You know those days when you start out thinking things will go one way - and you find yourself in the emergency room several hours later wondering what happened? Saturday was one of those days.
It all started out so innocently and like other Saturdays before - packed up the car, the kids, the friends, the boogie boards and the food and headed for a day at the beach.
Playing in the sand....
cruising for chicks (actually - only Matt did this)......
hanging with the family......
more playing in the sand and the water....
and of course the new sport of choice for our family - boogie boarding!
it was a big wave day at Huntington Beach - and that's when it happened...
Becky, Destiney, Ashlee & I were sitting in the sand, reading playing & hanging out. All of a sudden, Ashlee goes "Karen, Karen dad's bleeding". I look up to see Doug coming up out of the waves with blood running down his face. We get him over to a chair, and Matt goes to the (conveniently located right next to us) lifeguard stand to ask them for some gauze.
After talking to him for a few minutes, they determined her went "over the falls" (apparently this is a lifeguard term for getting the stuffing beat out of you by a wave). Because of the way he fell on his face and snapped his neck back, they were concerned that he could have a neck or spinal injury and wanted the paramedics to check him out.
This required a ride up the beach to the boardwalk, where the paramedics were waiting. At this point, I wasn't overly worried; I have some basic first aid training and he was moving his feet and fingers, had no numbness or tingling and was conscious; however, on the ride up to the boardwalk, the lifeguard who I was riding with told me that their concern was that they have seen this injury where a person walks away and several hours later they wind up in a wheelchair because there is a stress line fracture or other crack that goes undetected at the time but results in paralysis later.
Now - I am concerned (very concerned - you know, the kind where you want to throw up). It was a very long 5 miles ride to the hospital for both of us - Doug in the back of the ambulance strapped to the back board with his head immobilized and me sitting in the front seat trying not to fall apart in front of the 20 year old very cute EMT.
Doug and I spent the next hour & a half (it is amazing the attention you get when you arrive by paramedics) at the Hoag Hospital ER. After a series of x-rays, Doug was given the all clear to go home (with limited boogie boarding recommended for the next few days!). He has a bad sand rash on his face, and he's a little stiff but he's doing ok. For those minutes from when they loaded him in the truck to the "all clear" verdict in the ER, my heart was heavy with concern for my husband yet my eyes were cast upon the Lord and my trust was in Him.
Doug reads a devotional each night - and most nights it's a scripture with a commentary; last night - it was simply this:
"Because he loves me" says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him"
Psalm 91:14-15
I believe with all my heart that the Lord did this for us yesterday. When I think about how one millimeter in any direction of his landing could have changed the outcome yesterday, I am filled with thanksgiving and praise for a God who is faithful to what He promised - to protect us. He was with Doug in the water, the lifeguards and EMT personnel and me in the truck. He heard the prayers that were hastily and heartfully raised up. He is our Lord and our God. Praise be to Him.
