The Unexpected

For the past two days my companion and I had to prepare for a procedure he needed to have today as a routine when you get older. He actually should have had it ten years ago, but he was a recluse who didn't think much of his health unless he had something active going on -- an acute illness of sorts. So since we met over three years ago,  I've been very proactive in making sure that we catch up with medical exams he should have been monitoring for himself. I just wanted him to have assurance and have a measuring stick to keep things that need to be monitored to have a starting place. He had the scoping of his esophagus and upper digestive system along with his lower digestive system. There were some things that were found in the procedure that we are waiting to hear the results about after more tests are completed.

So in a matter of only a couple of months, we have seen a neurologist, cardiologist, gastroenterologist, pulmonary specialist, plus his primary physician who is actually the one referring all the tests that need to be monitored. It was my expectation that all that needed monitoring would just be routine and things would be just fine. However, we have bumped into more than a couple unexpected diagnoses. I couldn't help but think, if only someone had been proactive in making sure he was getting the medical treatment he needed if things would have had a more positive result. I have to admit, some of the things we are facing are a bit concerning, but I'm remaining optimistic that if we found these things, they can be treated at the most minimal level possible. My prayers were that as we went through this process that all his tests would come back normal. I always end that whatever is in God's will is what it will be.

I knew that we had some active things going on, so I wasn't surprised when we got some basic prognosis, however the unexpected results are a little unnerving. Things I wasn't expecting, but will need to be addressed and hopefully will result in a positive outcome. I'm being very vague as I don't want to claim anything until all the final results of these tests come together. We have a week for one test and a couple weeks for another. We have pending appointments to go over some other issues that haven't been tested yet. My poor companion has gone through numerous X-rays and CT Scans along with blood work. We are both looking forward to when we have gotten through to the other side of what we might be facing.

This reminds me of when I was in my early 20's. I used to be so strict on what I put in my body. I didn't even like to take Tylenol unless it was absolutely necessary. I was going to my doctor for some routine medical exams you get when you are young and it was found that I had high blood pressure that required medication -- again, the unexpected. I thought it weird that I had high blood pressure, because I thought I handled my stress levels pretty good. Long story short, it took years, but I actually was diagnosed with a chronic auto immune condition of my Thyroid -- first Graves Disease which then turned into Hashimoto's Disease. Because of the auto immune condition, it led to other health issues. It was a process, but certainly not fun when I ended up having to take numerous medications to keep things in check.

The same thing has happened to my companion in the past three years. He used to take maybe four medications when I first met him, but now he is up to around eleven. Some are just supplements as are mine -- due to vitamin deficiencies. He has had more than a couple falls with back injuries, which warranted the additional medications to help with pain management. Now with these new pending prognosis, we will have to work with all the specialists to make sure that his medication regime is modified. Again, the unexpected. We had already developed a routine that I monitor for him.

I'm happy to say that my health has improved immensely since I lost weight. He also has experienced some improved health as a result of him losing weight along with me. That's why these unexpected test results have taken us back a little bit, because he seemed to be doing so much better and we want to keep going in that direction. He had an accident when he was 14 that caused him some brain damage and we knew we would have to deal with cognitive issues along with some balance issues-- we were prepared for that. Now we have some physiological stuff we need to get in order. Since we haven't gotten all the information or results -- we are in a limbo state. I've been praying fervently for God's will to be done when it comes to the outcome of it all. My companion has remained optimistic and told me he was so grateful that I suggested these tests be done, so we could start a process at a earlier stage than had we waited until things got worse.

I remember one day my son came up to me and told me his right middle finger was really hurting. I looked at it and it was two to three times the size. I asked him how long it had been hurting him. He said it had only started hurting. I took him to the doctor and it ended up being a blood vessel tumor that required surgery. My brother who was a Pastor at the time came to our house and anointed his little hand and we had prayer over the procedure he would need. The initial surgery did not work for him when they used his own hip bone, so he had to have a secondary surgery where a donor bone was inserted into the void in his finger caused by the tumor being removed. The second time the surgery was successful. He has a short finger on that hand, but the alternative of not having a finger at all was a wonderful outcome for him. But again, he was just a little boy and his getting this tumor was so unexpected.

My daughter when she was 18 had left the house for a short period, but came to me one day telling me that she was in excruciating pain -- I had always carried insurance for her, so put her in the car, along with her boyfriend at the time and we drove to Kaiser to have her looked at. She ended up with an acute case of Appendicitis and needed to have emergency surgery. All went well, until the followup appointment, when we were informed that around her appendix was found a cancerous carcinoid tumor. We had been explained that if it had been a little larger, she would have had to have part of her colon removed. I always say that appendix is what took us into the hospital and that it was intended for us to find her cancer. Thank God it was the kind of cancer that once removed is gone, however, she had to go through years of testing to assure it didn't come back. Again, a very unexpected outcome. (It was strange, but when she described the initial pain to me, she said it felt like cancer. My daughter tends to be a little drama queen, but this time the girl that cried wolf was spot on.) For many years she has had no issues, until recently she is having some tests done and I'm hoping, like myself, she is just starting to experience thyroid issues like her Mama. Again, another unexpected twist.

So what is my reaction when these "unexpected" events happen? Initially, my first reaction is that of despair, but then scriptural verses start kicking in -- about how God doesn't give us more than we can bear. we need to keep the faith -- walking through the valley of the shadow of death, etc. Actually, these verses bring me comfort and the realization of who is control becomes forefront into my mind and provides me comfort and patience in getting through these turbulent and unexpected times. I know through my own personal prognosis, Jesus has seen me through some pretty tough times. I know that whatever my companion and I might be facing, that God will get us through. I'll also share that with other things before what we are experiencing, prior to finding out some unexpected news, as I'm reading scripture I'm led to verses that provide me encouragement. I often will ask Holy Spirit what and why am I reading these verses -- then a feeling comes over me that I might be having to face something that seems big, but to focus on these verses to get me through -- and He will see me through those unexpected times.

I've learned that life has many unexpected turns and we just need to adjust and keep forging ahead.