I’ve never been one to go to doctors unless there is an emergency. Why spend extra money for someone to tell you to take some Tylenol and get some rest? So, when I felt that “pop” in my stomach in 2019, I took some Ibuprofen (I was out of Tylenol) and rested.
However this time, rest didn’t cure it. I was in more pain by morning. A doctor visit was going to be needed to cure whatever “this” was. Everyone was busy working, so I drove myself to the Loma Linda Urgent Care. After spending the day in Urgent Care, while they took all kinds of tests, it was determined that I would need to be admitted to the hospital. They transferred me via an ambulance van to Loma Linda University Medical Center, where I stayed for almost a month.
The nurses put tubes in places I didn’t think they should go. They promised me that if I were to pull them out, they would put them right back in. It would be better for me if I just left them there. I’m not sure how many tubes were inserted into my body, I stopped counting after 10. They told me that all of them were essential. I was septic and they were trying to remove the bad stuff and put in the good stuff. They were hoping that the hole inside me would close by itself. But, as it turns out, that hole was going to require some surgical assistance to close.
Life is full of challenges. They are just a part of this sinful world. But, as I was going through this challenge, I was blessed with so many incredible people. Even though I was in the hospital for almost a month, a family member always spent the night with me – whether it was my husband, my mother, or my daughter. My cousin, who had done all her medical training at Loma Linda University, until she graduated as a plastic surgeon, kept in contact with the doctors and nurses about my situation to make sure that I had just the right surgeon and was getting appropriate medical care. And I did. I had an incredible team of doctors who were led by an exceptional new “hot shot” surgeon with a wonderful bedside manner. She explained everything to me in common terms that I could understand. I had the most wonderful team of nurses who, even when I didn’t feel like walking, wrapped me up in the sheets, and insisted that I take a few steps.
During my seven-hour surgery, they were unable to use sutures to close the hole, so an innovative new procedure had to be used. Thank goodness for exceptional new “hot shots.” They had chosen to finish the procedure with a wet vac, which means that a couple of days after surgery, I watched as they put the final sutures in my stomach, from my sternum to past my belly button, in my hospital room. A feeding tube was added to the tube list. During all these procedures, other patients came and went in the spaces next to me.
God is incredible. Besides the best medical care ever, he blessed me with the presence of others. My children came to visit me as often as possible. My daughter, who was a freshman at La Sierra University, took care of her younger brothers who were still in elementary school. Our precious neighborhood family brought food for my children and some took my children to and from school every day. My mom, a nurse since before I was even a speck in her eye, flew out to help take care of me and my family. Praise the Lord, she was able to stay for almost two months. My husband had to keep working but he spent many nights at my bedside. One of my besties, Kim, showed up and braided my hair more than once (had to look good for surgery, you know). Others showed up with spring flowers or just stopped by to visit and let me know that they were praying for me and the family. Each person that showed up was a treasure. Kim and Diana, another bestie, showed up together for a visit, and then one of them drove my vehicle home. Ota, my children’s other mother, checked on me before, after, and during her shifts. One of my bonus sisters, a physician’s assistant, showed up and checked places I would never have allowed, if I had had a choice. Everyone felt that I needed to walk. They escorted me to the blue door at the end of the hall as many times as possible throughout the day.
I was truly blessed by all the “Jesus love” that was showered on us during this challenging time. When I asked my mother how we got through it, she said it was because of all the people who were praying. We got through it with prayer.
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” Philippians 4:13.
Jeanette Griego enjoys ice cream and chocolate, and is blessed by each one of her family members and friends, and, most importantly, her Savior.