Dealing with the Unexpected part III

   In last week’s article, I shared how my laptop computer needed to be repaired while Al was in the hospital, the day after dislocating his artificial hip joint. The two young ladies who were working at the front desk of Olsen’s Computer Services had helped us many times in the past with computer problems and were able fix it  in time to send  “Dealing with the Unexpected, part II” to the Porterville Recorder before the deadline.

   After hearing about Al’s accident, they told me about their unexpected happening that noon. However unlike his, this was a good one! On their way to lunch, they found ninety dollars worth of currency lying on the asphalt in the parking lot of the restaurant. The two girls decided to report it to one of the staff there who returned the cash to its grateful owner, also a patron of that restaurant. They were happy about their decision to turn in the money.

   The story about Al’s dislocated hip also has a happy ending. He made an appointment to see a specialist down south the week after his trip to the hospital. At that time, the doctor told him that it was not a question of ‘if’ it would dislocate again, but ‘when!’  

   “What can I do?” he asked. We were extremely happy to hear about the invention of a new type of artificial joint for people prone to dislocations called the “dual mobility system.” Al made a quick decision to have the seventeen year old, worn-out joint replaced.

   “We have already made plans for later this summer. How soon can you fit me in?”

   The doctor’s reply shocked us both.“How about on Thursday?”

   “This Thursday? Two days from now?” Al asked incredulously.

   “Yes,” said the surgeon. “Can you do it?”

   Getting Al’s hip fixed had top priority, so we both agreed to go ahead with the procedure. While he was there in the office, all of the pre-op arrangements were made, tests run, and a hotel reserved for me to stay in during the two nights Al would be in the hospital. Then he and I drove all the way home from LA, where we packed up a few more things and told the dogs ‘good-bye’ for the second time that week. The next morning we drove back down to Santa Monica where we spent the night prior to the surgery in the hotel across the street from the hospital.

   The doctor was pleased at the outcome of the procedure, which took only one hour to complete! The French-designed joint was inserted through an incision in the front of Al’s leg, without having to cut any muscles. He told us that there would be very little chance of this hip dislocating. Good news indeed!

   It is amazing how God brings good out of unexpected situations. When something like that happens, He wants us to put our trust completely in Him and to rely upon Him for help. The Lord knows what we need, whether it is strength, wisdom, peace of mind or guidance in making decisions and is in control always!

   
   “This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; He saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and He delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.” Psalm 34:6-8 NIV