Focus on Life: Week 13 - Have Faith

*If you're looking for my
Birthday Post / Give-A-Way - It's HERE

And Now,...

It's Week 13 for the Focus on Life series over at
 
 

This week's prompt: Have Faith

And here's what Sally told us:

Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe. ~Augustine~

"There are many of us who are religious and there are many of us who are not, but most of us, religious or not, have faith in someone or something.  A faith that gets us through our day, a sickness or even a death. Faith is held by each of us; it is what keeps us believing that there will always be a positive outcome even if we can't see it at the time."
 
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
November 27th, 2007
 
 

He was only 10 years old when he walked down the hallway of the hospital with his mother. As they rounded the corner she bent down and spoke quietly into his ear , "I'm not sure you're old enough to be in this section so if anyone asks, you're 12. Okay?"
 
"Okay, Mom."
 
Standing on the other side of the door was an orderly,
looking out as if waiting just for them.
He opened the door and pointed to the second door on the right. The woman looked at the nurse behind the ICU desk. The nurse, nodding the 'okay', gave them an almost apologetic smile as the young boy and his mother entered the room.

With tubes sticking out everywhere and his skin a light ash color, this wasn't the man the boy had seen that morning as he left for school.
 
"Dad?"
"Hi, son," the man whispered; his eyes barely opening.
"How ya doing, Dad?"
"I'm doing okay, son."
"Are you hurting?"
"Not really anymore. They've got me on some pretty heavy stuff."
"You gonna be okay?"
"Oh yes, I'm going to be fine son. It might be a while, but I'm going to be just fine, don't you worry."

When visiting hours were over and it was time to leave, the boy kissed his dad, told him he loved him and that he'd see him tomorrow.

As the mother and son said goodbye and walked out of the room, the nurse behind the desk looked at them with tears in her eyes and with another, even more apologetic smile, told them, "Good night."

The next day, the young boy went sadly to school and the woman returned to the hospital.
 
As she walked into the ICU ward she noticed the mood of the people behind the desk was different than the night before. There were smiles on their faces that morning. 
 
"Oh, you're still here?", the woman asked the nurse.
"Yes. I'm here for about 30 more minutes," replied the nurse. 
 
Entering her husband's room, the woman saw him sitting instead of laying. His color was returning and there was a 
slight smile on his face.
 
"Hi Honey! Got my computer like I asked you?"
"Yep."
"Good." 
I'm not really sure you're allowed to have it here with you."
"It'll be fine. I gotta get back to work and let my guys know what's going on and that things might be a bit slower coming out to them this week.  Can you tell the nurse that I need some more bottled water?"
 
The woman walked out into the hallway and asked for more bottled water.
 
"Oh my. He's already gone through all those bottles? We don't have anymore on the floor. I'll have to send someone to get more."
"Thank you."
"Last night was rather touchy," the nurse said. "I'm glad he's doing much better today. It's like a total turn around."
"I know, right?!"
"I got rather choked up as you were leaving with your son last night."
"I thought you looked really sad."
"We all thought that was the last time he was going to see his Dad." 
"Really?"
"Yes."
"That thought crossed my mind too, for a minute anyway.  But then I realized that that just wouldn't be Mike," the woman said as she turned to walk back into the room where her husband was typing away on his computer.
 
Two days later the man was released from ICU.
 
 
Mike and Logan goofing around, like normal, at the 'look out' - June 2008
And yes, he hiked up the mountain from just above that valley you see below
 with a defib in his chest only 7 months after his heart attack.
We call him 'Iron Man' - LOL!! :-)
 
A few months after recovering at home the doctors put a defibrilator in my hubby's chest (on Valentine's Day of all days!!) and to look at him now, well,....you'd never know he had a massive heart attack 5 years ago or that the staff at the hospital had little to no FAITH that he'd even make it through the first night. 
 
 
The "Masked Rider" and Mike,...a.k.a. - Iron Man!!
 
 

Faith is believing in something when common sense tells you not to.  ~from the movie, "Miracle On 34th Street"
The Buettner's - December 2012
 


I "Have Faith" and am grateful that there will be many more family photos just like this one!


14 comments:

  1. Wonderful story of faith. Feels like my husband's story.

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  2. I enjoyed reading your post. What a great story about Faith.

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  3. Now I'm all teary! What a beautiful story and family.

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  4. Great story I'm glad he made it.. he obviously has faith that he can continue life as he wants to live it!

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  5. Oh Shel, what an amazing story! and sounds like your hubby is Iron Man! so glad to hear he made it through that first night!

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  6. What a powerful story of faith. Thank you for sharing.

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  7. Wonderful! Beautifully written and a happy ending! of course!

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  8. Wonderful! Exactly what Faith is all about!

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  9. Such a lovely story- so glad it turned out the way it did!

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  10. OMG! This is such a touching story! And Iron Man got you a Tin Man yesterday, didn't he. Such an awesome family, Michelle!

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  11. What an incredible story and beautiful photos. I like to think of my man as a bit indestructible too and hopefully he doesn't try to go and prove me wrong for a very very long time. And a wee bit late Happy Birthday!

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  12. Oh my goodness. You have brought tears to my eyes on this Easter morning. I am happy for you and your family. Celebrate and enjoy each other fully.
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  13. As I read through this I saw you and your son walking in and the sadness on everyones face. I can't even imagine how it was for you to go through. I am so happy that faith pulled you all through and you can really treasure every moment since.

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Thanks for sharing what you have to say - I love hearing your comments!