Day 4 – Feb 10
Tuesday morning began with further contemplation on the word Love and what it means to love. There are at least 10 words for Love in the Greek language. In the bible, there are many teachings about love–including the one found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-13.
Love is a virtue; being charitable. Like many things, the more you do it, the better you get at it and the more natural it comes. Imagine if we could love perfectly.
Dr. Granberry shared the prayer of St. Francies, an uplifting prayer that reminds us how we can serve and love others every day. Every member on the team has made the choice to put others needs before their own this week. The prayer reads:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Upon arriving at the hospital this morning, our first order of business was making rounds with the surgeons and PT team to ensure that all patients who were operated on yesterday had clear orders for the day. We were met with smiling faces and expressions of gratitude.
Today was day #1 for our PT team who worked with each patient in the morning and, after releasing several to return home, worked with those remaining again in the afternoon. Each patient is required to repeat their restrictions and demonstrate that they can do their exercises on their own.
One patient who was able to go home today was Edgar Gonzales. Edgar has suffered from chronic back pain for more than 5 years. On account of his pain, he spent most of his time inside his home, often laying down. He was operated on by Dr. Mark Prasarn on Monday, but looked strong and cheerful Tuesday morning during rounds. After one session with Joy Brown (PT), he was discharged to return home. Upon hearing the news of his discharge, he began to tear up. He was so happy to be able to walk and move with no pain. He was accompanied by his son who was equally emotional. It was truly a blessing to witness. It was also the perfect birthday gift for Joy whose birthday is today!
Today the surgical teams completed another almost 20 surgeries. And, of course, we can’t write a blog post without giving an update on the mobility clinic! Under the guidance of our fearless leader, Jim Parker, the wheelchair assembly team completed building their 115th wheelchair for the week!
As both a participant and an observer of the team in action, I am confident that much charity was given and much love was felt today.
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1 Corinthians 13:4-13
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Team 886
