Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Vaya Con Dios...Going With God

     As we headed out at 5:00 in the morning on June 26, to drive from Athens to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, I listened to the last of my  unplayed phone messages.  The sweetest voice spoke to me. It sent shivers of hope up my spine and lit up all of the cells in my body:  "Vaya Con Dios," she said.   Those were her only words.  Words that implanted and imprinted themselves into my core.
I found myself using those words as a mantra for the next two weeks as we headed towards yet another spinal surgery for Taylor.  Go with God.  Vaya Con Dios.  Going.  Trusting.  Fearful. Tearful. Worried.  Hopeful.  Thankful.  So afraid.  But, Vaya-ing with Dios.
          I've come to realize (again) how much easier it is to be thankful when things are going well.   When we have all that we need and when we feel like our prayers are being answered.....gosh, those times of saying, "Thank you," just roll off of our tongues and out of our hearts.   It's when the big stuff that trips up our lives happens that makes us choke and emotionally sputter and stutter---and lose hope. 
Taylor's anterior cervical discectomy was a "success" according to the surgeon.  Poor fellow (the surgeon I mean).  He came out to give his report after four hours of surgery to find me in quite a state.  He was smiling, so I knew things must have gone well.  I hugged him and told him that I insisted on paying him for his services (my weird sense of humor).  Dr. Riley reported that Taylor's neck was now stable and that he should be experiencing less and less pain (Taylor I mean.)
I can sing the "Hallelujah Chorus" from start to finish.  I think I may have done that as my own sort of internal background music.   Thank you.  Thank you. Thank you.   Hallelujah.
  We are home.   Taylor is back in a neck brace for 3 months.  He is smiling.  The light has returned to his eyes.   His sense of humor is back.   There is hope....again.
Taylor went with God the whole journey. 
It is me....It is I....who keeps getting off track and falling  into the ditches along the way.
"Vaya con Dios," she blessed....and "benedicted" and said on that early morn.
And we did.
And we shall.
    

6 comments:

  1. We are thankful with you, and continue to think of you and Taylor so many more times than you would ever have reason to suspect. Surely, surely, this time will be THE ONE that gives you and your sweet son the relief which is so deserved.

    Tom and I will be staying in Baltimore in a week, right across the street from JH Hospital. You can bet that I will be thinking of you then, too. So, dear friend, I ask that you send us off in your heart with God.

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  2. We are so happy to get the news that the surgery went well and that Taylor is smiling again.
    We have a tray that was given to us when Roland retired from his final regular (I guess these interims have been "irregular!") pastorate. Engravd on the Mexican silver tray is "Vaya con Dios." I love that phrase. Like we have a companion on the journey -especially consoling when we don't know the way! We hope and pray that the wind will now be at your back - at least for a while! We love you, Marianne! And Taylor! Jane and Roland

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  3. So happy to hear that Taylor is on the up and up! I have been thinking about you. I cannot tell you how much I love you and care about you - you (and your boys) are so very special - you mean the world to me.
    - Sarah

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  4. Crystal Owensby EatonJuly 13, 2011 at 8:42 AM

    Marianne,
    Taylor is the luckiest of children!!! He has SOOOOO much love surrounding him and that is because he has YOU for a mother...So glad the surgery was a success and that Taylor is doing well! You, my friend are incredible.. :)

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  5. I've been anxiously awaiting an update.

    I am SO thankful that "He is smiling. The light has returned to his eyes. His sense of humor is back. There is hope....again."

    Thank God for hope!!!

    You are so amazing to me. Whenever I'm feeling down and overwhelmed, I think about what you do each and every day.

    YOU give me hope.

    Love, Kim

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  6. I love Kim. Kim, I love you.

    Marianne, my precious beautiful friend, you inspire and God is wise to Vaya con YOU! He/She might have a better chance of keeping that sense of humor under control.

    To hear that Taylor is recovering his joy, that is a gift directly from a Dios who loves you both. But you, my friend are a mother to be reckoned with. You are the one who worked tirelessly (or not) to find a pair of mortal hands that could work to change Taylor's life.

    Dr Riley rocks our world. We love him. I hope you paid him in kisses.

    God is good and you are one of his most gifted angels.

    Love you....

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Thank you so much for your comments. I know it's scary to put yourself out there. I really appreciate your being on this journey with me. You really are brave..