My Warrior

I have been so touched by the responses to my post about Elder Hillary. I am grateful for all of your comments, prayers, and support. Here's what transpired over the past week. We had to wait until Saturday to have the surgery because he had already had some food. That meant they monitored his heart all night because the collapsed lung compresses on the heart. The surgery, was to last about 45 minutes and then recovery, lasted about 3 hours - long nervous hours. The surgeon came out and told us that they had to remove a 3 inch wedge out of his lung - there had been previous scar tissue apparently. He was able to show us pictures - which confirms that he is as handsome on the inside as he is on the outside! (New twist on 'hot ribs') He settled well that night - he was on an upper body epidural block that was inserted in his spine for pain. Pain from - a chest tube, two upper incisions, and a 4 inch opening in his back. It would now just take time to heal. Not a missionary picture you want to see your son in....The long week included making sure that someone was with him at all times - as a set apart missionary - that meant a Priesthood holder. Del spent as much time as he could until he was required to travel to DC for business -which meant that Mike, my son-in-law took his turn being with Ryan along with his wife Ashley, and myself (I count - the church said), and Mandy. Matt, Ryan's brother called every day from Washington, everyone was always just a call away. Our stake President and his counselor came one night (really amazing blessing/visit), and President Dean from the MTC and his counselors took some time. President Dahl asked about Mandy being there - I told him that Mandy had informed me that she had 'held the Priesthood many times'. Thus she was able to stay with Ryan - gotta love Mandy. During their visits Mandy was insanely funny - she always had hospital gloves on and one day she wore a surgical mask. She found some scanner and was scanning everything so we probably bought 6 hospital beds and a couple of silver bed pans. Ashley and Mike brought scrabble - our favorite game to all play, except when one of us is on Morphine and the only words you can spell are: on, the, fox, and if. Dang funny... The week included 2 performances for Mandy, traveling from Sandy to BYU everyday and traveling home in tears each night. Talking on the phone to stay awake, getting to sleep at 11:00 PM and getting up at 3:00 AM for work and starting over again each day. Many moms never get to see their missionary in action - but I was blessed to do just that. Each day - he made his bed, read his scriptures, pulled out his language studies, wrote in his journal, and prayed. The nurses fought over who would get to take care of him. No TV, no radio, no phone calls out - and no complaining came from him. When you walked into his room - you felt the spirit - you couldn't miss it - it enveloped you. I was grateful for that feeling - it was comforting and reassuring that he was never ever alone. I listened to church CD's on the way down so that I would be spiritually ready to walk into that room. One day - Elder Sybrowsky from the Quorum of the 70 visited with him - he wanted pictures of him with Ryan - and he counciled him and left his blessings with him. Awesome. President Dean and his wife stayed with us during the surgery - and they carried a special spirit from the MTC that was so strong. I'll never forget their visit and the honor of being around them. The fasting of the Zone in the MTC was timely and worked it's miracles. There were a few setbacks as they couldn't get all of the fluid out of his lung - scared me to death but eventually Ryan started getting up out of bed- and walking the halls trying to show them he could do it. He visited with people in the hallway after they noticed he was wearing an Elder name tag. By the end of the week the doctors said that it only be 4 weeks before travel could be taken on with his lung and all instead of the 6 weeks. They already had plans for him - as his zone leaves on Monday, March 2nd without him. His heart was heavy about that - but his obedience and trust is larger than life. I had the honor of praying with him each night - during which involved pleading, and gratitude, and hope. On Friday morning the doctors removed the tubes and a couple of hours later they removed his epidural - and monitored the pain. At 5 PM he was loaded into an MTC van and sent back - but not without a final time to kneel in prayer with us. The nurses came out of their rooms to say good bye to him - and they cried when they seen him in his suit. Several nurses were from Mexico and had worked with him during the week on his Spanish. They tucked notes and money in his pockets. It was a long walk down the hallway - a walk of tears. I cannot begin to thank them all for helping him through this - they treated him with great respect and those that were not members of the church asked many questions. The Lord has his own time - and to respect that time helps your testimonies grow so much. We felt the prayers of the MTC Missionaries, of family and friends, and of our ward family. As we left we passed under the flags displayed in the hospital hallway - we do not know Elder Hillarys destination - but he's praying to serve under this flag. Today - we found out that the State of Chihuahua is under attack - I don't even know if the 7 missionaries will be able to leave tomorrow - I now pray for new things. It's hard enough to say good bye the first time - there they stand with their packed luggage and their bravery face on. But to say goodbye the second time and they stand there with their ER bag of clothes and an RX for pain and you know that there are still stitches in your sons body - now were talking tough - especially when he looks at you and says, Mom - where's your faith? He's larger than life to me today. Thank you all for your patience in this long entry - I have some special family far away that have asked me to post this - hope you haven't minded the ride. I want to tell my kids how much I love them for their support - not a day went by that they didn't call or come over. They kept drawing all over the doctors/nurses board to the point that they couldn't write on it anymore and just left it like it was. Ryan could look up and see their love every day. All of our missionaries need your prayers - brand new greenies in the MTC (Elder Eldred just entering last Wednesday), and Old Crusty Ones in the field (Elder Meyer in South America) - pray for them all. Good luck son - thank you for letting your old mom along on this journey, I'm proud of you in everyway, and so is Heavenly Father. Dream Big, I love you.

To keep me humble, on the way home from the hospital, the Lord gave me one more trial as I found out that my sweet friend Luanne, mother of 5, was killed in a rollover accident - and the tests of our lifetime continue - with a promise and belief in the Plan of Salvation to cling to. Like Mandy posted on her blog - TELL EVERYONE YOU LOVE THEM OFTEN...