How do I begin to share the journey of my heart this last week?
Nine days ago today found us busily preparing for Lauren’s surgery, packing bags, coordinating schedules, running last minute errands, baking goodies (relieves stress for me!), returning calls and e-mails, fighting fears, and praying fervently. As night fell, Lauren and I lay in her bed, tears cascading down my cheeks. Together, we read God’s Promises and prayed, committing her body and the next days and weeks to God.
A night I will never forget.
We awakened at 4:30 a.m. to arrive by 5:30 at Levine Children’s Hospital for surgery. My stomach churned. My heart felt so full. Lauren expressed her fears as her tears fell. We arrived at the hospital to be met by a wonderful team of people who surrounded us with the very best of care. Lauren fought back the tears as long as she could, and finally they came as the nurse inserted the IV in her hand. To calm her, they gave her medicine that began a bout of giggling that lasted until they took her through the doors of the O.R. As they rolled her through those doors, my stomach churned and my heart raced. How I wanted to burst through those doors, take her into my arms, and run all the way home.
Yet, I knew the Lord had brought us to this place. TRUST. I really had to live it…no more talking about it…no more writing about it…no more teaching about it…I had to live it.
A moment I will never forget.
As we waited in the waiting room, God filled our cup as friends began to fill the room in perfect time. One would leave, another would come. Friends to pray, friends to laugh, friends to cry. Texts and phone messages poured in each with its own encouraging word.
God’s provision I will never forget.
I prayed for the Lord to provide at least one believing person in the O.R. that morning. Who knew that He would provide abundantly more than I could ever ask or imagine. Lauren’s Young Life Leader, Holly Gardner, is an orthopedic nurse. Lauren’s surgeon allowed Holly to observe the surgery. So, Holly sat in the surgery, observing and praying over my sweet girl throughout the entire surgery! She twice came out to share how surgery was progressing.
Here is a picture of Holly (and her husband Neil…Young Life Staff Leader at South Meck).
An answered prayer I will never forget.
Dr. Brigham walked into the patient waiting room over six hours later and exclaimed, “the surgery was a complete success.”
Words I will never forget.
The next part of the journey is something for which no one can prepare your heart…seeing our sweet girl in recovery…face swollen…I.V.’s poking out everywhere…four nurses tending for her every need, drugged beyond belief.
A sight I will never forget.
Later that night, I lay by her side in the hospital bed as she cried out in pain…”Mommy please pray…please make this pain go away.”
A cry I will never forget.
Today we are home and those memories seem so far away. But I will forever keep them tucked deep inside my heart.
Although the days are hard and our nights sleepless…each day gets better as the pain subsides. God continues to provide. Although I am weary and exhausted, I have been taken to a place that I will never forget…a place of complete and utter dependence on God. I felt so helpless, and He swooped in and covered us under the Shadow of His Wing.
Just a day before Lauren’s surgery, a precious woman in my Bible study dropped by a gift. She gave us two handmade elegantly decorated boxes filled with feathers. What a strange gift we though until we read her prayer….
You are the Almighty Most High and You offer us shelter and refuge when we trust You. Father I ask this promise from You for Wendy and Lauren. Please cover them with Your feathers and under Your wings may the find a dwelling place. Like the wings of a mother bird may the shadow of Your protection rest over keeping them safe and sure. When fear assails and their cares trouble them, gently remind them that they have ventured out of that protecting shadow…”
May I tell you that through the prayers of my P31 sisters (who committed to pray hour by hour), through an amazing Scrapbook created by my sweet Bible study girls, through a blanket I brought to the hospital with Psalm 63:7 on it, through you my sweet sisters in Christ, and through a vivid dream I had one night, God did GENTLY REMIND in REAL and POWERFUL ways that we were under the Shadow of His wings.
Although I am weary and broken from watching my girl suffer so these past 9 days, I am filled…just when I think I cannot take another step…God provides through you. You see I have only picked up my Bible once in 8 days…so rare for me. But I have not needed to because He has spoken and continues to speak through you.
Provision I will never forget.
I love you all!!!
Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner: The Transforming Power of God's Story 
All Things Wise and Wonderful: Applying God's Wisdom in Everyday Life (E-Book)
Wendy,
Thank you for this post and your update on the healing of your beautiful, precious daughter. Though I do not know you personally, God has drawn me into your suffering and I have prayed for you all. I will continue to pray for healing (Lord, Lauren is young and healthy and strong. If it be your Will, allow her progress to surpass the doctors' expectations); and to pray for patience (Lord, healing of the body, and return to function after such a trauma takes time… Your time, God, to work through each detail of the healing process. Bless the Blight family, Lord, and especially Lauren, with patience, and allow them to rejoice in every small accomplishment and to see forward progress. In Jesus' precious name, Amen).
The lessons you have learned about trusting in God for all provision will carry you through all the days of your lives. It is a lesson I am learning and living, too. Trusting in HIm. It is what He wants us to do.
Blessings,
Colleen
Colleen,
Thank you for these precious reminders that healing takes time and to rejoice in each and every accomplishment. It is so easy to see how far we have to go and not remember how far we have come. Blessings to you for shifting our focus.
Love,
Wendy
Wendy how wonderful, God is Amazing so glad to hear all this, God bless you and Lauren and your family.
It is hard to get your mind past the current pain because it is right here, right now. Last week, I read a post on rabbitroom.com by Russ Ramsey. His reminder was exactly what I needed to hear – that the very present pain and hurtful situations are to drive us to God. Here is part of what he wrote about the 400 years of slavery for the Israelites.
"It wasn’t a simple matter of the Divine helping his subjects when they got into scrapes. It was a matter of affection, adoption, redemption, salvation.
Still, imagine how hard it would’ve been waiting those 400 years. Imagine the questions of being forgotten. Imagine how easy it would’ve been to reduce every facet of their existence down to one thing—getting out of Egypt.
By the time of Jesus, people had all but forgotten that His covenant wasn’t just about what He’d deliver them from. His covenant wasn’t primarily a call out of bondage, though it was that.
It was a call to—to Someone. God’s call on the lives of His people is to Himself. He set his affection on them and swore to cleanse them."
Wendy, I'm so glad to hear that once again the Lord was completely and utterly faithful! Thank you for sharing in such detail and transparency. It blesses me tremendously. I'm glad to hear that Lauren is progressing and healing.
Oh Wendy — I have a lump in my throat and tears flooding my face. To read about God's faithfulness to you and Lauren through all of this. To see the pictures of your beautiful daughter and the angel-nurse God sent her in the O.R. To read the feather prayer. To hear your words.
So thankful to the Lord for His goodness to you all. So many prayers will continue to be lifted up to for Lauren and all of you in the days and weeks that follow.
May His Word reverberate in your heart and mind.
Love you!
Sharon
Wendy, I am so happy to hear Lauren is recovering well and the surgery was a success. I know this has not been anything close to resembling easy for your family and it has been so nice to see God provide all the support around you. Tears are falling down my cheeks, girl I don't even have words. God is so good, He just is. I know Lauren is going to be just fine, I just know it. Thank you so much for taking the time to update us and how all of you are doing.
Blessings,
Jenn
What a wonderful and powerful testimony of God's provision and protection! Continuing to pray God's healing touch over your precious daughter…
Can't wait to come see her when she's up to it! Thanks for sharing your journey up to this point!
Ooh! Part of Jeremiah 20:11 keeps running through my head…"But the LORD is with me like a dread champion" I picture Him standing with Lauren then, now and tomorrow, and the next day–and really, forevermore… protecting her and loving her. It blesses my heart to hear this report and know that, yet again, God is providing a way for one of His children. I want to shout, and praise God, and even though I may not truly outloud right now–wouldn't want to scare my mother-in-law–I am shouting on the inside!
I love it! And I love you!
I am sooo happy that she is okay.. Thank you so much for this update. Have been waiting to hear how she (& you) have been doing.
Lisa Kestory
(DeLand, FL)
I am so glad to read of your journey through Lauren's surgery and recovery, and to hear how awesome our God is! The way He was taken care of you all is such a testimony of His goodness and love for you! You are all in my prayers! I traversed this path with my mom several years ago as she went through back surgery, recovery and rehab. It truly is a difficult season due to fatigue and pain and as you said: sleepless nights; but before very long it will be completely behind you! Thanks so much for sharing from your heart! You are an awesome woman of God and a tremendous mother!
So encouraged to hear all went as planned. Now the hard part of the journey begins. Patience! I know I had the hardest time waiting to be able to do things for myself. Journaling helps you keep track of those big firsts and allows you to see how far you've come on those day when you feel like your helpless. Doing my own hair was a huge day! Seems silly now but twenty one years and three kids changes a lot
Keep going and allow God to hold you up on those tough days! Continuing to pray for you all.
Blessings,
Jen Brown
Spartanburg SC
C/D Rods placed 1988
Thank you so much for the wonderful news! I too have a "Lauren" and I was feeling the pain as yo umentioned your "Lauren's name'! Thank you Lord for watching over this sweet family!
So glad to read Lauren's surgery was successful. Praying she continues to heal. I love the gift she received. B
Wendy,
I'm so glad to know that you are home and that surgery was a success. To God be the complete glory! He is so awesome! Thank you for sharing how God has intimately provided for you over these past several days–sometimes we need the reminder that God will indeed do what He promises!
Prayers and blessings as Lauren continues to heal. May your family find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
Rebecca
Oh, Wendy! I am so glad that everything turned out so well. I had you both in my prayers throughout the night before the surgery. God is so good and faithful. What a beautiful blessing. I love the scripture..thank you for sharing your heart with us. Still praying for Lauren. Much love to you all, sweet friend. Susan
Amen and Amen — God is good. I am continuing to pray for Lauren and you as God continues to minister and provide his comfort and grace. Love, Jeri
Precious Wendy my heart rejoices with you that Lauren's surgery went well and was a success. What an awesome God we serve who gave man the wisdom and technology to be able to fix a crooked spine. There was a young woman from our church who went through the same surgery quite a few years ago now. She is now married with 2 adorable children and lives a full and healthy life. I too have scoliosis only mine was not discovered until i was in my 30's. Mine is inoperable, i have a double curve and my spine is also twisted. I have 4 or 5 herniated discs and one hip is almost 3 inches higher than the other. I am now 57 and shrinking fast, in the last 4 years i've gotten almost 2 inches shorter. I tell my friends pretty soon they will be able to paint me blue and call me Smurfette! It's amazing the strength that the Lord can give. He keeps my outlook and attitude positive and He gets me through each day. I don't know what i would do without His help. Anyway, all this to say i'm so glad that Lauren's scoliosis was operable and they were able to fix it. Praise God she will live a full and active life now. I will continue to pray for the healing process for you all and that God will give His grace to endure the rough days of recovery.
Praising our God for the success of Lauren's surgery. I pray she able to resume her normal activities soon and that you, my dear, get some sweet peaceful rest. Thank you for your honesty and vulnerability in writing this post. What a testimony you are for other mothers who will one day stand in the same spot with their children. (I think we all will sooner or later )
love, lisa
Janelle says: Wendy, praise God for you…for how you seek him in all things in your life and for sharing the ways that he is working. It is encouraging and brings hope to know that if God can do that for one, he will do it for all!
Luke 2:19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.