Drinking Terrible Things Quickly

 Well. If I didn’t know it before, then I know it now:

I wouldn’t do well on the Amazing Race.

Not only do I have a terrible sense of direction with struggling map skills,

And not only could I not run very far without needing oxygen,

And not only do I have trouble memorizing things on demand,

But I’ve also learned that

I don’t have the ability to drink terrible things quickly.

For instance,

The two containers of barium that one must drink before having a CT scan with contrast.

I did it.

But the consistency and taste combined were enough to make me do odd dances, gag, and cry.

I even made my mom tear up because the look on my face was so pained.

And while you’d think that taking the last sip would be the easiest,

I had to coach myself to do it because it was just so bad.

I asked myself if I could do it for a million dollars.

I thought maybe I could…but then I sat there for a few more minutes.

And there went my million dollars :-p!

 

I suppose that if I were on The Amazing Race,

Then I wouldn’t be feeling terrible.

I’ve been feeling bad since Friday evening, February 25^th.

I began passing a kidney stone that afternoon…

And over the course of the next week and a half,

That one, ridiculously painful event, evolved into

A feverish internal infection that sent me to 2 rounds of lab-work, 1 X-ray, 2 CT scans, 1 IV for contrast fluid, my primary care doctor who thankfully answers texts and makes house calls, and a specialist in Raleigh who thankfully fit me into her schedule.

Because of my doctors’ hard work, I’ve been able to avoid the hospital.

I’m currently taking three strong antibiotics,

Including one that requires a shot every day,

And I will follow-up with more testing in two weeks.

 

I was supposed to be celebrating a major life event with a friend on that Friday night when the kidney stone began to make its move.

I was supposed to be going to my nephew’s last high school basketball game that next day.

I was supposed to sing in the choir that Sunday,

And teach lessons that I’d already planned that next week.

I was supposed to have coffee with a friend and go to choir practice.

I was supposed to go to Asheville to celebrate a friend’s upcoming album release.

I was not supposed to be doubled over in pain for over a week,

Spending my life savings on medical procedures that I never imagined needing.

 

And yet…

I am one of the fortunate ones who has friends and family who sat doubled over with me and understood when I canceled plans.

I am one of the fortunate ones who has a doctor who cares about me as an individual rather than as a number or case.

I am one of the fortunate ones who has health insurance to help pay for unforeseen medical expenses and has savings from which to withdraw.

I am one of the fortunate ones who, at least in the last week, has chosen Peace over constant anxiety and worry over something beyond my control.

 

Dear God: When things don’t go as planned—when sickness gets in the way of life—when dreams, however small, get shattered—You are there. You are there in the presence of friends, family, doctors, nurses, medical technicians, and an indescribable mystery that can only be explained as You. Thank you. Thank you for giving us humor to push us through the most serious of circumstances. And thank you for giving us medicine to heal sick bodies. May we not hoard the good gifts that you’ve given. And may we be good stewards of all that we have—including our bodies. Amen.