11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11-13 (KJV)
After over one month at Parkwest Hospital, fighting COVID-19, Today is September 20th, 2020, and I’m moving to Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center. Today closes this chapter in my story and begins an incredible journey to unspeakable joy. I could not possibly have understood where this journey would take me in a short time.
The Tattooed Giant
The past week or more has been full of challenges as the physical therapist at Parkwest Hospital worked daily to prepare me for residency at “Pat Neal.” I needed to use my hands for primary care (eating and drinking). I had to show physical improvement to be capable of doing physical rehabilitation, such as sitting upright in a chair or being forced to my feet using a “gait belt.” I suppose Pat Neal wants people who can and will work to get stronger. I had no idea of the work to come or the fantastic work that God wanted to do inside me in the days to come soon.
I can’t remember how much notice I received before my move from Parkwest. I remember hearing Patricia Neal might not take me as a client for numerous reasons. Both the princess and I were praying God would send me to Patricia Neal. Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center in Knoxville opened in 1978 at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center in Knoxville and is East Tennessee’s recognized leader in rehabilitating stroke, spinal cord, and brain injury patients. They are considered by many to be the national “gold standard” for many types of physical rehabilitation. I would also find out they knew ways to make we mortals hurt. They specialize in inflicting pain in remarkable ways that are not yet realized by the unsuspecting (me).
Early afternoon, my hospital room door opened, and a giant with tattoos walked in. This mountain was dressed in an AMR ambulance uniform, had two cohorts with him, and announced we were going for a ride. I was not in any physical shape to challenge him and believed he was my best chance to get to Pat Neal today and pacifically complied with his instructions. I might have taken him on a better day, but today was a bad day for a fight. My three transporters rolled my bed out of the room, down the hallways, and into the sunlight before strapping the bed in the ambulance.
Wow, the sun had never felt so good or the outside air so fresh. After a month indoors, this country boy was outside again. Could this be a taste of what freedom is to a freed prisoner?
An ambulance technician rode in the back of the ambulance with me, and I found he was a recent AMR hire and grew up in the “Sharps Chapel” area of East Tennessee. I also spent a lot of time in “the Chapel” and immediately connected with the technician. God spoke to me and told me this was my opportunity to glorify Him to this stranger, so I told the technician about my Father and His tender personal care of me. This was the first time I remember telling my “story” to a stranger. The days to come will open many opportunities to tell others of God’s amazing goodness to me. We should bloom where we are planted. Perhaps you may be planted among rocks or thorns, but our blooms are most beautiful when we’re growing in ugly places. As the children of God, we must remember that we will face problems, but God’s got a plan to make everything beautiful. Always remember, “GOD’S GOT THIS.” The Preacher of Ecclesiastes reminds us, “10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.” Ecclesiastes 3:10-11 (KJV)
Welcome to Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center
Praise God for busting me out of my prison, but my freedom was short-lived. The entire transfer took less than thirty minutes. I arrived at the third floor of Patricia Neal Rehabilitation center, firmly strapped to my hospital bed. Pat Neal did not have a long enough bed to accommodate my overgrown frame (too tall), and I supposed Parkwest wanted their bed back. God had Patricia Neal Staff procure a brand new bed long enough for me to sleep.
Upon arrival, I was placed in the last room on the floor, far away from the noise and hustle of the nurse station; this will prove critical in spending quiet, quality alone time with my heavenly Father. Remember, “GOD’S GOT THIS,” and He sees the end of a matter before it begins. Even though we don’t understand, He has a fantastic plan to lead us to a beautiful outcome.
The mountain ambulance driver left me in the care of “my” nurse at Pat Neal. The nurse was to acquaint me with the policies of Pat Neal and assure I had my basic needs met for the time being. She mentioned someone would soon be removing my five-foot-long urinary catheter and drainage bag. As much as I hated the catheter, the thought of removal concerned me. I asked if it would hurt? She responded calmly, “Nope, not at all, and You may feel a little pressure, that’s all.” I can authoritatively say she either did not know what she was talking about or was a filthy liar. More about this exceptional experience later
Regardless of the things to come, I was delighted to be accepted at Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center and considered myself blessed to be there. In about thirty minutes, the nurse performed her duties and left the Lord and me alone to talk. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions at Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center, Linda again could not be with me, and I was already missing her again.