A Year Ago, Part Three
The night after Laura gave birth to Ira was hellish. We attempted to sleep that night. Who were we kidding? Even after being exhausted from giving birth, Laura still found herself awake wondering about Ira. I made the trek to his bedside a couple of different times that night. Laura was always waiting for me: waiting for a word, the word, any word.
After what seemed like the longest night, Friday morning came. Early that morning the doctors decided that Ira needed more help. He needed a life support system known as ECMO. It didn't take long for them to rally the surgical team and the ECMO specialists. And in the blink of an eye, we were asked to leave Ira's bedside.
It seemed so wrong to leave him when in fact, it was in this moment that he needed us most.
For the next eight days Ira lived on the machine that our surgeon described as "a human without a personality." The machine drew Ira's blood out of his body. It then acted as Ira's lungs and heart. Then it pumped Ira's blood back into his body. Over the next eight days we couldn't touch Ira and were instructed to be quiet around him. For eight days, not only was a nurse attending to Ira but also an ECMO specialist. For eight days, we waited.
It was also during these eight days that I had two conversations with two different doctors in which they both communicated doubt as to Ira's prognosis. I will never, never, forget the faces of those doctors when they spoke those words. These doctors were compassionate. They were sincere in that they didn't want to have to say what they were saying. They grieved the words they were speaking. Meanwhile, I felt like I was being punched in the gut over and over and over again. It hurt. Even as I type this I feel just a bit of that pain again.
But here we are. A year and a day later Ira is sleeping in his bed, in his home. Lord, grant him peace.
-
After what seemed like the longest night, Friday morning came. Early that morning the doctors decided that Ira needed more help. He needed a life support system known as ECMO. It didn't take long for them to rally the surgical team and the ECMO specialists. And in the blink of an eye, we were asked to leave Ira's bedside.
It seemed so wrong to leave him when in fact, it was in this moment that he needed us most.
For the next eight days Ira lived on the machine that our surgeon described as "a human without a personality." The machine drew Ira's blood out of his body. It then acted as Ira's lungs and heart. Then it pumped Ira's blood back into his body. Over the next eight days we couldn't touch Ira and were instructed to be quiet around him. For eight days, not only was a nurse attending to Ira but also an ECMO specialist. For eight days, we waited.
It was also during these eight days that I had two conversations with two different doctors in which they both communicated doubt as to Ira's prognosis. I will never, never, forget the faces of those doctors when they spoke those words. These doctors were compassionate. They were sincere in that they didn't want to have to say what they were saying. They grieved the words they were speaking. Meanwhile, I felt like I was being punched in the gut over and over and over again. It hurt. Even as I type this I feel just a bit of that pain again.
But here we are. A year and a day later Ira is sleeping in his bed, in his home. Lord, grant him peace.
-
posted by jch at
6:53 PM
3 Comments:
Again, I will say, our stories are so different, but still so similar. My heart aches a little reading about doctor's faces and words, I remember those. I remember the breath being knocked out of me by that punch in the gut. Though you have had hard, painful, unbearable days in the last year, I am so glad that God has brought you to here. Just the thought of Ira sleeping in his bed brings a smile to my face. I am glad you are home Ira!
Joe, Your willingness to relive those days here for all of us to share, is so touching. Thank you. I too am so glad Ira is home in his bed, where he belongs. Our prayers and thoughts are with you. May this next year be filled with much joy and peace for all of you.
Joe and Laura,
It has been an extremely long time since I posted, but I have continued to read your story and whisper your name to the Father. Our 3 year old recognizes your blog and asks if Ira is better now.
We rejoice that he is home, and is better, and we thank you for sharing your story.
God's anointing to you as parents and ministers and caregivers. May He continue to heal Ira to completion!
Beverly McCallon
Abilene
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