Our help comes from the Lord...

Originally posted on facebook on Tuesday, October 27

As I sit in the dark of a cool, quiet hospital room, listening to the love of my life work on every breath he takes, I am reminded of all the sweet times the Lord has been our help..in times of trouble, in times of plenty, in times of sorrow, in times of despair, in times like this.
After a very long night last night, we prayed the morning would bring us answers. Those answers weren't quite what we thought they'd be, but they were the very answers that would save his life. Last night, his heart enzymes were normal, and the thought was possibly pneumonia, problems due to congestive heart failure, fluid buildup, but the heart looked okay...on the ekg, the bloodwork, with the stethescope. His blood pressure was high but with the breathing difficulty, that was expected. His blood sugar soared to a final high of 334, for no apparent reason, and has bobbled up and down all day, even with the insulin. His sweet nurse, Sondra, came in and said they were going to draw the enzymes again just to be sure and in just a short time, she was back telling us that they were re-drawing them and that we were going to the cath lab...WHAT????? Dr. Duran, Roy's longtime cardiologist, came and explained that Roy was having a heart attack at that moment and that they had to go in and fix whatever was going on or risk more heart damage. Everything moved quickly and we settled in with friends and family to wait for the call. When they called us back, Emily and I waited to speak with the doctor. Not the usual routine...usually we were led right to Roy to discuss what he had done to "fix" things. Instead, we saw somber faces and no one said anything. When the doc came out he told us to come on back. I stood at my precious love's side with our Emily right there...and then he said it...we have a problem, several of them. Roy already knew what he was going to say and tears streamed down his face. And then I knew...Roy would need another bypass operation to save his life. The bypasses from 1999 have long since scarred over and peripheral veins have formed to compensate. But the other 3 are now affected. And it's the big ones. I thought he was going to tell me that he had put more stents in..that's what he always says. But not this time...he needs the surgery and he needs as soon as possible. Roy's heart has functioned at a low capacity for quite a while...the reason they put in a defribillator in 2007. Now, it is pumping at about 20%. His heart is so sick. But, first, the other problems have to be addressed...and fast. So, we began making the calls to Christine, Brad, Roy's sons Mike and Mark, who live so far away. And then we spent the afternoon and evening together making lists...lots of them. My sister, Marianne, would handle things at my house...Christine would begin copying down all the little notes that I have made on scrap paper and keep up with everything that is said...Emily spent the whole day with me, encouraged us all, along with sweet Clint. Brad arrived with the laptop so we can watch movies, listen to all his Christian/Gospel music on his computer, cure my insomnia with a bit of facebook! Melissa Jo and Mary Kate brought their precious smiles and loved on Uncle Roy. Jack and Sam came up and performed shows behind the pull curtain by the door. Christine brought a casserole and they even let Roy eat a little. Key family members were missing but not far away in our hearts. People came and went...each offering such sweet prayers for all of us...and our sweet precious Roy. The surgeon came by...love him! He stayed a long time and answered our questions. Told us that we're shooting for Thursday. So the journey continues...tomorrow will be tests, bloodwork, lung evaluation, sugar checks, and the continual friend, Mr. Oxygen.
I won't tell you I'm okay with this...we've dealt with this for many years...he's our rock...he's our hero...he's dad, daddy, grandpa, pappy, "hey you", brother, son, American hero...with a heart so sweet that it seems so wrong that it is so broken.
But, we know...our help comes from the Lord. We will continue to pray and enjoy laughter and smiles and hugs...and we will give this to Him. We will wait for His answer...we will trust that He will be with the doctors, nurses, techs, and anyone else who is involved with this...and with Roy. When we give our "see you later" kisses and hugs, we will wait...and pray..and hope...and think of the wonderful blessing he is to so many. Please join us at any time in a continual season of prayer until the last tube has been removed, the last cut healed, the last IV removed, until we have our Roy back with us.

In the morning when I rise, give me Jesus...when I am alone, give me Jesus...you can have all of this world...but give me Jesus.

You be blessed today...you are all such blessings to us...