I mentioned I would blog only if God showed up in a way that I couldn’t contain the need to share. Apparently God didn’t want to be disappointing.
Napa, California is an example of God’s beautiful creative natural artwork. The first day we were here we took it easy and had dinner at Fish Story in downtown Napa which wasn’t far from our hotel. The Mahi Mahi was divine and Neal argues that his Halibut was better.
Today we went on a tour of 4 wineries. After the first visit it was clear we needed to have a ‘story’ in regards to Neal’s obvious issue. Neal’s IV was on the top of his right hand so even with long sleeves it protruded and looked intimidating and apparently nauseous to some. We decided to see what kind of reaction we’d get if we said we forced him to leave the hospital early because we didn’t want him to ruin the weekend. I know that sounds very ominous and definitely not politically correct but it was funny! Just the fact that they BELIEVED we would be so morbid as to cart Neal around to do a wine tour when it seemed he had much more important issues at hand kept us in stitches. What I loved even more was the fact that every person that had helped us were quite relieved to be able to admit they were wondering what was wrong with him.
When we got home late this afternoon Neal was preparing to administer another dosage of the IV steroid when he realized the IV was blown. He was putting in the saline solution and it wouldn’t go anywhere so I called my friend, Candice, who is a nurse, and explained what was happening. She broke the news that we needed to get a new IV put in place.
This meant going to a hospital or clinic. Without a moment’s hesitation Neal called the front desk, ordered a cab and was preparing to get his stuff together to get it done so he wouldn’t miss dinner. I watched without saying a word. I’ve learned not to get in the way. 😉
We entered the elevator and when we reached the lobby the elevator doors opened and immediately I saw two ladies waiting to enter the elevator as we got off. They both had on name tags with MD on the upper right corner.
“Are you a doctor?” I asked without skipping a beat. “Can you put in an IV?”
They looked at me like I’d just stepped out of the psychiatric ward. I didn’t care and plunged forward. “My husband has to take IV meds and his IV has been compromised.”
“I’m just an orthopedic but if you go around the corner you’ll find someone.”
We turned the corner and I found two men standing there both with name tags and MD on the upper corner. “Excuse me can either of you put in an IV?”
The taller gentleman looked down at the shorter man next to him as if to say, “You can.”
The guy hesitated and then said, “Sure, I can.”
We quickly tried to explain the situation because we could see he was hesitant. For a moment we thought he was going to ask Neal to sit on the couch right there in the lobby to do it and then I suggested he come with us to our hotel room (like that wasn’t any more out of the ordinary!) But he followed us and as we walked to our room we took the time to explain in more detail. I could see he relaxed when he realized we hadn’t just come from the hospital (which is what he thought originally). Neal’s nurse had given him an extra IV needle and all of the supplies needed to put in another IV and so the man had everything he needed, including sterilized gloves and a tournakit.
Within two minutes Neal had a new IV put in, this time in a place that has a bigger vein and easier to conceal under a long sleeve shirt. Neal said the man was so quick he didn’t even feel it. He is an anesthesiologist. I’m sure it probably wasn’t ‘legal’ or ‘pro-quo’ for him to do this but he was an angel from heaven to us!
Seriously, what are the odds we are needing the IV and we get off the elevator to find a MEDICAL CONVENTION?? I can’t make this stuff up. 🙂
Neal has been doing great and we have been relaxing and having a great time. Thank you so much for your prayers!
Blessings
Shannon
