costa Rica already!
The end… for now! 🙂 Love you all!
Thank you soooooo much for all the prayers! 🙂
