Dad's Surgery

Two weeks ago,

As a result of a scheduled scan,

My dad learned that he had a large

Aortic aneurysm

That would need surgery.

 

His surgery is scheduled for tomorrow.

 

If all goes well,

The procedure will be laparoscopic,

He will only be in the hospital for one night,

And the recovery process will be a few weeks.

 

We are praying that all goes well,

But we are aware how precarious surgery is at 82.5 years old. 

 

To say that things have been tense around the house is an understatement. 

As much faith as he has,

As much as he’s certain of eternity, 

As much as he believes in and trusts his doctors, 

My dad is still stressed, 

Being able to do nothing to fix himself

In the waiting, 

Worrying about what is to come, 

Not because of doubt in God 

But because he’s human and 

This is a big deal and 

Being put to sleep for surgery 

Causes one to face one’s own mortality. 

 

We have no idea how long he has had the aneurysm. 

It has evidently been getting larger for quite some time. 

Without knowing it,

My dad has been walking around with a ticking time bomb that could have exploded within the year.  

So we are thankful that one thing led to another led to another that led to this diagnosis. 

And we are thankful that it can be repaired. 

 

But we are rightfully anxious and 

Open to all the warm thoughts, prayers, and well-wishes that we receive. 

 

I don’t know how prayer works. 

But something about knowing

That a community of people, 

Focused on something greater than self, 

Is coming together in common thought and desire 

Is a powerful thing. 

 

So here’s to hoping for a successful surgery and recovery

And that my dad comes out of what he has compared to going to the repair shop 

As good as new. 

 

Amen.