Beware of Experts

After surgery, I stayed in intensive care for a couple of days. I was trying to breathe on my own and manage the tubes and staples from the surgery. My doctors and I were working on a course of action now that the results showed that my tumor was actively benign. I was still doing PE and now Dr. K wanted to add IVIG to my regimen. Once again, I had to sign a form giving the hospital staff permission to administer the IVIG. Once again the consent form said that having the IVIG could kill me. I might suffer a stroke, heart attack or renal failure and die immediately. It was scary. The nurses in the intensive care unit agreed to let Becky spend the night with me so that I would not be alone for the first IVIG infusion.

My veins were totally worthless by this time. Several nurses tried to start an IV with no luck. They decided to call the "expert" to start the IV. Let me just say that because a person is a supervisor does not mean he is an expert in starting a good IV. :/ gggrrrr In fact, I wonder if he had started an IV since he became a supervisor. He HURT and he poked me 3 times. Finally he got the IV going and the IVIG began. I remember feeling apprehensive but I was so exhausted that I went to sleep. Becky was shifting in the chair when I woke up a couple of hours later. I was doing fine with the IVIG and I encouraged Becky to go home so she could get some rest.

I learned to beware of the "experts". A person is not an expert because of their position. Many of the people who were the most helpful and kindest to me during my hospital stays were not the most educated but the most human. I saw God's love in their eyes and in their actions.



"I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.

He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD is your keeper;
The LORD is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night.

The LORD shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore." Psalm 121: 1-8