A week ago I was still in the hospital recovering from knee surgery, but while I was there, I saw God do a greater work than just the fixing of my knee.
On the first morning after I had admitted myself into the hospital, I stood by the window enjoying the view from the 9th floor. From behind me to my left, I heard a somewhat weakened voice say "good morning" in Taiwanese. I looked over to see one of my hospital roommates. Ah-Hong, as I would soon learn his name, was laying in his bed glancing over at me. His father was sitting by his bedside, providing care for him.
Ah-Hong, 38, had already been in the hospital for 5 weeks. An injury left him with a brain hemorrhage that they were having difficulty controlling. Two surgeries had left him bed-ridden and weak, his body suffering the slow atrophy that comes with such a condition. The left side of his body was imobile, and though he was coherent, the constant pain he was experiencing him was obvious. I asked him if his head hurt at times. He said, "It always hurts".
Just before I was taken for surgery I had a chance to pray with Ah-Hong. I shared briefly with him about God, and Jesus, and that he could have peace through faith in Him. Later that afternoon a fellow missionary came by to visit me. He and a Taiwanese co-worker from a local church were able to talk with Ah-Hong and share with him more fully about Christ, and they then prayed with him as Ah-Hong said he wanted to trust in Jesus as his savior.
We rejoice in Ah-Hong's new spiritual birth, but it is difficult to see his physical suffering. Though never married, he has a 13 year old son. Ah-Hong's parents are raising him. He comes to see his dad in the hospital only on the weekends, as he is normally too busy with school during the week.
Physically, Ah-Hong does not have much hope. Before I left the hospital I talked and prayed with him again. I told him I wanted to come back and visit him soon, and asked how much longer he thought he might be here. "I'll probably be here till I die" was his answer.
We pray that Ah-Hong's faith would grow, for it is by faith that any of us receive the good things God has for us. We pray for healing as well. God may choose not to heal Ah-Hong's body, but God has given him the promise of something better. The hope of being whole again someday. And that gift is certainly worth rejoicing about.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Knee Surgery
My first post when I started this blog back in the spring was about a minor motorcycle accident I had had. That minor accident resulted in a minor knee injury, which was loath to heal, and so this past week, that minor injury required minor surgery.
I was admitted to the China Medical University Hospital last Thursday (Sept. 4). Although my expat insurance plan would cover me for a stay in a semi-private room, I decided to go with the standard ward room (4 patients). I figured it would give me a chance to get to know some people, and maybe encourage them during my stay.
Surgery was the next morning. Originally they were just going to insert a drainage tube to allow the bursa sac to heal properly, but my doctor suggested that they take out the bursa altogether. That would eliminate any recurrence of the problem. So, now I have a nice 5 inch incision running down the middle of my left knee. I go back next week to get the stitches out. I'm sure the scar will be a good one to pull out at parties in the future.
This was my first time to have surgery of any kind, although not my first hospital stay. I never realized before how recovering from surgery in a hospital room is a lot like an overseas flight. A lot of sitting in one position, having meals brought, reading books and magazines, and the occasional trip to the bathroom.
For most of my stay one of the beds in the room was empty, so I only had 2 other roommates. The fellow beside me (which I didn't see a lot of since the curtain was always drawn) was an 86 year old man that had some kind of surgery the same morning I had mine. He was quite hard of hearing so whenever his family or the nurses talked to them they had to practically yell. I learned a lot of new medical terms in Taiwanese however as a result.
The other fellow was a 38 year old man that was suffering from a persistent brain hemorrhage. He had already been in the hospital for 5 weeks, and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight (I'll post more about him in a few days). His 72 year old father was there with him around the clock to help provide care. The hospital system in Taiwan is different than in the West. Nurses only do the most basic of required care (dispensing medicine, inserting IV's, etc.). Family members of the patient are expected to do the rest, such as managing bed pans, giving sponge baths, providing meals. A small cot is provided beside each hospital bed for the caretaker's use. I had good friends in the mission that helped out with visits, bringing me food, etc., but I think my roommates were a little perplexed that I didn't have someone stay with me round the clock, as is their custom.
So now I am back home. The incision is healing well. I need to change the dressing on it every day. The doc says I should wait 4 weeks before I start to exercise on it. I'm glad the procedure is done and look forward to getting back to a regular exercise routine soon.
I was admitted to the China Medical University Hospital last Thursday (Sept. 4). Although my expat insurance plan would cover me for a stay in a semi-private room, I decided to go with the standard ward room (4 patients). I figured it would give me a chance to get to know some people, and maybe encourage them during my stay.
Surgery was the next morning. Originally they were just going to insert a drainage tube to allow the bursa sac to heal properly, but my doctor suggested that they take out the bursa altogether. That would eliminate any recurrence of the problem. So, now I have a nice 5 inch incision running down the middle of my left knee. I go back next week to get the stitches out. I'm sure the scar will be a good one to pull out at parties in the future.
This was my first time to have surgery of any kind, although not my first hospital stay. I never realized before how recovering from surgery in a hospital room is a lot like an overseas flight. A lot of sitting in one position, having meals brought, reading books and magazines, and the occasional trip to the bathroom.
For most of my stay one of the beds in the room was empty, so I only had 2 other roommates. The fellow beside me (which I didn't see a lot of since the curtain was always drawn) was an 86 year old man that had some kind of surgery the same morning I had mine. He was quite hard of hearing so whenever his family or the nurses talked to them they had to practically yell. I learned a lot of new medical terms in Taiwanese however as a result.
The other fellow was a 38 year old man that was suffering from a persistent brain hemorrhage. He had already been in the hospital for 5 weeks, and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight (I'll post more about him in a few days). His 72 year old father was there with him around the clock to help provide care. The hospital system in Taiwan is different than in the West. Nurses only do the most basic of required care (dispensing medicine, inserting IV's, etc.). Family members of the patient are expected to do the rest, such as managing bed pans, giving sponge baths, providing meals. A small cot is provided beside each hospital bed for the caretaker's use. I had good friends in the mission that helped out with visits, bringing me food, etc., but I think my roommates were a little perplexed that I didn't have someone stay with me round the clock, as is their custom.
So now I am back home. The incision is healing well. I need to change the dressing on it every day. The doc says I should wait 4 weeks before I start to exercise on it. I'm glad the procedure is done and look forward to getting back to a regular exercise routine soon.
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