On Monday, we received a call from the admissions staff at Bethany Children’s. They asked if we could move Joy in on Thursday. We have been waiting, of course, so we knew we would make that happen with very short notice. We had most of her stuff ready for months so it was finalizing everything and packing last minute things. She was settled in by 1 pm on Thursday. We had our normal admissions meeting with her team of therapists, teacher, nurse and doctor. The meeting was different this time though. In the past, Joy has just stayed for a month or two so our decisions for her care are based on that. At this meeting, we left many of the decisions of the specifics in the hands of the staff who will care for her. Bethany Children’s will be her home so she will transition to care that fits the schedule there. I spent time on Friday and Saturday at BC, making sure the nurses were comfortable with her care and filling in the little details that help make the transition easier for everyone. It’s impossible to remember everything in a meeting, so the more I am there in the first few days, the more I see and realize that I need to share about all of Joy’s quirks and preferences. They did place her in a temporary spot in a newer section of the facility. It is nice but it is usually used for temporary stays. When some patients discharge from the Complex Care Unit (CCU), she will move there for a more permanent space. It should be within the month. Our kids have stayed in almost every part of the hospital and Joy likes the CCU best. There’s more opportunity for socializing there! :) The units are shared by 6 patients in open sided bed spaces.
Monday was a very emotional day for me but it got easier as the week went on. There were things to get done. Then, of course, Thursday, was a hard day but not completely unexpected feelings as we have done this before. Those who have read the blog throughout our journey would know that 4 years ago we did the same thing with our oldest son, Philip. God showed great grace on Thursday. I want to share a personal testimony about His loving care to us. We got in the van on Thursday morning and as I often do, I turned the player on to the current Patch the Pirate story we had already been listening to. In fact, we had been listening to this story before we even received the news that Joy would move into Bethany Children’s. I wasn’t thinking about it in particular with so much else on my mind until I began to hear the following dialog:
They were finishing a song with the words, “I hope nothing ever changes.”
Wait! Wait, everyone! Hold on!
What is it, Alberta!
We can’t sing this song anymore!
Why not?
Because things are changing… In fact, with Captain Patch retiring, things are never going to be the same ever again. I don’t know that I’m ready for things to change this much. I want them to stay the same.
Sometimes, we don’t get to decide what we’re ready for but God has a perfect timing in everything He allows in our life.
Singing, Though I cannot see the way ahead or the rough and choppy seas,
I can trust my Father has a plan for I know He never changes.
So we’ll sail along with a joyful song and with purpose in our sails.
And we know that all things work for good even through the hardest changes.
By the end of that segment, Ben and I both were crying. There we were, literally on the drive that would change our lives forever. And God had this, queued and ready for us to hear. I felt as if God Himself was sitting in the van with us and saying these words to our hearts. It was the comfort and encouragement I needed to make it through that day. I hope I never forget it.
Joy’s transition always takes time. So far, things are going as expected. She is doing well. We’ll see how things go as this next week progresses. We also are transitioning to a way of life that we have not experienced in many years. We hope to continue to lean on God’s grace through all the changes.
So, so many of you have reached out to say you are praying and to offer help. We can’t thank you enough but we know God can reward and bless you for your love for our family. Thank you for being His hands and words.
I’ll leave you with this and maybe it will come back to your heart when you’re facing some hard changes.
“Though I cannot see the way ahead or the rough and choppy seas,
I can trust my Father has a plan for I know He never changes.
So, we’ll sail along with a joyful song and with purpose in our sails.
And we know that all thing work for good even through the hardest changes!”