As I think back over the course of the last few months I can definitely see God's fingerprints on so many events that have happened. In the Bible God instructs the people to make a memorial so they will not forget His provision and hand in their lives. This post has been written little bits at a time as I saw God's continued hand and recorded what was happening in our family.
I want to record a few of His fingerprints so I do not forget how He has been so evident in Caleb's care.
After adopting Caleb we knew he would need some medical care. We started with our local doctor's who recommended specialists. We did see those specialists but felt we needed a second opinion as they did not focus in the area where Caleb needed help and we did not have a peace about their plan for him. We began to pray for which direction God would take us to best help Caleb.
Cincinnati Children's Hospital and the team of doctors there continued to be brought to our attention. We prayed for God to direct and open and close doors to lead us to where we should head.
Our first step was contacting insurance. Door open. Cincinnati Children's was in our network.
Next, sending medical paper work and MRI reports to see if Cincinnati felt they could help him. Door open.
Two weeks were spent in Cincinnati as Caleb went through many tests. God provided as he allowed us to stay at the Ronald McDonald House for a very low cost. God's sweet fingerprints were all over that stay.
Once home we were shocked to find out he was scheduled for surgery three weeks later, we were expecting a longer wait. I began to check if it would be cost effective for us to fly instead of driving. When we decided yes we would be flying and I was ready to make our reservations we could not find flights for a reasonable price. H.O. said lets go to bed and check in the morning. The next morning after much prayer I checked and the flight prices had drastically dropped. Oh thank you Lord for that amazing provision. Once again His fingerprint.
Caleb had a few rough spells and did not recover as expected, his hospital stay was longer than anticipated. But God was good, giving His grace freely. Once home the next day he got sick and a few days later was admitted to the local hospital. We were then transported to a local children's hospital. The doctor's were not sure what was going on... a virus??... a blockage??? They did not know, but I knew our Great Physician knew. The doctor's were giving different ideas of what was going on and possibly a surgery would be needed. After talking with the doctors that day and receiving their news I felt completely worn, weary and overwhelmed. That night I poured my heart out to God, the Great Physician, I asked that He would heal Caleb's body. He could of said yes, no or wait but that night God said, YES! I do not know whether God chose to clear up the virus or unblock the blockage while Caleb was sleeping that night, BUT God healed his body. When they did an x-ray the next morning the doctor came in with a bit of a shocked look on his face and said his x-ray looks great! From that point on Caleb began to get better and better!
Wow, God's amazing fingerprints!
And then...Caleb needed another surgery, which was part of the original plan. We were hoping to get it scheduled before April 1st as our insurance started a new year and we would have to meet the max out of pocket again. It was scheduled for the second week of April and we were put on a waiting list for an earlier date if they had a cancellation. I prayed that the Lord would move up the surgery date and if He chose not to have it moved that He would provide for the cost. Well...in my simple human mind moving the date would be the easy option. BUT, my God is not always about easy, often He chooses the harder route just to remind me again of HOW GREAT HE IS. This time he used others to pour out His love on us. I do not know that our church family knew of the upcoming expenses with the max out of pocket, but God chose to use our sweet church family to provide. They were the hands and feet of Jesus! They secretly collected money and gave us a check that covered a huge amount of that expense. We were shocked and humbled and brought to tears. Then God provided money in other unexpected ways and He has given us almost all that is needed to pay this next out of pocket expense.
WOW! Once again God's fingerprints!
And...as I said at the beginning how our first step was to see if this was the way God would have for us to go was to contact our insurance and see if Cincinnati Children's was covered and it was. Well, when we began with the new insurance on April 1st Cincinnati Children's was not covered, however, the financial department at Cincinnati contacted our insurance and they talked with them and explained we were established patients in the middle of care and the insurance allowed us to have Cincinnati Children's be an in-network provider. Yippee Jesus! If we would of had this insurance last fall and found out that they were not considered in-network that would of been a closed door to us from God but that was not God's plan.
Throughout this experience God has shown us how great He is. He has clearly opened doors and given us such a peace we knew clearly without a doubt which direction to go. If Caleb's surgeries are not successful that is okay because God has taught us so many lessons along the way and we know absolutely, positively that this is the path that God had planned for us. Caleb is in a much better place now than before. A successful surgery may not be the outcome that God wants, He may have taken us down this path to teach us other lessons. I also hope we have been able to encourage others in this journey as He has brought other sweet Mommy's across my path while we have been in the hospital that I have been able to pray for. I know they encouraged me as I was able to meet sweet, christian ladies ~ our common bond was Jesus and sick children. He has given great peace to me. He has stretched me and carried me when I needed it. This has not been a trial just a little speed bump in the path of life that has taught me many wonderfully great things about how great my God is.
