February 7 – “Blood drive thanks”

 

 

I went over to the blood drive at Fire station 5 yesterday that was put on in honor of April.  Those who donated were given a voucher that will allow Nathan and April to take $20 off the costs of blood products when they get their hospital bill.  I don't know how much the blood part will be, but that hospital bill promises to be enormous.  She was in intensive care for six days, had emergency surgery, and was on a ventilator for two or three days after that.  Not to mention all the specialists that came in to check out her case.  Or the myriad of lab fees.  Or the multiple X-rays and MRI's and CAT scans.  Or the emergency room charges.  Or the medications.  And we can't forget the little plastic pitcher and vomit basin they issue in each room.  I don't know all the details of their insurance, but twenty percent of any of that would be a handful for anybody.  Thank you so much to everybody who has donated blood in April's name and to those who have so far donated to the special account at Texas First Bank in her name.  Every little bit really helps.

 

While I was there yesterday a few of the firefighters noticed something that really struck them as funny.  The mobile blood bank (a renovated bus) was parked in the street right in front if the station.  It was a great place to be seen and made for a really good picture, in fact.  Except for one tiny detail.  It was parked right next to a fire hydrant.  Anyone else see the irony there?  I guess one of the guys said it best, "If we need to use that particular hydrant, we have a lot more trouble to worry about than just where that bus is parked." 

 

Meals have started to arrive for Nathan and April and Cailyn.  I never cease to be amazed by the power of technology.  There is a website that allowed a signup list to be placed online for those who wanted to bring in food each day.  Who thought that one up?  Or more significant, who knew that it was even there?  If only all we needed to diagnose April's ailment was technology.  She'd be well on her way to specific treatment long before now.  As it is, we still wait.

 

Isaiah 59:19 says, "From the west, men will fear the name of the Lord, and from the rising of the sun, they will revere his glory.  For he will come like a pent-up flood that the breath of the Lord drives along."

 

Father, breathe some of that breath down here in Galveston so more will see the glory they must one day revere.  Amen.