The day started a bit unusual for a Monday. Jerry went out to appointments. I did some work around the house, getting all the trash and recycling out to the bins for their evening trip to the curb. I’d never gotten it all together that early in the day.

Continuing to work ahead of schedule, I went to the pool for my workout shortly after lunch. When I got out of the pool, my phone rang. When I answered, I could hear some hubbub in the background. I was just about to hang up on this “junk call” when a woman said “Hello.” She identified where she was calling from and told me my husband had had an incident (no one else involved) and fell out of his wheelchair.

I asked the caller if Jerry was injured. I don’t recall her exact words, but I think she implied he likely had several injuries. She mentioned something about his head. She told me EMS had been called to transport him to the Emergency Room (ER). I asked her to assure Jerry I would meet him there as soon as I got into dry clothes.

My prayer for him, and me began immediately. I don’t know when I’ve ever changed clothes so quickly. Driving to the hospital, I did not know what shape Jerry would be in when I saw him. I tried not to worry, but wondered if he was even conscious.

The ER staff told me once he was settled in a room, I could go to him.

I sat on a chair facing the hallway, waiting. I looked up and saw an EMS stretcher come into my line of vision. As it moved down the hallway, I glimpsed Jerry! It was his gurney. Best of all, I saw he was sitting up, was talking and appeared pretty typical. Thank you, Lord, for this precious gift from your mercy.

I knew nothing new about his injuries, but God had blessed and encouraged me with a glimpse.

A few minutes later, staff directed me to his room. As Jerry and I caught up on how he was doing, I learned that most of his injuries were superficial. Though to be on the safe side, the doctor ordered a couple x-rays and a CT scan.

Jerry also mentioned that in the process of getting into the ambulance, one of his hearing aids dropped. People looked for it nearby but could not find it. And his wheelchair was locked inside his van, about three miles away.

While waiting for Jerry to be examined, my mind began spinning with details of who needed to know and pray. And what kind of help did we need?

That’s when I realized God’s graciousness in prompting me to complete my tasks earlier in the day, knowing I would spend the afternoon (and evening) at the hospital.

I texted our neighbor, who was happy to take our trash and recycling to the curb.

Friends from church came and together we went to get Jerry’s van. I needed to change the seat from the passenger side to the driver’s side so they could take it home for us. As I did that, they searched around the parking lot for the rogue hearing aid, with no success.

I took the wheelchair back to the hospital, hoping Jerry would be discharged soon. Our friends took the van home.

When I was back with Jerry awaiting the doctor’s reports from the tests, I told him, “We’re done flip flopping between the two of us for who has an injury or illness. Let’s just stay healthy from here on out 😊.” Jerry agreed.

Meanwhile, through the overhead public address system, we continued to hear of trauma and stroke victims coming in by air or ground, with their ETAs and where they would go first. Every time we heard they were going to CT, we knew Jerry had been “bumped” down the priority list once again. That understanding resulted in thanks to God that Jerry’s situation was stable enough to wait.

Finally, all the tests were done and everything came back clear. We rejoiced in the news, knowing discharge was next. By now, the night shift was on duty. They asked how we make a transfer from bed to chair at home. We told them of our ceiling lift. Jerry also said, “I know the hospital has hoyer lifts, but I also know often people don’t know where to find them or how to operate them.” The nurse confirmed this sad truth.

She did a little research and found transport had access to a hoyer. Now they needed to find someone who knew how to operate it to bring it to us! Quietly Jerry and I hoped that didn’t mean they had someone pulling out the manual to read it.

Nearly an hour later, a jovial young man came along pushing the hoyer. And ever more amazing—he had a sling, too! The sling was stored in a different department than the hoyer–go figure?

The nurse and I rolled Jerry back and forth to get the sling under him. As we did, the astute nurse saw his missing hearing aid–he’d been laying on it all afternoon and evening! I shouted a big “Praise the Lord!” right then and there.

And so it was, seven hours after he left his wheelchair, Jerry was safely back in it.

At home, another neighbor waited for us with bandages and first aid supplies to help me clean all of Jerry’s skin wounds (which the hospital considered simply first aid and didn’t need them to tend to). We were both exhausted by that time; I don’t know that either Jerry or I could have accomplished this without her help.

Though the day turned out far differently than we expected, we laid our heads on our pillows rejoicing in God’s protection, his many evidences of grace and mercy, and the incredible love and care expressed to us by our village. That was the basis for our sweet and sound sleep!