How many of your started reading yesterday’s blog and assumed I was initially writing about Amanda and not my washing machine? My daughter Jillian called me immediately after it was posted and after I cheerfully answered the phone with a “Hello!” she asked, “Are you okay?” I told her I was fine. She asked how Amanda was. I told her she was fine. “But your blog,” she replied. “Did you read my WHOLE blog?” I asked her. “Yes. Well I skimmed through it,” she said. “Read the WHOLE thing,” I repeated. I hadn’t intended for the blog to be a “gotcha” but I got her. And I guess I got her husband Andy as well. Yeah, and I guess I got some of my readers, too. Sorry. But I never mentioned Amanda’s name, did I? Folks, you must never assume.
It’s funny how we act and react to unplanned for and sudden shocking news or situations. Do you panic and fall apart? Are you calm and composed?
I got tested today. Twice. My last patient of the day came through his surgery without a hitch. He drank two juices and was already sitting up in a chair as his wife went to pull the car around. I was taking a final blood pressure on him and preparing to take out his IV when he suddenly became unresponsive and his eyes rolled back. “Oh this isn’t good,” I said to myself. Everyone around me was cleaning up and getting ready to go home. I called for the head nurse but she didn’t hear me. With a calm but firm voice I called out, “I need some help here.” Our anesthesiologist came right over and he and another guy lifted the patient immediately to the gurney/bed he had been on. I explained what I had observed and then everyone went into action. “Where’s his IV?” the anesthesiologist asked. “In his right hand,” I replied while thanking my lucky stars that I had not yet removed it. Oxygen was put on, fluids started through his IV and some medication to bring up his blood pressure was given. I realized that my role was record-keeper and calmly got a paper towel, and started writing. Everything that was done with the time it happened, and every blood pressure that was taken was written on my paper towel. I wrote every vital statistic and procedure that was done while monitoring my patients vital signs. The patient ended up coming around and we transferred him to the hospital for further testing, just to be sure. This was the first time at this job that I had been part of an emergency. I always wondered how I would react. I pleasantly surprised myself at how I kept calm and level-headed as I watched and recorded everything that transpired throughout the little emergency.
After work, we had a scheduled meeting with our staff, and then I had to finish up all the paperwork that is demanded of for such an emergency like we had. I was complimented on the thorough and complete report that I wrote up and submitted. Tired and a little adrenaline-drained, I headed home. As soon as I walked in the door my daughter Jillian is texting me, asking if I could get on the computer right away. “Oh dear now what?” I asked myself. She had sent me a copy of her current test scores (FYI if you don’t know – she is in vet school) and there was a 47% failing test score with her note that said, “I don’t know if I am going to pass this semester.” She’d been getting A’s all along. I was so tired from my crazy morning at work and could not understand this grade. I messaged her something about her checking with other students and the professor. Laughing, she replied “the grades were recorded wrong and they forgot to double some number” – she really got a 68 out of 72. I called her a bad name. She got me. I was just a little too weary to handle her news – which fortunately turned out to be a joke on her part. After my panicking her with last night’s blog, I guess we were even.
Of course, all that had happened made Laurel think.
Would I be prepared to defend my faith, if I ever had to? We prepare for all sorts of situations in our lives: As students, we must study for tests and quizzes if we want a good grade. As craftsmen, years of practice makes us good at our craft. Speeches must be rehearsed. An attorney gets better with the more cases they defend. Medical people train to be prepared for when a patient stops breathing. Teachers prepare lesson plans. If I were suddenly put to the test to defend my faith, would I deny it like Peter did when he was under pressure? Or will all the years of church and bible study prepare me? I hope I can stand strong and faithful. I hope I am prepared.
Colossians 1:10-12 … so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.
just Laurel