August 13, 2019 – the unexpected events of that day have changed our lives forever! My hubby, Rev. Harold E. Clemans (licensed ordained minister for 60 years), walked across our great room and lost control of his left leg because a hip replacement came loose and fell hard on his left femur bone. The fall shattered the femur bone with the loose hip replacement.
August 19, a team of surgeons could not repair the femur bone – they reinforced it and put in a new hip replacement. August 20th, hubby went to a rehab facility. On September 3rd at the end of a physical therapy session, his new hip replacement popped out of the socket. I had to beg to have an x-ray taken for 22 hours. Twenty-six hours later, an x-ray revealed the displaced new hip replacement.
Hubby was rushed to the hospital on September 4th. The doctors were able to pop the hip replacement back in the socket. He was in the hospital for 6 days and then admitted to a new rehab facility with extreme precautions on his movements. Five weeks later he was discharged to come home. It’s been 9 weeks of my being a caregiver 24/7 with 4 ½ weeks of in-home therapy. He is able to walk with a walker but cannot stand alone. Hubby can feed himself, but I help him with his body care 24/7.
I requested our personal physician to have an appointment to check on his blood levels, etc., on December 13. Monday the 16th, our doctor called with concerns and ordered a new test on blood levels by a home health nurse. I received a call on Friday, December 20th, from our doctor telling me to take hubby to ER. After more blood tests, he was admitted to the hospital around 8 pm. He has low-grade pneumonia, UTI, enlarged heart, etc.
I’m writing this Saturday evening @ 7:15 pm sitting in hubby’s hospital room dealing with more unexpected events of life. In four days, the world will celebrate Christmas. The truth that God came in the flesh as Jesus Christ is where we have hope in the midst of unexpected events. Jesus’ birth, life, death, burial, and resurrection gives us great hope beyond this life!
Life is happening to all of us. No matter how much we might want to slow down the fast passing years, they still zip past and disappear. Only God knows our tomorrows. Today an occupational therapist asked my 82-year-old husband, “What is your goal in life?” Hubby replied sitting on the edge of the hospital bed in his weakness, “My wife has a counseling/teaching ministry. I want to help her all that I can.” I had to capture the moment and write it in my journal on the spot at 49 ½ years of marriage.
Tomorrow will bring new challenges and maybe more unexpected events. It is not easy, but I am trying to trust God one day at a time in these uncertain days. Psalm 31:14-15 New King James Version (NKJV)14 “But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.”
15 My times are in Your hand.”
In the last nine weeks, I have been a caregiver 24/7. (I thank God for my good health and being 9 years younger than hubby benefits him greatly now.) I’m talking to God day and night as I deal with uncharted challenges.
I cannot survive on my feelings because I am exhausted. My weak legs are standing on God’s Word. I pray God’s Word to Him hour by hour believing for His strength for today and miracles for tomorrow. Only God knows the rest of our story. I will tell you about it as life’s unexpected events unfold this Christmas season!
I pray God’s love and peace flood the hearts of all who are going through painful unexpected events in life. We will survive. With God, we can do all things who infuses His inner strength into us!
Going to bed with the sounds of rain pelting on the patio is soothing to my ears. God knows our tomorrows. Nothing is unexpected to Him! Thank all of you for your love and prayers!! I thank God for my praying family! Have a blessed Christmas celebration with family and friends!!
www.carolclemans.org – read ‘about ministry’ page, 500+ plus articles, book: God’s Design for Marriage.