Some of you may not know that on July 9, I had a subarachnoid brain aneurysm while on vacation with my family in Auburn, AL. I was treated at the University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB). On July 17 I had brain surgery by an excellent physician who placed clips on some bulging places of my blood vessels to prevent further bleeding. I was released from UAB & its Spain Rehab on Aug. 14 and finally got back home in NC the following week. Fathers’ Day cards were still sitting on our mantle. Our lives got interrupted.
Since several of you have asked me how I’m doing at this point, I’ll just do a general update. Recuperating from brain surgery and lying in a hospital bed for 6 weeks is not easy or overnight, but I’m getting better and stronger every day. The wheelchair and walker are now history; a cane or Allan’s arm help to maneuver in public. With exercise, the sagging muscles are returning to normal, but my hearing seems worse. My NC brain surgeon (who is my follow-up doctor) told me to return in 5 years. He says I’m not supposed to be doing so well. I told him that a lot of people are praying for me. He gave his approval for a road trip to DC last weekend to attend the beautiful wedding of my niece. I rode horizontally in the back seat with a pillow and felt rested upon arrival. My wonderful husband did all the driving for about 7 hours from Angier; younger people travel faster. The hwy. I-95 bottlenecks were not too long. The wedding photo is of the 4 younger siblings in my Childers family clan. Being a middle child is interesting. I got a little more respect from these 3 than the older 3, I think. But I grew to love and respect all of them more than ever while I was in the hospital. They traveled to Birmingham to see me and stayed to talk. We got re-acquainted.
SOME LESSONS LEARNED SO FAR:
- Friends & family are invaluable.
- Rehab is work. Heb. 12:12 – “Therefore, [YOU] strengthen the hands which hang down and the feeble knees…” Since YOU is the understand subject in English commands, the patient is the one who manages the strengthening.
- Keep short accounts, especially with your mate. Leave off being critical.
- Watch for divine appointments and even “good things” to happen as a result of the trial.
- Heaven-sent comforts are found all along the way, every day!!!