Lesson One of 2009: God's Timing is Perfect

1/1/09 will forever live in my family's mind. It is the day that my dad almost died. And yet you wonder how I can title this God's Timing is Perfect.

I received a call from my mom on Thursday evening the first day of the new year and her words were "now don't freak out, but". You always know when you hear those words from anyone what follows is never good. She was in the ER with my dad who was having chest pains and all the symptoms of a heart attack. He did not even sit in the chairs they rushed him right back and started working immediately. Mom said "don't come" it will be okay, but that is hard to even hear when your head is spinning. They weren't sure what had happened, they did not declare it a heart attack and weren't even sure that was it. . they had to wait and do tests.

Later that night he was admitted into the Cardiac ICU at Phx Baptist Hospital. The next day he was on plenty of meds and his blood pressure began to drop too low so they took him off some meds. We were waiting for the big test to tell us what really happened. I drove up that afternoon to be there hopefully during the test and after. I was able to sit with my mom as the doctors explain the procedure. I am glad I was there as the surgeon first used the words "tricky" and "amazed" at the blockage. Lovely.

He began to explain that my dad had a blockage in an artery that carried 70% of our blood flow. It was blocked 90%. After several attempts at the stent they finally were able to put it in, which meant he would not have to have bypass surgery. Blessing. He did say he was so glad that he came in when he did. The surgeon was wonderful, unlike many doctors I have ever met in the hospital. Was amazing skilled but didn't act as though he knew that at all. He was humble, caring, was glad to explain, help and didn't seem to mind taking as much time as possible at 4 pm on a Friday.

My dad, mom & I then returned to the cardiac ICU where we were greeted with incredible nurses, in fact all the nurses were amazing. He then recovered and by only the miracle of the Lord he went home the next day. The surgeon had wanted to keep him until Sunday and that was the plan, but everything looked so good that we were able to take him home. Much to his delight. He is now resting comfortably at home with the care of my mom and Murphy laying by his side. He is pretty much not allowed to do anything for 2 weeks which I am sure is driving him crazy. But that is okay. . . . he needs it!

The following are just a few incidents about Gods timing. . . perfect. Even though I would NEVER want this to happened. The Lord was truly present in all of it.

1. They got to the ER right when they were supposed to. Anymore time at home and it would have been worse.

2. Although they had to wait until Friday late afternoon for the test it was better from my perspective as if his blood pressure would have dropped during the test that would have been bad.

3. God knew what doctors and nurses my dad would have at exactly what times.

4. If this would have happened a day earlier my mom might not have been there as she was in Tucson.

5. I was able to go up without kids and Jeff was able to take care of them because he was off of work.

6. My mom was off of work.

7. All the doctors and nurses kept saying over and over "thank goodness you came in when you did".

8. God allowed the healing to be quick at the hospital so dad could rest at home.

9. It happened 1/1/09. . . the Lord showed us the very first day of the new year what is REALLY important.