October 18, 2023 - Out!

     I am out of the hospital and back at the hotel taking it easy.  On this one, I am not kidding.  It’s likely next week that Teresa may have trouble getting me to take it easy, but not today.
     I ended up in the nicest room, actually a suite, at the hospital.  It had a room off the main room with a computer desk and a kitchen table and chairs.  Teresa even said that there was a tablecloth on the table.  She would notice those things.
     There were slippers and a robe, and a shower nicer than I have ever used.  The nurse this morning said that I had won the lottery.  All I can figure is that because the surgery ended so late in the evening all the regular rooms were taken. 
     Mayo has dignitaries come from all over the world and these may be the rooms they use for them.  It’s rare for me to be a VIP!  I don’t remember ever travelling in first class on a plane.
     The surgeon came by before I was released.  He is superb.   He was very pleased with the results of the surgery.  There were three cancerous nodules instead of one.  The pathologists tested them and the right side of the thyroid.  We will get the final test results in about a week.
     There was no sign of cancer in the left side nor in the lymph nodes.
     In God’s timing, not having the transplant might be even more of a blessing.   The nerve that goes to my vocal cords was attached to one of the cancerous nodules.  The surgeon pealed the nerve away from the nodule during the surgery.  Who knows what could have been the outcome had I waited 5-6 months before having the surgery, which was the plan had I had the transplant.
     God is good.  All the time. Either way He is good, just sometimes it is more obvious than others.
     As I sat in the hospital room this morning waiting to be discharged, I had one of those divine moments.  Just the Lord and me.  I looked back over the events of the past year.  I thanked Him for His involvement in the timing of the events.  There are way too many times that things have happened for which there are no logical explanations. 
     One or two times might be considered coincidences.  I am confident that the Lord has been involved in those events.   The news this morning was icing on that cake.
     Now we do see in a mirror dimly; then face to face.  Now we know in part; someday we will understand fully.
     We plan to stay in Rochester until Friday and hope to be home sometime over the weekend.
     Thanks again for your prayers.