Dry Run #2

July 12 at 3:02pm the call came again.  It was the hospital with a potential donor match for Jed.

This time we were better prepared, bags were mostly packed and ready to go, family was around to grab Kylie from summer camp, and my nerves were slightly better this time around so I was able to drive to the hospital. We arrived by 6:00pm and were able to get Jed settled in his room right away. Very little information is known at arrival, but shortly after settling in we were told by the staff surgery (if it happened) would be around midnight.

Things were already moving quicker than the first time around. The kids were able to come to the hospital with both grandparents to see Jed before they would take him to surgery. At 7:55pm the staff told us the surgery was being moved to 9:15pm. Anxiety kicked in slightly with the knowledge of our time together before surgery was being cut short. Jed was able to help calm the kids’ nerves and we all prayed before he was prepped and taken away. The sky was filled with a breath taking sunset as Jed was taken from the room, a reminder of God’s beauty and power.

We had been warned that the surgery is never 100% until the surgeon touches the donor lungs himself. I was told by the staff I would receive word when the surgery starts and they would keep me informed of the progress throughout the night. About an hour later I was informed they would start the process of putting Jed under sedation. Until now I was skeptical that this was it. We have heard of many people going through multiple dry runs. The only thing left to do was wait in an empty hospital room.

Then at 11:19pm I got a call from the surgical staff, “The Surgeon wants to speak with you.” This is not a comforting statement. He informed me in all the years of doing hundreds of transplant procedures he has only had this happen four times…. They had Jed completely sedated and hooked up on the breathing machine and IVs all prepped for surgery to begin, only to find out that the lungs were not going to be viable. There was not going to be a double lung transplant tonight.

In most cases it is discovered earlier whether the organ is viable. I was hit with a complete mix of emotions. Disappointment that Jed was not getting new lungs; as well as relief, I was no longer sitting up through the night praying he would make it through surgery; and thankfulness, I was thankful that Jed did not receive compromised lungs. Then the reality hit me, Jed would wake up with IVs and on a breathing tube assuming the surgery was complete, only to find out that his same tired lungs are still with him. On the bright side, at least he was not cut open already.

By 6:00am Jed was starting to come out of sedation and he was able to stay calm and come off all the medical equipment by 7:15am.  As Jed dealt with the headache from the meds and realizing where he was I had to inform him that once again the surgery did not happen, another dry run. Disappointment was definitely his first emotion, but he quickly pointed out now he knows what it is like to wake up with a breathing tube in his throat and the process needed to stay calm through it. He also stated that last night the family of the donor, hospital staff, and our family were all covered in prayers, we may never know or understand all that God did with those prayers.

Joshua 1:9, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be DISCOURAGED, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” The question remains the same for us as it does for everyone, “Do we still trust God when we do not understand? Do we still trust God is with us every step of the way?”

We trust you God. Even when the finish line of our marathon is not in sight, we will trust in You.