Ilizarov. A big word that packs a big punch. Right to the gut. It is tough to look at post-surgery. Thankful for lots of blankets on the bed, to cover it up....
Mithadeline has an Ilizarov frame on her leg, which is being used to stretch her 90 degree contracture out straight. If you're curious, google ilizarov, but not if you are faint of heart.
I sit here wondering exactly how we got signed up for this. It was a nudge from above that started all of this. And of course our hearts for children around the world suffering, in one way or another. Haiti is near and dear to our hearts, because pieces of our hearts have returned to Haiti, to live long and full lives within the children we have hosted.
In our past hosting experiences, the drama was not as great, but the intensity of the illness might have been worse actually. Mithadeline would live without this surgery. She was capable of living in her deformed body. The other girls, both with heart defects, they likely would have become very sick and faced possible death without their heart procedures. But something about a fix on the inside seems a little less intense because of the way we are focused so much on outward appearance. We could not see the damaged heart, or see the scar from the repaired hole; but the seriousness of their situation, whether you could see it or not was very real. In Mithadeline's case, her fix is hard on the eyes. You cannot look at her and not see it. It jumps out at you, especially now.
Isn't that just how we are? We all have flaws. Some are internal, hiding deep where no one can see them. Emotional pain that we keep secret. We can appear normal on the outside, but have cuts and scars deep within. And sometimes our flaws are very visible, like the Ilizarov frame, they jump out at you, catching everyone's attention.
But the way in which we deal with our flaws and our hurts is what makes the difference. We can live with them, evading reality, but we put ourselves in danger when we do not seek help. Sometimes we limp around for years, which in the long run, only causes more pain.
Jeremiah 30:17.
For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast,
saying, this is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.
God seeks us passionately, wanting us to turn to Him to restore us and heal our wounds, inside and out.