These weren't a part of my Dad's life when we waved goodbye to him less than two months ago. When I visited him three weeks ago, he was leaving Intensive Care, and going to a long term hospital. I wondered as I kissed him goodbye if I would ever see him this side of heaven again.
During his time in rehab, he started to see progress. First, he was awake a little more each day. Then he started speaking in understandable sentences. They removed his feeding tube, and he learned to feed himself again.
When I arrived back at Baylor hospital in Dallas last weekend to visit him, I was so surprised to see him awake, speaking in complete sentences, and in his wheel chair.
Many times at the hospital, my Mom and I would go to the chapel and pray together. We would pray for healing, for Gods presence to comfort my Dad, and for wisdom for the doctors. The stained glass in the picture above on the windows of the chapel at Baylor are of Psalm 23.
The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall
follow me all the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house
of the Lord forever.
Many, many families in Dallas are dealing with the long term effects of this very serious virus. On the ICU floor and throughout the hospital he has been at, there are several cases. At long term rehabs throughout Dallas, there are cases at each one. In North Texas alone, there have been 700 cases, and at least 26 deaths.
My Dad is one of the "lucky" ones. One of the ICU doctors told my Mom that my Dad had "dodged a bullet." It was kind of absurd to look at my Dads condition and think that he had dodged a bullet. But it's true, he is one of the lucky ones.
He has a long way to go. He is extremely weak, and the left side of his body is weaker than the right from the stroke he suffered. He is learning the basic skills of life all over again. His determination amazes us, and now I know where Conner gets it.
Today, he turned up missing at the hospital. The nurses found him sitting in his wheel chair at the elevator watching the doors open and close waiting for my Mom to arrive. She has been his compass during this time, and I have never witnessed such true love.
This weekend when I went back to visit him, we were able to take him in his wheel chair to the chapel where we have prayed so many times for him. This time, we got to pray with him.
