{Be PaTienT}

One of the very first days of our hospital stay I had a still small voice whisper in my ear, except it wasn't really a whisper it was a loud, almost yelling, BE PATIENT!  Keep in mind this was a day a half into Andrew's accident and we didn't know what the outcome would be.  I was reminded daily by this still small voice, BE PATIENT.  Every time I got discouraged, BE PATIENT.  I really thought I was doing a great job.  Thirty days later I was going to do whatever it took to get him better, I am really BEING PATIENT, right?  Little did I know that the patience and prompting would be applicable eight months after the accident.  Of course, I needed to be patient in the hospital but little did I know that the real test of my faith and patience would be tested now.

We were just released from the hospital.  My family is on a roller coaster ride that seems like it never stops.  Just when we think we are doing great Andrew gets the flu.  Just when we think, yay, we survived the flu, Andrew is literally starving and malnourished.  Just when we think, alright, he has gained eight pounds, his lungs crash and we are hospitalized.  Just when I think, breathe, we are out of the hospital, we are back at the emergency room with a broken pik line that needs replaced.  We are home, and YES, I am working really hard at being patient.  Through all of the trials that we are experiencing, I really am trying my hardest to maintain a great attitude.  Am I perfect, NO!  Am I trying, YES!  I have my breakdowns but I get up and keep on trying!  I KNOW that he is going to recover, it is that still small voice that isn't so soft right now, telling me to BE PATIENT!.  I now know, the still small voice wasn't talking about the hospital but about the long recovery, that my son needs to get better.  Oh, sure I needed patience in the hospital but the true endurance and patience that I really need is now.  We have been given angels on earth to help us endure our challenges.  We have our ups and downs, but we have our son.  We are learning a lot of life lessons through this and wouldn't change a thing.  I know that there are people's lives that Andrew will change.  That is enough to keep me going and to "BE PATIENT"