Suffering to Learn - The Situation (Part 1)

The Situation

So, posts have been few and far between. The largest, and, well, basically only reason for that is my current medical situation. In mid-January I ended up pulling something in my lower back. After some initial care and rest, the pain eventually subsided, and I thought nothing else of it, as it was soon replaced by new stream of other phyiscal alignments (food poisoning, consequent hemorrhoid, immobilizing flu, etc.).

However, come mid-March I began noticing intense pain in my left leg, streaming my from my buttocks to about my knee, with occasional tingling and numbness. The condition continued to worsen, to the point where I wasn't even really able to stand or walk anymore. An MRI revealed that one of my discs in my spine had ruptured, cutting off and pinching the nerve strand that traveled to my left leg. Due to the severity of the rupture, I was immediately placed on a flight back to the United States to get treatment; a process that took about 72 hours after my realized condition (arriving home six weeks ahead of schedule).

So, as of today, I'm approaching four weeks of being completely bed-ridden. Minor improvements have been made, but those victories are small, such as being able to get up and stand long enough in the bathroom to brush my teeth. I'm undergoing phyiscal therapy for the next few weeks, as much of my muscle strength has diminished. I have an appointment scheduled with my surgeon on June 18, where we will evaluate my progress and recovery. If little improvement has been made, having exhausted all other options, surgery will then be considered.

So, that leaves me to the hear and now... the laying, the processing, the questioning...

My grandmother actually gave me a book when I arrived home as a gift. Sorry to admit, but there's always a bit of skepticism when you get a book from a grandparent... generations just communicate differently. However, I saw the name "Piper" written on the side, and was both enthused and encouraged. However, the feeling was short lived, after further investigation revealed it was written by a guy named Don Piper, as opposed to my assumptive John Piper. Being the arrogant author-judger I am, I tossed the book aside on my bed where I lay.

In the midst of one of pain spells, desparately looking for something in arms reach to distract myself, I picked up the book. Reading the cover, I saw it did have a forward from Blue Like Jazz author Donald Miller, so I figured there could be some decent content in it. So, I began to read.

90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper... a book that has both brought me through every realm of the emotional cycle, forcing me to process much of what I have been trying to cover up during this situation.

The stage is set, the backdrop is laid... the actual revelations to come...