First of all, thank you so much for all of your prayers. They really meant so much to both me and my husband.
My husband's surgery went very well yesterday. He's in a lot of pain but that's to be expected, and the doctors were so pleased with how everything turned out. He's been a trooper. I'll still be Nurse Kate for another few days, but he should be himself again soon and begin to feel the healing effects of the procedure.
Going through this surgery with my husband was a very new and nerve-wracking experience for me. I know that I wasn't actually "going through" anything--just some anxiety and lots of waiting and trying to smile and be calm and relaxed. He was the one getting wheeled into the operating room, not me. But as all of you who are married know, your spouse is part of you. My husband is my other half. On our wedding day we became one flesh, not in body but in spirit, and I didn't know how hard it would be to leave his side and wait for good news from the surgeon.
When the surgeon did come out to personally tell me that everything went beautifully and that my husband would be waking up soon, I experienced another new feeling--a kind of joy and relief I'd never gone through before. I knew the surgery would go well, I trusted his excellent doctors, and had faith in God's love and mercy, but I was completely tense up until the minute I heard all was well. I shot up a silent prayer, feeling so grateful to Him for protecting and watching over my dear husband. In addition to the surgeon, two technicians who were in the surgery came out to the waiting room to reassure me. I know they were just doing their jobs, but it felt like they understood everything I was feeling. It felt like they really understood at that moment that we were discussing the person closest to me in the world, and that any extra reassurance would be welcomed by me. That felt so good.
When I heard the nurse call "Mrs. Harvey" and I finally got to see my husband and give him a kiss (almost 2 hours after I heard all was well--torture!) I could finally relax. I felt terrible about the pain he was in but ultimately, he was ok, and this surgery was something he really needed.
This morning, my husband said "Happy Valentine's Day" to me and said that he felt badly that today wasn't going to be very fun or romantic. He even apologized. But you know what? I made a vow to love my husband in sickness and in health, and I'm getting the chance to live those wedding day vows. That's romance enough for me.
