A warm moment in a cold hospital room

So after about two weeks in St. Joe's, Lee's situation seemed to get just a little bit better and then almost instantly his body crashed. The doctors wanted to take him down for tests and were discussing the idea of surgery with such seriousness. We found out that with all of the antibiotics given for the UC and a dose of Remecaid (immuno-suppressant) in another hospital, he at some point became infected with a superbug, C diff Colitis. The problem was that he had both forms of Colitis and the treatment for one was fueling the other. They started a pretty agressive treatment on the infection and we waited to see change.

After all the emotional ups and downs and an uncertain future, Lee got a break when his cousins came to visit. He smiled more as he watched the game and joked back and forth. So good for me to see! He needed just to forget for a little while. As they were leaving he asked them for a *priesthood blessing. No doubt he needed the comfort it would bring. I tried to listen intently. With their hands on his head, his cousins provided a huge service to Lee. One line stuck out in my mind. Lee was told that "help would come from unknown sources" and it did over and over again.

I knew that family would help. That just wasn't a question. Through every hospital visit both sets of grandparents and my siblings, in their love, took on my kids. They willingly gave their time and even money to make sure my little ones had the care that they needed. I did remember that line when I was told about my mother in law's coworkers offering to watch them and even my sister's sitter adding Braxton to her day.

Lee's coworkers offered a generous amount of their PTO into a fund for him. That wasn't something we were expecting. What kind people to forget themselves and help us in a trying time. I pray that blessings will be sent their way for the love that they have shown.
Honestly the help that got me the most was everyone's love and prayers. Lee's name was on several denominations' prayer rolls and special fasts were started on his behalf in many cities around the state. I knew that my cousin Jennifer blogged about us and went to the website to thank her. My heart was full of gratitude when I saw her friends' comments and commitment to keep our family (strangers to them) in their prayers.

There was one moment in particular that warmed my heart. I had put a few quotes on the dry erase board on Lee's wall, scriptures I found that would uplift us and remind us who's plan we are living.

Phillipians 4:13 (hangs on my wall at home)13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Doctrine and Covenants 68:66 Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you...

All of the doctors were consulting with Lee and letting him know that they needed to see some dramatic change during the weekend, implying that a surgery may be on the horizon if everything continued as it had for weeks.

I had looked at Lee's medical student as she read the board. Our eyes made contact just after and the two of us were both tearing up. I smiled and she looked away. She stayed after all the doctors left. She asked a simple question to Lee and I. "Are you Christian?" I replied with a yes. Lee went on to say that we were Mormon and I followed him with "so yes we are Christian." Her next words were not anticipated. "My fiance and I prayed for you last night. I gave your name to my parents and they prayed for you too." We of course thanked her several times over for her kindness and Lee said "You don't know how much that means."

Help truly came from unknown sources. I think the good that came from Lee's time in the hospital was that it restored my hope in the goodness of people. For years, the crime in my neighborhood has made me skeptical about people's intentions. This is not my nature. I am usually someone who wants to trust, someone who thinks that people are much like me. I liked that I was able to find that part of myself again!

*Information about Priesthood Blessings on LDS.org http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?index=16&locale=0&sourceId=57560abf0c4b2110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=bbd508f54922d010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD