No journey through life is a straight and predicable path. Today's visit is a story of examples of the unexpected in our health, in our work, and in our walk with the Lord.
As many of you in our community know our son BJ has been struggling and doctoring with a herniated disc in his lower back. BJ's MRI looked like a large portion of his spine had died. The diagnosis from the doctors here was therapy and waiting since back surgeries are serious and fusions are often unsuccessful.
The details of this next part of the story is to show you how God steered our family to the possibility of an alternative solution not yet approved in our country. Remember last week's visit on the miracle of friendships about making a last minute stop. Four weeks ago as Jan and I were leaving Grand Cayman Island we stopped at the grocery store to pick up some spices for home grilling. Jan told me I was more than welcome to wait in the rental car since she would just be a minute.
For whatever unusual reason I said I would gladly join her. After asking where the spices were, a store employee led us to isle three. Another store employee had showed Dave isle three as well. Well since Dave or I are both outgoing folks we were soon visiting even though we had never met. He told us how he and his wife Carol were on this small island for total joint disc replacement in Carol's back. Dave and Carol, I thank you and I thank God for using you to tell us about this possibility.
As doors to a solution seemed closed here in the states BJ started investigating this possibility and communicated with Carol's doctor team from Chattanooga, Tennessee. It was a week of long distance conversations including praying and asking God for the right decision. For those interested this procedure is called BalancedBack.
The medical team from Chattanooga arranged to have BJ and Cassia picked up early Wednesday morning at their home, driven to Chicago, and put on a non stop flight to Grand Cayman Island.
At 5:30 on Friday morning the doctors and BJ drove together to the hospital for surgery. Dr. Scott was the main surgeon and was the one that had been visiting with BJ all the previous week.
About 20 years ago Dr. Scott had given Dr. Marc, a medical engineer, an idea and asked him to design and build this implant as a replacement to fusions. Dr. Scott started disc replacements in South Africa in 2004. Today Dr. Marc operates a company, International Surgical. These implants are manufactured in Italy. Dr. Marc was part of the staff yesterday. This disc replacement procedure is not approved in our country.
After recovery Dr. Scott and team came into check on BJ and help him walk. He told BJ his herniation was one of the largest he had ever seen and was surprised BJ hadn't had more severe problems.
Last Sunday our church had a special day. We had morning church, then Sunday School, then potluck dinner, and finally a special service where Pastor Jonathon was installed as our new pastor.
Well about potluck time our family received an unexpected phone call. Oskaloosa fire chief Mark and Josh both called, said that the International Ingredients business was burning, said they needed a track hoe, and asked if son Mark could come help fight the fire.
Embracing the unexpected is realizing folks need help on Sunday. Getting equipment started in single digit temps. Working as a family to get to the fire in a timely way. Our semi and lowboy were in a county south of us at Donna and Arlins. And accepting that it's probably volunteer help. We arrived in 40 minutes and Mark went right to work, still in his Sunday clothes.
His job was to first take down the north wall of the business so the fire departments could get water on the fire. The Pella fire department worked at spraying water around him to keep him safe with their hook and ladder truck.
Then about mid afternoon he went into the burning business and uncovered hotspots so the firefighters could get to them with water. Below Pella's fire chief is keeping an eye on him as he is working. BJ also had communication with Mark from his vehicle on our two-way radios. That was especially helpful knowing he was ok when we couldn't see him because of the smoke.
Son-in-law Pastor Brian joined the service and helped install Pastor John and welcome his family. Pastor Paul was also back and did most of the service.
1 Corinthians 13:2 says, "If I had the gift of prophecy and knew what was going to happen in the future, (the expected), but didn't love others, what good would it do? Even if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and make it move, I would still be worth nothing at all without love". We are to use the unstraight, the unpredictable, and the unexpected times in our lives to allow God to love others through us.
Sometimes a season of not getting or having what we expect is what's needed to develop trust. Then gratitude. Then contentment. And finally embracing and enjoying the unexpected. Surrender brings blessings we never expect.
They were delivered to a villa village, the home for both them and the doctor team during their stay.
On Thursday BJ and Cassia were driven to see the hospital and meet the medical team. During this visit the team prayed together with BJ and Cassia. BJ's surgery is the only one being done by the team during this time on the island.
Cassia said the whole staff treated them like family. During surgery Dr. Don's wife and daughter brought her a care package of goodies while she waited.
I believe we have the best doctors and nurses in the world here in the states including these guys. However I think the insurance companies and hospitals have taken the personal relationships with the doctors out of the equation. Our medical professionals are no longer in control in our country. Below is Dr. Don who is BJ's therapists, then BJ, then his anesthesiologists, and finally Dr. Craig from Alaska.
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