Often, one may find an appendix or two in a text book, or perhaps at the end of a novel such as Return of the King... but did you know that every human, at least for a time, also has an appendix? I did know this. I also knew this could be a problem.
My mom had her appendix out when she was twelve. It's called appendicitis, when one's appendix becomes inflamed and has to be surgicalaly removed. I never really thought I'd have to have it done. My dad and practically his entire side of the family is fully appendix-ed and I have always taken more after that side of the family. However, I'm also a worrier, and whenever I worry about possible bad things that could happen different places, "What if I have to have my appendix out?!" has always been a favorite question. BUT, I can now inform you that God has, I think with a bit of humor, wiped that worry clean away.
It began Friday morning. I woke up thinking that the "Great Shanghi Restaurant" food I had eaten the night before was maybe not setting right. I guessed that it was probably the suspicious looking tofu which I had swallowed purely in an attempt to be open-minded. The day went on and it was a great day. We sang, we learned, we laughed, we talked, we prayed, we enjoyed the bright weather, and I really didn't think much of my stomach. However, that evening when many people were leaving to play basketball, I said that I unfortunately didn't feel up to it and would probably have a quiet evening in my room. I don't need to go into everything, but by 10:00, I was quite nauseous and began my trips to the bathroom. I eventually rolled my chair in and just camped out. It was miserable. I tried to lay still and sleep, but simply could not. By midnight, when my body was still emptying my empty stomach and the pain was worse, my roommate called a nurse who recommended we go to the emergency room.
Here I will say that I could not have hand picked a kinder, more giving, more gracious group of people to take care of me. Thank you to all of you who gave a kind hand, who prayed, who drove, who stayed up all hours, who helped in many ways. Christ really does shine through His people and cares for us through our brothers and sisters in Him.
Ryan drove Cassie, Anne, and me to the emergency room where I was too sick to even give my information. I honestly wanted to faint or go straight-way to heaven. It was miserable. I experienced some firsts - first IV, first ultra sound, first heavy duty pain medication. At 4:00am, after inconclusive test results, and after I was feeling a million times better due to the medication, they sent us back to campus. I think I remember them saying, "It could be appendicitis. It's one possibility. If it is, you'll know tomorrow." Goody.
I slept like a rock - until almost noon. I woke up a bit sore and weak, but otherwise feeling amazingly well. There was a cramp in my abs, but I figured it was just from the trauma of last night and that the worst had past. I couldn't stay awake, however. I slept on and off until about 6. My lovely roommate had brought me some food and gatorade and things, which tasted great. I thought to myself, "Golly, I don't know what that was. Lord, please heal me completely and help it not be a problem... But a part of me wishes it had been my appendix so that we just knew for sure what the problem had been and could get it over and done with." Well, a definite dull pain settled into my right lower side. Except it felt like a hunger cramp mixed with too many sit ups... in one spot. It didn't hinder me. I went to the "Team Taiwan!" meeting and seriously considered joining into the Ultimate Frisbee game that had begun. I so desperately wanted to play. But it was hard lifting my right leg. I thought I was being a woose. I thought I was worrying too much and was just obsessing over the idea of possible appendicitis. But at one point I prayed, "I don't know, Lord. If I need to have this checked out again, please make it obvious." The only significant pain I felt after that was one single, intense knot in my right side that lasted only a minute. But it was enough to make me call the nurse again who said, "Well, you can't be too careful with these things."
Feeling foolish because I honestly felt, for the most part, okay, I asked Michelle if she would mind driving my car to the ER with me. I said, "It's probably a giant gas bubble or something, but I guess I just need to have it checked out." We waited for a while at ER. I was glad I had asked her to come and had not driven myself as had been one of my thoughts. About 45 minutes later, around 9:00pm, I was called back and had a whole host of new tests done. It was not cool. During this testing process I was mad at myself and thought, "See, this is ridiculous. I should not have even come. It's not worth it." But last of all, they had me drink lemonade-flavored dye so they could do a CT scan. Oh boy. Finally, a fun test.
After nearly four hours there for the second night in a row, the doctor came in, sat on a stool, and said with minimum wording, "Welp, it's a rotten appendix. The scan showed it. We're calling in a surgeon." I think he expected me to look terrified, but I think I looked relieved, or maybe excited that I was going to have sugery for the first time. He left and a nurse came in to put me on yet another IV.
The nurse was a guy and I think I was smiling and said, "So this is pretty basic, right?" The look I got back made my stomach sink. This guy was very serious. He told me the surgery itself was basic and relatively quick but that general anaesthesia was always a risk. Not something to tell a worrier.
So, here is the point where I start crying. It had been a great adventure... until now. By this point, however, a whole support group had gathered in the waiting room. (The hospital was thankfully only about 5 minutes away from campus.) The staff was allowing my friends to come in two at a time to say hi. They prayed with me, and really, it was an overall good reminder that we are completely in the Lord's hands. Each beat of our heart, each breath we take, is by his mercy. One of my biology-experienced friends assured me of how common and basic the whole procedure would be. But I found it most comforting to know that God is the One who sustains.
I began to recite a will to Michelle. I told her she could have my purse, Anne could have my camera, and Cassie could have my computer. She thought she got the poor end of the deal. While I was reconsidering this, a couple of nurses came in to wheel me away. They said that everyone could actually follow and they would have a conference room on the 2nd floor where they could sit. I felt like the Pied Piper, being rolled forward in my wheel-ie bed, leading throughout the hallways a procession of young soon-to-be-ESL teachers.
I thought I was going straight-away into surgery. Nope. They took me to a hospital room and told me to have a nice night. They would do surgery in the morning. Probably early. The surgeon would probably not want it to take up too much of his Father's Day. I was on an antibiotic IV. This, I was told, was the reason to wait - to make sure all the germs were killed off before they did the incision.
I was worried my appendix would burst in the middle of the night and it would be the end of me. But once again, I was in the Lord's hands. My friends took shifts. It was very selfless of them. They must have been exhausted. Thanks again for being there for me!
Skipping on to about 8:00 am, I was told I would be in surgery in an hour. I met the surgeon, who was exceedingly kind. I apologized for it being Father's Day and him having to do this, but he smiled and said, "Well, this is what fathers do." The anesthesiologist I liked right away. He was also very kind and reminded me of one of the characters on M.A.S.H. Unfortunately, I only was around them consciously for a few minutes. I remember going into the operating room, them putting some medication in my arm, and then coming to in a different room. I didn't think they had done the surgery yet....But they sure had.
I tried talking, and it was exceedingly difficult. I felt that there had been a tube in my throat. I tried thanking them. I tried asking them if I could see my appendix ( I was very curious what an appendix actually looked like and really wanted to see it) but I'm pretty sure all those things sounded about like, "Err aam aaaah. Uhh." It was rather fruitless labor to say the least. But I hope they knew I was grateful.
Wow. This is quite a long appendix about my appendix. I could tell you many more details of the room, the nurses, the visitors, but I'll really try to keep the rest summarized and short.
Who knew that one used them stomach muscles for so many motions? Huh. It's quite a valuable part of one's structure. I had many nurses worried that my resting heart rate was so low. I think that's a good thing though, right? Yeah, running! My Aunt Jane and Uncle David drove out to visit and it was a joy to see them. I was met with many praises when I walked down the hallway the first time, leaning on my IV stand. I felt like an infant. In one respect, you're excited that you're walking too... in another, it's humiliating. But all around, it's a good lesson.
My parents drove up to take me away. I would be lying if I said I was completely thrilled about this. I love my parents and was so glad to see them. But I did NOT want to leave training. I had only two precious weeks with the people there to begin with, and having that time cut in half was never an option in my mind. Thankfully, I was able to go up to the conference room and say goodbye to the group. What an encouragement to be able to do that! I am so thankful that I will soon see Team Taiwan again... and maybe some of the others assigined to Southeast Asia. As far as everyone being sent out to other corners of the world, it has been a joy knowing them thus far, and I look forward to hearing their stories and keeping in touch through newsletters, emails, and remembering each other in prayer.
So here I am, back in Wisconsin, healing. I miss you all in Minnesota and look forward to being filled in on what I missed. I know you will learn tons, grow tons, and have a joy-filled and blessed week! How exciting this time is! Sing loud! Enjoy the blessings of fellowship! Use that track! Swing on the swings! Enjoy the radio music in the cafeteria!
All other family and friends reading this, thanks for being a part of my life! May God give you joy and encouragement in all your tasks at hand!
Here ends Appendix A. :)
