HOME!!! Sweet home!

I can’t believe today is April 1st! February and March were a wash for me. I seriously don’t remember much of what happened in them. I do remember that I was ready to blog something when things went crazy with me.

The beginning of February was hard we lost a family member to cancer. It was a very difficult time for our family, both within our house but also extended family. We also got a new caseworker for me. Our caseworker had been with us since the beginning and was so good to us. It has been very hard to not hold our new caseworker to that level. I also had my physical therapist take a new job at a different facility. Not to mention taking a break from physical therapy and recreational therapy. Crazy as it sounds it was a bittersweet start to the month. The break just meant I was doing well and now it was time to do it at home. 

The end of February is a blur. I was sick. I remember feeling like I couldn’t take one more drink of water because I was so full. I remember I cried one day trying to explain to Matt why I couldn’t meet my fluid intake for the day. Somehow it become March. Needless to say we went to the emergency room. They ran some tests and sent me home hours later with medicine to fix the problem. While I started to feel better I was still vomiting. After a week of not seeing much change and some other issues, we asked Matt’s mom to help. She is a nurse and after some diligent work on her part and at her suggestion we ended up back in the emergency room.

The second visit was crazy. It didn’t take long before they admitted me. I had a NG tube placed. That is not an experience I EVER want to repeat. It was amazing how much better I felt when they began to suck the junk out of my stomach. They did X-ray and CT scans and determined I needed surgery. As soon as I said yes whatever it takes to get back to not vomiting I was in the prep room. Praise the Lord they didn’t have anyone on their schedule because I was able to get right in. Some of the surgeons were part of the original team that saved my life. How very God like. 

The room went from just a few people to a mad house of bodies in blue surgery scrubs. There are moments throughout this journey that I have been grateful to have limited feeling on one side and limited mobility, this surgery prep was one of them. They stuck needles in my sides to help post surgery, even with limited feeling it was very painful. Then before I knew it I was in the surgery room being moved onto the table. I had a small bowel blockage but they weren’t sure what the tissue would look like so it was kinda like exploratory surgery.

When I woke up I was in recovery and Matt was there. It took a while to get a room for me so I was in recovery for a long time. When my room was ready and they transferred me to my bed not a transport bed or surgery table I felt like they had put me in a puffy princess bed. I remember thinking how comfortable it was and how lucky I was to get moved to something so comfy. 

During my time on this floor I met some amazing people! They bathed me as best as they could. They ‘washed’ my hair. Which is this shower cap looking thing that has a dryish shampoo that leaves the hair damp but clean. I felt so much better after that! They were so very kind to me! 

I was there for 11 days. I had moments of feeling betrayed by my body and forgotten by God. This is really my point for writing this today. Through tears I sent a text message to a group of trusted friends asking for prayers. I explained what I was struggling with and let me tell you...it was hard! Hard to admit I was struggling. Hard to admit I needed prayer! I was crying so hard writing the text. After I sent the text I felt better, but it was when they started responding that I felt a tangible peace flood my spirit and mind. I am incredibly thankful for that group of friends! 

I am surprised at myself no matter how many times in my life this has been true, it’s still hard to reach out and ask for help. I don’t know if that is true for you or not. Maybe you have learned this lesson already, but if your stubborn like me...trust your friends to be there for you! I know we live in a not so perfect world, but you know who loves you and will fight battles with you or for you. If you don’t have friends you can trust ask God for friends you can trust. It was 2004 when I asked God to bring Godly women into my life. That earnest prayer has changed my life in the way that He started and hasn’t stopped. Through some of the hardest times in my life God has placed women in my life who have prayed with and for me. I am so very very grateful for that!

Again, I have felt like my thank yous don’t really express my gratitude for the doctors, nurses, tech, and other staff who helped me during that 11 days. I AM INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR KINDNESS AND SUPPORT!!! THANK YOU!!!

For my family, Matt who stayed the 1st week, amazing kids, my amazingly wonderful neighbors who kept my kiddos that 1st week...THANK YOU!!! I’m incredibly grateful for everything you’ve done for me!!

Oh yeah in honor of our 1st caseworker we created a hashtag that I’ve been using on stuff but not online. I have some big ideas for this hashtag but we will see if I ever get it done. 😂 

#TeamGavrilides