For those of you who may be wondering…we had the last test this past Friday. We were at St. Francis from 5:45am until almost 2. The staff was phenomenal. Another serendipitous experience came in form of two Chapel Hillers whom I didn’t expect to see. Lou Bates and Susie Johansen are staff nurses who provided an assuring presence as we waited on Drew’s TEE test which involves putting a tube down his throat to examine the heart.
The next step is surgery. The procedure for plugging the two holes in Drew’s heart is scheduled for Friday, March 3 at Via Christi Hospital St. Francis. Please be in prayer for all of us and for Dr. Chehab, the surgeon. Thanks again for your prayers!
Back to Wesley…
The Wisdom from Wesley: Bring Your Best Service, Every Day
We had two nurses who were phenomenal. One man, one woman, both African- American. They were not only competent, but compassionate. The nurse manager came by our room to check on the quality of care and we named these two nurses. The nurse manager said she gets compliments frequently about these two because they reflect the value of health care professionals as healers, as representatives of God’s healing grace.
The Wisdom from Wesley is that all of us, no matter our age or stage in life, ought to bring our best, every day, to the people we are called to serve, no matter the place. The commitment to excellence on the part of these two nurses in particular was such a witness to me about how excellence glorifies the God from whom all gifts come, and blesses people. I was blessed. The nurse manager said she was going to send a letter to the spouses and families of these two nurses and thank them for sharing their beloved with the patients they serve. A beautiful reminder that what we do and how we do what we do, is vitally important. It really does matter.
Fraternities and Sororities: More Than Just a Name
I learned another lesson. Historically, I have been critical of fraternities and sororities because of the horror stories I have heard about hazing and how it can negatively affect people for life. But, I have to confess the danger of painting with such a wide brush. Drew’s fraternity friends came in droves and did not make quick visits. They came and stayed and when they left, some others came to make sure Drew was never alone. The brotherhood of the fraternity and the friends in sororities at Wichita State showed genuine caring in ways that made me think the Church has a lot to learn from the fraternity and sorority about what it means to share life together.
We requested that church folk not come to see Drew simply because of the amount of peers who were with him and us for the four days of hospitalization. I am learning how wrong I can be on so many things. Life is the master teacher and I am amazed at how often I have to take the same class over and over until I pass. My preconceived notions and opinions are often unnecessary and often untrue. Wisdom from Wesley, again.
Who Our True Friends Really Are
Finally, I have learned from wiser ones that when difficult or challenging times come your way, you will find out who your true friends really are. Without going down the path of what I just named in the previous paragraph, let me focus on the positive. One of my pastor friends totally surprised me. I did not expect him to come to the hospital and frankly, I did not have any expectations of a supposed response. He texted me and asked if he could come up. I told him it wasn’t necessary. The next thing I know he showed up. We sat and talked for an hour. He was totally attentive and did not come off as rushed or in a hurry. It was a huge blessing that I didn’t even know I needed!
I was again reminded how often I have sincerely said, “If you need anything, please let me know.” My pastor friend, an expression of God’s grace, showed me the importance of living the Nike motto, “Just do it!”
–Rev. Jeff Gannon