Some of you know that my father was hospitalized in February. He had broken his femur and needed surgery. After the surgery (which went better than expected), he seemed to be fighting some sort of virus or infection, causing fevers. With his previous heart conditions, his body was struggling to handle everything. He was intubated, and knocked out with sedation.
A week after surgery, the doctor brought us in a private room and told us that my father was experiencing multi-organ breakdown. His heart was too weak to support his organs, his kidneys were beginning to fail. He told us that if he were healthy otherwise, it would still be difficult to overcome these problems and he had major health concerns. So, the window was small and it was closing fast. He told us to prepare to say goodbye.
Obviously we were in shock. I mean - he broke his femur and the femur is fine now. How could all of this be spiraling out of control over a broken femur? We wept, we prayed, we decided not to give up hope. We trusted in God. My husband called a priest to do an annointing. When the priest arrived, we went into the ICU as a family. My father's hands and feet were frozen. His heart was focusing all of its energy on supporting the failing organs, which meant his extremities would be ignored.
The priest anointed his eyes, ears, hands, feet. It was both devastating and extremely comforting to witness. It was impossible to know whether my father could even hear any of it. We continued to pray. Even my family members that have practically left the faith were praying.
Within an hour after the priest left, my fathers hands and feet were warm. The next few days, his kidneys steadily improved. The doctor told my husband he was utterly shocked. He could not believe what he was seeing. It was extremely rare to see this kind of turnaround in a younger healthier person, much less an older person with many ailments.
A week later, my father was moved from ICU. This past Friday, after 81 days in the hospital, he left. Standing stronger than he ever had before. A complete testament to faith and to His love.