Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Planning ahead

I had an appointment with the Enterostomal Therapist today. I was a little nervous about going because I was afraid it might “dunk” me again... 

With my nursing background, I am familiar with ileostomy care. I have taken care of patients who had them, so it was not new information for me. The therapist was very sweet.  She has had an ileostomy since 1970, so, she knows what she’s talking about. She knows what works, and how to care for one. I know that they are manageable, and I know that it won’t keep me from living my life, and I know that the appliances and equipment have significantly improved since I was working in the nursing field, and I know it will only be temporary. But... 

When she began talking to me, it was as if she was speaking Chinese.  It was all so overwhelming. Everything has happened so fast that it still doesn’t seem real. I just kept smiling and nodding, thinking, “I’ll go home and try to make sense of what she is telling me later.” 

On the drive home I decided that I’d just like to cancel everything – cancel surgery, cancel the ileostomy, cancel cancer!!  Can we do that?  I’m still waiting for a response to my Craig’s List ad! 

I’m definitely going to call my friend who has her own personal ileostomy and pick her brain! Thank you, God, for providing the exact people I need in my life right now!

3 comments:

  1. I'm always amazed at how God puts the right people in our lives.

    This Too Shall Pass

    If I can endure for this minute
    Whatever is happening to me,
    No matter how heavy my heart is
    Or how dark the moment may be-

    If I can remain calm and quiet
    With all the world crashing about me,
    Secure in the knowledge God loves me
    When everyone else seems to doubt me-

    If I can but keep on believing
    What I know in my heart to be true,
    That darkness will fade with the morning
    And that this will pass away, too-

    Then nothing in life can defeat me
    For as long as this knowledge remains
    I can suffer whatever is happening
    For I know God will break all of the chains

    That are binding me tight in the darkness
    And trying to fill me with fear-
    For there is no night without dawning
    And I know that my morning is near.

    ...Helen Steiner Rice

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  2. Dearest Laura, Praying for you and all you are going through. Truly, our God is sustaining and holding you.

    Tonight Blake is meeting with Marcus to write some songs. Marcus and my daughter, Sara, wrote a song for me and I wanted to share it with you. M will give it to Blake for you.

    Psalm 17:7 Thank You Father for showing Your Marvelous Loving - Kindnesses to Laura Shook! You are He, Who Saves by Your RIGHT HAND - Laura and those who put their trust in You! amen and amen.

    Love in Christ, Charity

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  3. Praying for you, Laura, and all you are going through! Thanks for blessing so many people when you write. I laughed when I read yesterday's blog because I have been cleaning things up and cleaning things out like a wild woman this week, trying to get stuff done before school starts again. Hope that doesn't mean anything! God has used you so much already! We thank God for you!

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