November 6th Andrew started complaining of stomach pain. This really didn't alarm me. He rested during the afternoon. I got a call for a sub job the next day and accepted. He didn't eat that evening, but I just attributed it to his belly ache.
In the morning, on the 7th, he told Sandor and me his stomach had really been hurting through the night and he had tossed and turned. I offered him some pain meds, which he declined, and asked him if he would be alright at home alone while I was subbing. He said he would. Sandor was going to check on him through the day via phone calls. I called to check on him during my lunch break and he thought he should go to the doctor. Red flag....my 14 year old BOY is ASKING to go to the Dr. I decided to call the office and see what they would recommend. Which was to go to the emergency room.
Since I was teaching Sandor left work and headed home. As my lunch was ending I talked with one of Andrew's friends' mom, who works at the school. She said I really should go too. We both went to the office and discussed with the office staff who were in agreement...get going. Thankfully the afternoon part of my sub day was a light load and only involved giving a test. The friends' mom took over for me and off I went.
Sandor and I arrived at the house just minutes apart. I had already called Andrew and told him Sandor was coming and that he should clean up and get ready to go. We all went together. Family was mobilizing already to care for the rest of the kids once they would arrive home from school. We were at the hospital by 2pm. In the time that followed Andrew's pain intensified in spite of morphine. By 6pm the diagnosis of acute appendicitis had been made and we were told surgery would be by midnight.
I headed home to pick up a few things. By 6:20pm he had worsened and they came and took him to OR prep. I rushed back and made it since he didn't actually go in for surgery till 8:15pm. Many were praying.
In an hour or so Sandor and I talked with the surgeon who told us things went well but that Andrew's appendix had actually ruptured and that it was quite toxic.
Andrew (and Sandor and I) spent much of the remaining week in the hospital as he was pumped with antibiotics to tackle the nasty toxins released by the rupture. It was not easy for any of us but it could have been so much worse. Many continued to pray. Thursday morning we came home. In the mean time family provided meals, childcare, did laundry. Friends transported children to and from school and bought groceries for us. People made visits.
This was truly an experience where we were able to see what love looks, feels, and tastes like!In the week plus since life has returned to our version of normal. Andrew returned to school for two half days. I've even subbed again.
Then we saw the doctor yesterday to have the stitches removed. He explained that prior to surgery they expected this to be a simple procedure and in the end "it looked like a bomb went off" inside of Andrew once they got to it. That kind of took my breath away. I suddenly realized I could have lost him.
What I didn't realize, what I truly believe my Heavenly Father spared me from knowing, was exactly how serious this experience was. Of course I knew there was an urgency related to the appendectomy and I knew with any surgery there are risks. But I was blind to the danger my son's life was in. I think God did that to protect me.
As I look back on the experience as a whole I give thanks for the excellent outcome, the love that was shared with us, the comfort lavished on us from our Heavenly Father and many other blessings. I give thanks yet again for Andrew and his precious life. I am thankful that, like a wise parent, God knew to protect me from knowledge I couldn't handle and only revealed it to me when I was ready.
.JPG)