Friday morning was fantastic. The procedure went beautifully. Recovery was flawless. Smiles were on the nurse’s and doctor’s faces. Birds were singing. Rainbows and unicorns.
That was Friday morning. The calm before the storm.
At the hotel, Beth lost her balance and fell. In her weakened state, she was unable to catch herself before hitting the floor. Falling backwards, she hit her lower back and then her head. She never lost consciousness. I asked her all kinds of questions as I tried to think clearly myself. In a panicked frenzy, I picked up the phone, hit the emergency button, and before I could say “911″, there were three hotel employees toting oxygen tanks and a siren in the distance.
For the record, if you’re going to fall, there’s no better place than in a hotel attached to a major cancer center. A cancer center in the middle of a medical district. A medical district in the middle of one of the largest cities in the US. Just sayin’.
After a few short minutes, two of the biggest dudes I have ever seen came in and took charge.
“Hello, sir. My name is Zeus and this is my partner Thor. Can you tell us what happened?”
“Uh…she was..and I was…uh…”
“Fear not, puny mortal. We will take it from here. You can ride in the back of the ambulance.”
“Can I do the siren?”
“Negative. Only those with biceps the size of briskets are allowed to.”
“Rats.”
With razor sharp efficiency, they loaded her up and we were taken to MD Anderson’s Emergency Center. After observation, medicine, hydration, x-rays, and a CT scan it was determined that all is okay. No harm done.
We spent the night in the EC and headed back to our home away from home. Beth never could get comfortable and the nausea was relentless. After hours of nausea, vomiting, and pain I called the doctor and he sent us back to the emergency center. We were admitted to the hospital where we are at this moment. The storm continues.
Jesus did some of His best work during storms. The disciples could only see the wind and the waves when they awoke the Master. The adulterous woman could only see the angry mob and the stones in their hands when they brought her before Jesus. The grieving sisters could only see the tomb of their dead brother, Lazarus, when He came into town. With a firm voice, Jesus shifted their eyes to what they were not seeing. They were all so focused on their circumstances, they couldn’t see that the Creator of the universe was standing right next to them.
His best work is when He draws our attention off the problem and onto Himself. With a commanding voice, He tells the wind to stop, the condemned to go free, and the dead to rise. He reminds us that He is there. He is in control. Fear not.
I needed His voice today. He spoke through the doctors and nurses. A still small voice that whispers, “fear not” could be heard.
The medical theory is her abdomen is still agitated from Friday’s stent procedure. The doctor ordered strong anti-nausea medication to help her rest until the swelling subsided. The clinical trial will most likely be delayed a bit until we have cleared this hurdle. She has not been removed from the trial. We just need to ride out the storm.
And riding a storm isn’t so bad when the Master is in the boat.
We constantly pray for relief of pain and vomiting, gaining strength, and healing for our dear Beth. also, continued steadfast faith and strength for ou dear Dave. And we pray for comfort and peace for the precious children and ever-present mothers. We love you all.
Norma
So amazed and inspired that while y’all are being tossed and torn by this storm you are living your faith and inspiring others. His power is being not only seen, but felt.
We love you so much. I think, pray and cry for you both. Only those who have been where you are could imagine what you are going through. For Greg and I, we can only imagine a very small portion of what you are experiencing. You are stronger than you may think. Phil. 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
The Master IS in control! While reading your blog, I have to admit that I giggled a little at your recreation of the first responders. God has given you a great blessing being able to see some humor in this terrible storm! Prayers are with you from TEAM BETH!
Wish we could be there to hug you both… Praying for nausea relief, sleep and strength for both of you. Thank you for the updates!
Constantly praying for you and your family. For strength, high faith and spirits, and for the pain to disappear. This post was awesome and brought tears to my eyes. You will wake up soon and the pain will be gone and everything will be back on track. My 4 kids and i 2,3,5,and 13 will continue to pray for you all everyday.
Dave,Dave,Dave!!! You my friend are an AMAZING MAN. Amazing in so many ways. Amazing husband……Amazing dad……Amazing friend……Amazing Jesus follower, your faith is Amazing and you are an Amazing storm rider,even when the sky is falling all around you, you always seem to make us laugh and cry at the same time. Thank you for keeping us posted on Beth, prayers are still going up…..Big Ole’ pestering prayers. Love you guys!! P.S. sorry they didn’t let you do the sirens
I just want to say…..I love you!! We Love you!! The Galloway’s continue to read and pray. This post made me cry and laugh. The puny mortal thing and the siren thing made me laugh with tears…….Love yall so much. Have I said, I love yall? If not, we do!!
Tommy, Cindy, Sean
God bless you, Beth and Dave. You are like a lighthouse in the storm. Your testimony of unfailing faith is precious, uplifting. It strengthens me when it seems, it is me who should be offering these words to you two. I care for you both and thank God that you are part of my church family. I will continue to in my “pestering”.
praying for you all
Thank you for this update. We certainly know how to focus our prayers more. Many of our class and church family will be spending much time tomorrow in prayer and fasting. We are claiming calm after the storm and a good day and night for you both. Above all, we are asking the Great Physician to bring healing to Beth’s precious person. We believe!
This is my third time to read this blog, I can’t quit laughing! At the same time I am so humbled by the message. Thanks Dave, still praying.
Praying
Beth, Dave, Brian, and Emily
There’s not a verse you haven’t read,
So many of God’s words have been said.
You have trusted and you have hoped,
With all of this you have coped.
We have seen your special strengths,
You have stretched Faith to great lengths.
God’s Glory continues to shine through,
In EVERYTHING that YOU do!
Praying for you guys!!!
We continue to pray for you guys David. Please let us know if we can bring you anything or if there is any way we can help while you are in Houston.
Dave,
I love reading your updates. You demonstrate a faithful husband and how faithful you are to God. You can bring humor to even the times when most of us would panic and only focus on the horrible situation and continue to ask Why God, Why God, havent’ we been through enough. But not you……you are a true disciple walking on this Earth today and so is Beth. I love your sweet family and know that your family are in God’s hands and what better place to be but there. He is in control and you are such a great servant. Continuing to pray and love you all tons!! EMILY AND BRIAN ARE SO BLESSED TO HAVE PARENTS LIKE YOU AND BETH!!
Praying for a miracle!!!
Beth and David, we love you!!! All of Kaufman is praying plus friends and families all over the world!
I love this post. Dave, your sense of humor is your staple, your calling card, the thing I liked so much about you in the little time I was around you, and the thing that makes you and Beth such a perfect match. I know it’s hard to muster right now, but please continue to find that ray of light. I want to know that Beth still has something to laugh at in the midst of this ugly, miserable storm. Sending all the love I can imagine from here in DC, and wanting so badly to be there.
Dave:
Just wanted to let you know that my self and my church Kaufman County Community Center is praying for your family daily.
Also I am not sure you rememeber but I work at Baylor Dalllas, actually work with Beth’s PCP doc Dr Denise Weber, she told me to pass along this message } If you could let them know my thought and prayers are with /and have been with them the entire time.
I want to leave you with my favorite passage found in Isaiah 40:31 Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.
May God continue to give you strength! Your sister in Christ- Damaris
I have been following your blog since my brother got sick back in May and someone told me that Beth was sick. I of course went back and started from the beginning and read the whole story. I went to school with Beth, she is a couple of years older than me, but I remember her, she might remember my brother better than me. His name was Brad Neu and he passed away a month ago. I just can’t understand why sometimes, but I know that God has a reason for everything so that is how I get through. I just wanted to let you know that I have been sending extra prayers your way. I pray for peace, understaning, comfort, and strength. I know your beautiful family has been through so much and all of our trials make us stronger. Please know that there are more people praying for you all than you will ever know. God is good. God bless you and your family. Lori
What a storm you guys have been through. I hope you know all of your church family is continuing the prayer vigil and we will and have never stopped loving you all. What you are going through right now reminds me of Laura Story’s song “Blessings” and what she has gone through with her then newly wed husband when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She says after 4 years God still hasn’t answered her prayers the way they wanted them. Out of that came the song “Blessings” and she confides one day it hit her “It’s just considering…maybe the blessing is actually found in the absence of the thing that I’m praying for”. That is so hard sometime for us to wrap our brain around! Anyway, don’t know if you have heard the song but, here are the lyrics and they really touched my heart, I hope they do yours too!
We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things
‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know Your near
What if trials of this life are your mercies in disguise
We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel you near
We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love
As if every promise from Your word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we’d have faith to believe
When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not our home
What if my greatest dissappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the reavealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
What if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise
We love you James family 4
Since Jeff, the boys and I started attending a church closer to home, we feel a bit out of the loop. So…I’d like to say thank you for your updates. Your blog really helps us to continue praying very specifically for you guys. It also allows us to pass it along to our prayer network. We all miss seeing you guys. Hugs and prayers from the Hill fam!!
David, my brother, you are truly an inspiration!! Thanks for the words I needed to hear in the midst of our own storm; your faith is a refreshing reminder. You guys are in our prayers!
Dave,
We love you all so much and are praying for you all. Today, Friday, my children and I were attending Enrichment classes at Temple Baptist Church in Gainesville and in every room Beth’s name and the names of your family were written on wipe off boards and prayer lists. Your names were on the lips of so many people. We were sharing with one another how we knew Beth. I met Dainah, who taught Beth in Sunday school. There was such fellowship and testimony in the stories. We were comforted and blessed as we shared with one another. Your blog is a great ministry! Know that you are loved. Know that you have served God in all that you do. Know that countless brothers and sisters in Christ are lifting you up in prayer.
David-we are SO very sorry to hear about your loss!!! Khris and I are praying for your family!!