In and Out (ITWW #5)

                                       

Into the Word Wednesday was created by these inspirational women.  Check out their links and join in if you'd like! 
                        
                                   Falen and Laura at Upward, not Inward

Sarah at Fontenot Four

Kelly at The Houtz House Party

Becky at Tales For Ashes

Kelly at Exceptionalistic

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I took my 89 year-old dad to the ER this morning.  He fell out of his wheel chair Sunday afternoon and landed on his left side.  He rested yesterday, but this morning, his shoulder was really hurting.  I tried to get an appointment with his primary care doc, so we could get an order for an X-ray.

No go.  It's a policy of Dad's doc that when an elderly person in an ALF falls, they have to go to the ER.   Neither Dad nor I wanted to go through the ER, as it takes hours to get seen, and Dad almost always ends up being admitted.  He has several health issues, and I think the ER docs are understandably cautious.

But, it was our only option, so I grabbed several issues of Time magazine, and we drove to the ER.  

Amazingly, Dad was placed in a room within ten minutes.   Before the nurse had completed her paperwork, a physician walked in.  She got Dad's story, examined him and ordered some X-rays.  I hadn't even opened my first magazine.

As soon as the doc left, a tech appeared to take blood and then wheeled Dad to radiology.  I thought, are we at the right hospital?  Am I dreaming?

While Dad was gone, I read two articles in Time - a story on the economy, and a Gabby Douglas profile.  What a darling young woman. 

Within twenty minutes, the doc returned with good news - no broken bones, no head trauma.  Coumadin was a little low.  Follow up with the primary physician on that.  Thanks for stopping in, good luck, and see ya.

Dad was wheeled back in, and I helped him redress.   We chatted for ten minutes before the discharge nurse appeared.  Dad signed two papers, and we were ready to go.

As I walked outside to pull the car up to the entrance, I thought, it's only been two hours from start to finish.  In and out of the ER in two hours.  In the history of the universe, this has never happened.  A news team should be here. 

On the ride home, Dad and I marveled at the experience. 

1.  A two-hour ER visit; no broken bones (just a contusion); no internal bleed; no admission papers; no hospital food.  
2.  Kind, efficient medical personnel; no waiting, no waiting, no waiting.

Dad and I decided Tuesday morning was the ideal time to visit the ER.

On this Into the Word Wednesday, I wanted to share my perfect ER experience and thank God for the ride.  Two Wednesdays ago, I was in the dumps and wrote a gripey post.

But, I know this - God wasn't with us any less two weeks ago than He was today.  He wasn't blessing me any more today than He was two weeks ago.   His love and guidance are constant.  They are not based on circumstances.  I just lose sight of that when the world throws me a curve ball.  Because, in the flesh, I'm wobbly and easily distracted.  Life can knock me over like a twig.  And Dad, too, apparently.

This morning, for whatever reason, there were no curve balls.   And I thank God for that.

Dad and me last year