Raise 'Em Up...to God

Running around the lake on a beautiful, sunny Denver day while listening to my ipod I couldn't hellp but observe all the people I passed. Such a variety...There was the young man lying in his hammock taking a nap, the fishermen, the couple holding hands out for a walk, the young girl running, the dog walkers, the group of women chatting while simultaneously pushing their strollers with sleeping babies...so many smiles, so many different walks of life, and all out enjoying the beautiful day God provided. 

Keith Urban's song "Raise 'Em Up" came next on my playlist and I smiled. It's just one of those feel-good, down to earth songs. 

Raise 'em up, I'm talking 'bout lighter on Saturday night

the band plays a song you like and you sing along...

The song celebrates the good times, the sad times, and all those times you celebrate in life. How often do we take those life experiences for granted? Even soaking in the sun and out on my run that day, the song made me stop and thank God for all he gives. 

All the time we toast and celebrate success, job promotions, graduations, sports success, academics, etc., but how often do we toast to life? How often do we lift our hands up to God to toast to Him and all He gives us every day. 

Everyone likes a celebration. Why not find a reason to celebrate today?

Raise em' up
Trophy high
Raise em' up
To the sky
Raise em' up
Show everybody that new born smile
Raise em' up
Tall and strong
Raise em' up
Right from wrong
Raise em' up so dang high they can hear God singing along...

God at Work

Did you know at 13 weeks a fetus has a head, eyelids, fingers, toes, fingernails and fingerprints? It has a beating, developing heart, a bladder that begins to function, and arms and legs. It has a torso, ears, and is a very small child, typically about 6.7cm long. You read these things online and in the text books, but it is hard to conceptualize the thought of a human being this small at this stage...

When the young woman came in at 13 weeks pregnant with a large amount of vaginal bleeding we anticipated a miscarriage. She and her husband requested not to go to the OR until products of conceptions were seen. "Products of Conception" is the medical term that refers to pieces of the placenta or fetus that are retained during a miscarriage. Our concern was the amount of blood being lost. A miscarriage has the potential to turn into a life-threatening situation if the mother becomes hemodynamically unstable. Since she was stable, we agreed to watch her longer.

I made sure the sweet young woman was comfortable and went about checking in on my other patients. My heart ached for this young patient. I have not yet had children, nor do I see it in my near future, but I could not imagine what it would be like to carry a child inside you and then lose it to natural causes. There was such love between the patient and her husband. There was sadness in their eyes, but words and actions of care, commitment, and unconditional love. Through good and bad. 

I noticed a priest in his white collar and black shirt and pants enter the room and exit with the husband. I reentered the room to check on the patient and assess the blood loss. I asked about the priest who they explained was a friend of theirs from their Catholic church. How special that in the wee hours of the morning their priest was willing to rush down to be with them for a few minutes and offer prayer and support during this difficult time. 

Discussing their priest and parish I connected with them identifying myself as Catholic. Not working my normal shift that evening and issues of life being so central in the faith, I felt like God had been at work in placing me with this family on this night. I understood why she did not want to go to the OR yet, wanting to ensure the baby had every chance, respecting the life of that 13 week old inside her. 

Out at the nursing station I sorted through all the paperwork for a miscarriage.  Options for burial, the need to send the fetus and placenta to the lab to ensure nothing was retained, and the large, clear bucket that was sent from lab to obtain any products of conceptions. The bucket made me uncomfortable. It felt so strange to think about placing pieces to send to the lab. I understood the importance of making sure no products were retained (which could cause severe hemorrhage and endanger the mother), but it just felt so inhumane. I put the bucket to the side deciding I would cross that bridge if anything was delivered before she went upstairs. The papers broke my heart. I had never dealt with a miscarriage before and was unsure how to approach the paperwork with this couple. It was all still so fresh and in progress...

I cycled her pressure which was still stable but continuing to drop. I decided to implement standing orders for fluid, even though she was about to be taken to the floor for an overnight stay and trip to the OR. I explained this to her and grabbed the fluids. Back in the room and hanging the bag the patient had a large contraction where she exclaimed "something came out". I looked down from where I was to see the 13 week old fetus attached to the umbilical cord, stillborn. 

My heart felt like it froze for a moment and I took a breath to be the best support I could for the mother and father. I was in shock. I had seen healthy, full-term babies delivered in nursing school, but never a stillborn and never this young. I hadn't expected to see a human-looking child. I thought "products of conception" would be pieces of tissue, undefined. But there was a beautiful, tiny baby. Not old enough to distinguish gender it fit in half of my hand with tiny fingers and toes, this beautiful creation of God.

"You just delivered the baby", I said softy. Would you like to hold it? She nodded, tears slowly leaking down her face, knowing the baby was not alive. The father immediately came to the side of the bed, placed his thumb on the baby's forehead and making the sign of the cross prayed, "I anoint you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit". I held back my tears at this beautiful display of faith as I left just long enough to grab the OB kit and the provider. 

After the clamping and cutting of the cord I handed the baby to mom. She looked lovingly on her child that was no longer here, but with God. I sat down by her bedside and assured her she could have all the time she needed. Knowing her faith was important and so crucial at this time I then asked if I could pray with her. Her eyes widened as she took my hand and said, "yes, please". I prayed out loud with the two of them as she squeezed my hand and held her baby in the other. I ended with the "Our Father" as the two of them joined in with voices strong and full of conviction". I left them to mourn together while I stepped outside with a coworker to cry  in private, my heart breaking for them and overwhelmed by the experience.

It was so sad, but so powerful. God was so present in the room that night, and it was so beautiful to see these people draw strength and comfort from Him in their time of need. As their sister in Christ it was an honor to care for them this night, and to be able to recognize her physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. I would not normally ask to pray with a patient, but knowing her religious background and seeing the husband rush to anoint the child upon birth, there was a tug at my heart to join with them and together bring God to the front. We are called to bring Christ to each other. 

2 Corinthians 1:3-4: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”