A Wife’s Prayer
Having been married for forty-five years, sometimes Joe and I think alike and
have the same thought at the exact same time. One of us relays a random thought,
and the other announces he or she had just been thinking about the same thing
precisely the same moment. It seems uncanny when that happens, but we laugh and
say we can read the other’s mind. In spite of common thoughts we occasionally
share, it was not easy to understand his mindset when it came to making medical
decisions.
Like everyone Joe does not like doctor appointments or prescribed tests, and in
attempting to avoid them, he has put his health at risk. Several years ago he
began experiencing occasional chest pain. Despite my constant urging to see the
doctor, he disregarded his symptoms. Chest pain is a concern of immediate
urgency, but Joe insisted it was probably nothing more than heartburn from
something he ate. I worried and prayed, but it was months before he finally gave
in. He learned that he had experienced several small heart attacks, and he was
referred to a cardiologist. The cardiologist recommended a cardiac
catheterization to evaluate his heart and coronary arteries, and the probability
of open-heart surgery.
Joe was extremely fearful, and his decision was to wait, and delay as long as
possible. He relayed thoughts that perhaps the cardiologist might make a mistake
with the catheterization or the surgery, and that might result in his death. He
desperately tried to convince himself that his chances were equally good by
doing nothing, and maybe the doctor was wrong and it was not that serious. I
understood his fear, but I couldn’t understand his willingness to take the risk
of perhaps another heart attack. No one could persuade Joe to take action.
Family members tried as I had, but only God could do it. I prayed that Joe would
be led to do what was needed before time ran out. Knowing I had done everything
I could, I put him in God’s hands. Joe continued to wait, and when I saw his
condition become worse, sometimes doubts crept in. I was fearful he had waited
too long, but I continued to pray and take comfort in prayer and faith.
Then it finally happened, he accepted the heart catheterization. I knew God had
led him to that acceptance. Joe did, however, vehemently proclaim he did not
want open heart surgery. He urged the doctor to do whatever was needed during
the catheterization. The doctor agreed that if it was possible to rectify the
affected arteries by way of stints, he would do so. I thanked God that Joe
finally had the foresight to take this first step, and I prayed everything would
be accomplished in this one time.
In the process of the catheterization, the cardiologist found that one heart
valve was 97% clogged. If Joe continued delaying this procedure, he might soon
have experienced a fatal heart attack. Time had been running out, but there was
still another problem. Attempts to apply the stint were unsuccessful, and it
resulted in a tear in one artery. This immediately called for emergency surgery
with a heart bypass. The doctor told me that it was unusual but there was a
space and time in the operating room within the hour when normally it would not
have been so readily available. The Lord’s wonderful plan had designated that
time for Joe, and a complicated and desperate situation had led to answered
prayer. Everything was successfully accomplished, and a wife’s prayer was
answered.
I had thought Joe had learned a lesson, but another was to come. A year ago, he
began having stomach pain. He was inclined to accept this as acid reflex or just
eating something that didn’t agree with him. Occasionally over the counter
medication helped so he continued ignoring it, until other symptoms appeared.
Finally he went to the doctor, who recommended a somewhat invasive test, but Joe
was fearful and unwilling to comply. Time passed and he realized this was
something serious, and he suspected cancer. He talked about his brother who had
accepted prescribed surgery and treatment, but still he had lost his life to
cancer. Joe thought he might have the same fate. Through this entire ordeal I
continued praying just as I had done before.
One day the pain became so unbearable, that he asked me to take him to the
hospital. The tests revealed a growth on his large intestine. Within a few hours
he had emergency surgery, and it turned out to be colon cancer. By the grace of
God, he had gotten to the hospital in time, surgery was successful, and the
cancer was removed and had not spread.
There as several lessons to be learned in these experiences. Joe and I know the
power of prayer, this wasn’t a new lesson, we both prayed and we have seen the
Lord’s work many times. Other lessons are the importance of accepting medical
treatment and testing promptly. If Joe had been willing to have a colonoscopy, a
small polyp could have been removed before it had grown into a cancerous tumor
the size of a baseball. A little discomfort involved in a test or the
preparation could have eliminated a serious and painful condition that
threatened his life. It goes without saying that God is powerful, but He expects
us to act responsibly in maintaining our health. Decisions should be based on
faith, not fear. Fear hinders while faith triumphs.
Diane LoDuca joe_loduca@sbcglobal.net