When Blessings Come

These past few weeks have felt like a dream. A dream that I hoped and prayed for daily, but didn't think would come this soon. 

After almost a year of dealing with a debilitating mystery illness, Taylor is now better. 

A little over a month ago Taylor's doctors started focusing on the gallbladder. After a special scan (HIDA) it was discovered that his gallbladder was functioning way higher than it was supposed to. The next week Taylor had two miserable episodes in one day that each led to separate ER visits. It was Pioneer Day. Later that week he met with his surgeon and discussed removing his gallbladder. The surgeon said they could remove it, and it might help his condition, but he wasn't sure how much. We were excited because we felt like we were FINALLY honing in on the possible source of the problem, but we didn't take lightly the idea of removing another organ and wanted to study it out before making a decision. The following week Taylor had two more ER visits, and by that point his blood work was showing signs that his gallbladder was not OK. At this point I was starting to hope that we were actually getting somewhere. I felt the faith I'd been working on strengthening. As scary and miserable as those nights were, I felt like we were getting close. During the last ER visit which was three weeks ago, and with the right ER nurses and doctor working with us, he was admitted to the hospital. 

A photo taken during the second ER visit on Pioneer Day.

The following day his bilirubin continued to rise, and he was starting to look jaundice so we decided with his surgeon that his gallbladder needed to go.

Before surgery.

 He went back for surgery, and several hours later we were back in his hospital room and he was waking up. We waited for the usual symptoms to return. They didn't. He felt a lot of surgery pain, but that was all. 

Kids visiting after his surgery.

We went home the next day, cautiously optimistic. Besides the incision pain, he felt great. I felt shocked every time he told me.

Leaving the hospital, smiling!

We kept waiting for his old, sick symptoms to return. They did not.

It has now been almost three weeks since his surgery and he is doing amazing. He tells me multiple times a day how good he feels, and I tell him he can't say it enough. Music to my ears! He feels like he got a new lease on life. I feel like I got more than I could have asked for.

One week post-surgery.

We were able to go to the temple together yesterday, and he was able to go to all three hours of church today. Neither of which has he been able to do these last ten months. 

It's a strange feeling. A weight and worry that was my constant companion is gone. In it's place is a hope that is becoming a reality. If I think about it long enough I feel like crying. I feel relief, gratitude, humility, excitement, joy, elation, and a lot more hope.

Taylor is well. He is getting stronger, his energy is coming back. He is not sick, not in immense pain, and he is not suffering.  

Through all of this we have felt so many prayers by friends and loved ones. We have been on the receiving end of service given by so many, especially doctors, nurses, our parents and siblings. How do we thank you for all of the medical help, babysitting, temporal support, tireless help and comfort? We know we couldn't have done it without you.

Above all I thank Heavenly Father for blessing us with this gift. He has guided us and strengthened us every step of the way. 

"Don't you quit. You keep walking. You keep trying. There is help and happiness ahead-- a lot of it."

Jeffrey R. Holland

Never lose hope.