My what a whirlwind week it has been.  This past week I have spent praying harder I think, than I ever have.  I've witnessed compassion and love like I've never seen before.  With my dad undergoing his surgery, I have been moved to look at life in a whole different light.

Where to begin.  Let's see.  Seeing my father the way I did, bidding him farewell as he was wheeled into an operating room for major surgery — THIS is something I will never forget.  I will never forget how it felt to kiss him on his head and tell him I loved him and that I would see him after surgery…all the while not truly KNOWING I would see him again.  There's something very surreal about waiting in a cheery, bright waiting room complete with a coffee machine, television, and several neat couches, all while picturing your dad getting his chest split wide open and insides exposed.  It's heart-wrenching.

The day follwing my father's surgery was one of the hardest days of my life.  Seeing him there, lying with a breathing tube down his throat — weak, glassy-eyed, twitching, trying to move but then everyone telling him not to, seeing his lips mouth something as they suddenly are interrupted by the tube in his mouth……it was SO hard seeing my dad like this.  I felt so helpless and scared.  But mostly, I felt scared for HIM!  Would he ever be able to be "normal" again? 

Through this time, I was grateful to have had my sister and my brother beside me as we cried through this together.  The uncertainty and fear was very much a part of our time.

But through it all, I witnessed compassion.  Compassion from just about the BEST and most hospitable medical team I have ever come in contact with.  Compassion from my family members – some whom I hadn't seen in decades – who made the the trek to see my father, and show their support for what me and my siblings were going through.  Compassion from my mom's side of the family, who took the reigns and were the brain children being  creating a wonderful medical fundraiser for my dad — who is, by the way, divorced from my mother!  To them, it doesn't matter.  They don't want anyone to suffer or experience this kind of trial alone.  For that, I am grateful.

One of my uncles who was visiting from Houston was in the waiting room with us just the other day and as he walked toward the door to go out to the hall for a walk, he turned and looked at me and said, "This is what it's all about.  Family medicine.  It's all your dad needs right now."

And boy, was he EVER spot on!

My dad is making great strides and is progressing so fast with his recovery.  Even the medical team is surprised!  Don't get me wrong, he still has a very long way to go, but I know that he will be alright.

This week, for me, has been all about family medicine.  I am so grateful for family and the blessings we can be for each other at times like this.