Big Day Tomorrow

What a good day it's been. To know dad has his surgeries behind him and that we can continue moving forward from here is such a relief for all of us. We know that a long road lies ahead, but for the past few days, we weren't sure there would be any road at all. We know that last night his pneumonia could have worsened, his fever could have continued to rise. But we serve a God that apparently has more for dad to do here on earth. My favorite memory of the day was as the surgeons walked away and the family immediately circled together to give thanks to God for bringing dad through it. We have learned a lot about each other the last 6 days, and I have never been more proud of all of them.

Tomorrow will be a big day for dad, and probably an incredibly hard one but in a much different way. Dad has been on paralytics and heavy sedation for the last 3 days, and as morning comes those drugs will begin wearing off. We will wait in excited anticipation for the opening of eyes, the removal of the breathing tube, the untethering of the arm, and finally hearing his voice again. But with these things will come awearness of his injury, awearness of his limitations, awearness of the fact that we really don't know what limbs will work again. Mom will be going in early, and has warned the nurses to not let him wake up without her by his side. We know that in the next few days will come some anger, and we can guarantee that Pops will hate the rehab. So tomorrow we'll be praying for calmness in his spirit, that as he comprehends what has happened to him this past week, let's pray he takes it well. He body still has a lot of healing to do, his lungs still need to be clearer. Pray for mom to be strong as she tells him exactly what has happened. All of us kids are dying to see him tomorrow, but pray that we will have patience. Our very Italian, very emotional dad gets so worked up when he sees us that it may not be good for his body. We know it's because he loves us so much, but pray that if tomorrow isn't good timing, we will love him enough to let him rest one more day.

We go to bed tonight having cleared a huge hurdle, but have hundreds more lined up for us in the days, weeks, and months to come. We give praise and thanks to our Father in Heaven for holding up our dad and our family in His mighty hands. And we thank the precious families that have kept our bellies full of amazing food, our house full of beautiful flowers, and our spirits full of hope because of all of your encouraging words. I know dad would be so happy to know his family is being taken care of.

And as for mom's ongoing, ridiculously loud snoring, we can rest knowing that dad is in the hospital sleeping peacefully for the first time in about 35 years. Enjoy it while it lasts, Pops!