The Hands of Many on Me

"Did you go to the prayer breakfast yesterday morning?" Jim asked.  "Yes,  three of us sat in the Pasher's living room and prayed for you," I replied. "It was so wonderful, right after 7 o'clock (the prayer time was at 7) I felt like my bed was surrounded by people with their hands on me, praying for me."  Incredible!  Thank you everyone for praying for Jim.  He was doing well when I left him yesterday.

The rest of the story:

Jim's surgery was at 8:30 yesterday morning.  We had decided the day before that I would not come to the hospital until around 3.  That would give time for the 2 hour surgery and the 5-6 hours of recovery.

Being anxious to see him, I left home at about 2:30 to walk the 10 minutes or so to the hospital.  Our friend Steffen (from the owl glass story) went with me. 
 

Universitätsklinikums Leipzig

We sat on a bench outside of Jim's room, waiting for him to return.  After an hour or so, the nurse told us that it would be another hour before they brought him, so Steffen and I headed down to the Cafe for some coffee.  Steffen headed home and said he would return at about 6.  Six came and so did Steffen, by there was no sign of Jim.  It seemed a bit long to be in recovery for 8 hours, so I asked again.  This time they called and let me talk to Jim.  What a relief to hear his weak and sleepy voice!  He wasn't sure why he wasn't out of recovery yet, but was worried about me waiting and not knowing what was going on.  Isn't that just like my husband!

About an hour later, they called recovery again and Jim gave me the story.  They did not have enough beds in the Urology unit and the doctor didn't want him in another unit because of the special post-op care this surgery needs, so they were having him stay in recovery overnight and, hopefully, a bed will  open up today.  Everyone was so kind and helpful!  They even let me go into the recovery ward for a few minutes to see Jim!  That is usually totally off limits!  I was so thankful to see my wonderful husband lying there and to hear him talking in his sleepy, raspy voice.

Jim's doctor Prof. Jens-Uwe Stolzenburg

He was so tired that he only said a few things, but the one that stood out the most was his telling me about feeling the hands of many on him before he went into surgery!  The doctor said all went well and he should have a normal recovery.  He will be in the hospital until Tuesday when they will assess if he is ready to come home.

Thank you all for praying for us!  We certainly have felt "the hands of many on us".  Please, continue to pray for Jim's recovery and for me as I try to finish writing a paper that is due March 6!