Letters from the Hospital

As most of our family and friends know I (Jim) was flown to Pretoria last Wednesday for emergency surgery – seems I developed a hole in my colon which led to an abscess and fistula to my bladder. It has been quite a ride this past week. Up until now I have never really been a patient and my only stay in a hospital was as a small child when I had my tonsils out. All I remember from that episode is lots of ice cream and a new toy truck. I am waiting for the same this time.

I have taken the opportunity to read the new Bonheoffer biography, it was quite good. It also served as a healthy perspective on real suffering, by so many millions of people.  I won’t minimize the pain I have had this past week, but I am fortunate and have so many resources to address my physical problems; which is not the case for most people in the world. I am glad we came to Africa to do our small part to correct the situation, and am looking forward to getting back to work. However, I am afraid it will be at least 6 weeks before the king’s men can put me back together again.

I have so many somewhat random thoughts to share and I know that most of us have very short attention spans, so I will share just a few. I have been amazed and touched by all the family and friends who have wished me well and offered prayers and thoughts, I think I will make an even greater effort to do the same for others in the future, it means so much. I have been delighted to see my children rise to the occasion of living ‘alone’ (can you ever be alone with four adolescents in one house) – they come from good stock, on their mother’s side of course. I have been uplifted by the “coincidences” that have supported us here – from Zambian friends who just happened to be in South Africa and could come visit, a surgeon who worked at the same mission hospital that Amy and I have worked (Nkhoma, Malawi), a local Presbyterian Church, St. Columba’s (same name as ours in Lusaka) who came to visit, and a retired pastor and his wife who run a bed and breakfast that Amy happened upon and has served as a place of respite for her. I am reminded of the comment by Albert Einstein, “There are two ways to view the world, one is as if everything is a miracle, and the other is as if nothing is.” I am seeing a lot of miracles.

So, thanks to all of you for your prayers, looking in on the kids, researching treatment options for me, and covering in my absence at work. I anticipate discharge tomorrow but will need to remain in Pretoria for at least another week or so. Sometime in May or June I will return for a reconnection of the pieces. Pray specifically that I adjust to life as a colostomate (didn’t know that was a word until now) and learn to convalesce well. –Jim