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Six years ago my husband (Jeff) and I were on our way to a Sacramento hospital where he was to go under heart surgery in the cath lab. He needed over 250 trenches cut in the inside of his heart to stop the electrical currents from meeting each other and causing his heart to beat over 270 beats a minute. With a heart beating that fast it could explode, it was a miracle that it hadn't, and he's on medication to keep it beating under 90 beats a minute right now.
We arrive and head to the lab. Its late afternoon and he's called in to be prepared for surgery. While he's getting the IV hooked up, blood drawn, medication being administered, I realize looking around, that he's the last patient for the day, except for the lady going through her surgery right now. The Doctor had left the door open to the operating room, and we could see a little and hear everything. I am very nervous and trying desperately to keep calm. Next thing I hear is the Doctor in the operating room raising his voice at the lady, saying cough, cough, (it regulates your heart) as I see the nurse going for the paddles to shock the heart if needed. The lady coughs, weak but she coughs and the nurse puts the paddles away. I look at my husband, who sees the sheer horror on my face and gentle says "it's going to be ok. I will be fine".
It's finally time for him to go into surgery, and the same Doctor who worked on the lady is preparing him for surgery, as I go out to wait in the hall. I start pacing, my mind starts to wonder, and starts playing those what if scenarios. It was quiet, not another soul in site, I keep pacing, staring at white walls that have a few pictures which I really don't see. I start praying and I keep praying as I pace the hall, wondering how he's doing.
It's been an hour, and I am still pacing when the cath lab calls out over the speaker, code blue in the cath lab, code blue in the cath lab. I knew the other lady had been released, and my husband was the last person in there. That code blue was for him!! I was terrified. I began to cry, afraid of the unknown, and continued to pray. I am still praying, but now I am telling Jesus, I sure wish I'd of brought another person with me, someone to talk to, comfort me, and reassure me that he's going to be fine. No sooner had I told Jesus that, I heard him say to me, "I am here; you have me to talk to". I never heard him speak before, but let me tell you, his voice was loud and clear. It was the most comforting voice I had ever heard, and I was glad he was there. Another 30 minutes goes by, and again I hear the loud speaker from the lab, code blue in the cath lab, code blue in the cath lab. By this second announcement I am beside my self with worry. I knew Jesus was with me in the hall, I felt him there. I told him, Jesus I don't need you as much as Jeff needs you. Please go to his side, and be with him. Again, Jesus tells me loud and clear, in that sweet voice I had heard earlier, " There's enough of me for the both of you". Wow that was so comforting. He's with Jeff and he's not leaving me.
Twenty minutes later the Doctor finds me in the hall. Tells me all is well, and that my husbands is in the recovery room, and I can go in. As I walk to his bedside, I knew I was not alone, nor was Jeff. The very presence of Jesus was with us, I could feel him and I had certainly heard him.
As I look back on that day, I realize, it is not an accident that I had not invited anyone to go with us, so I was not alone. Jesus used my husband's surgery to draw me closer to him, and it worked. I heard his voice, felt his very presence, and for that entire time, I had the Lord carrying me through one of the roughest times in my life. The poem of foot prints in the sand, well I can assure you as I look back on that day, I only see one set of foot prints in the sand. It's been six years since this event took place, and I remember it like it happened yesterday. Hearing Jesus, letting me know he's there in the desolate halls of the hospital waiting room with me, carrying me through one of my darkest hours, yet he never left Jeff's side.
I need to remember when I am having a rough time, life seems overwhelming, and unmanageable, there will only be one set of foot prints in the sand. We all need to look back when it's over, and I promise the only set you see will belong to the Lord.
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Angie, This was an absolutely wonderful experience. I am so glad that you have decided to share it with the world. God bless both you and Jeff. And, remember, when Jesus walks with you, you never walk alone. Love ya!
Yes it was a wonderful experience, however, next time I hope it's not so scary. Even though Jesus was carrying me, and I felt comforted, I still worried about him. The best part of that, is that I was to express my worry to the Lord. YEAH!!! Love ya!
I agree with you, he's in the miracle business. I've seen his handy work many times in my life. Sometimes I just have to sit down and look back to realize it was God the whole time running the show. Love ya
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