If you read my last weepy, whiney blog post, you know I now have an open wound from a post surgery infection. And if you didn’t get a chance to read it, I’m sure my description has you antsy to click here and devour that uplifting piece. To insure the healing of the infection, I am currently attached to a wound vac 24 hours a day. I have provided a picture of one for you here because – trust me on this one – you don’t want to google images for “wound vac” yourself. You can’t unsee that.
This device is attached to an opening in my abdomen and it stays in an ugly, black cross-body bag that I wear at all times. (Someone suggested I carry it in a cute cross-body instead, but why put pearls on the pig?) Since I named both of my JP drains after my big surgery, my husband insisted that I needed to name this too. He immediately started brain-storming on the way to the surgeon’s office to get it. I told him I thought we needed to wait and meet him first before we could come up with an appropriate title. After placement and instructions, it came to me while climbing back into the car to go home. Remember this doll?
Wherever I go, he goes. Seems appropriate. And you are welcome for the ear worm. Anyway, my Buddy continuously removes infected tissue from the area and stores it in the canister on the right side of the machine. To add insult to injury (literally), it makes gurgling, farting type noises as it works. *Sigh* It’s almost enough to turn me into a hermit.
My first few days home from the hospital, I was too self conscious to get out of the house much, so a sweet friend came over to hang out with me for the afternoon. I was grouching and complaining (as I am so apt to do) about having to lug this thing around – I mean, just taking a shower and trying to keep it dry is a herculean task. But as I spewed my negativity, my friend said, “Well, I’m just so thankful there is a way to fight infection.” Oh. Well, sure. Look on the bright side.
Oh, this is why we need each other. When I can’t see the healing for the wound vac, someone else can. “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NIV When I need scraping up off the floor, a sister in Christ can do that for me. And hopefully soon, when I am less needy, I can reciprocate. “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17 NIV So even if I am embarrassed and feel like secluding myself at home, I am going to fight that urge, because I need my people. “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV
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