Tuesday, October 30, 2012

After the storm

Last night my heart was crying out to God for mercy for the doctors and nurses at NYU Hospital.  The power went out and the generators went down.  For a nurse in a hospital there is nothing scarier.  I remember training for the possibility at my hospital before Y2K.  And praying that nothing would happen, for the patients sakes, but also for me because I was scheduled to work that New Year's Eve. 

Liberty by gordontarpley on Flickr


I am imagining trying to keep my patients alive without power.  And moving them at the same time, down nine flights of stairs and into flooding and hurricane winds.  The equipment usually has a battery that will last for a while.  Lord willing they last long enough.  Hand ventilating patients on ventilators is…well, horrifying.   Last night I was praying for the first responders, and the nurses, and the doctors who had to work harder than usual to keep people alive.  Babies in the NICU.  These first responders left their own families to help others.  That is why we do it to begin with.  Because we love God’s children and we want to help the way we can.  The way He has gifted us.  

And today I am still home praying for them.  Knowing how hard it is now to look back.  Those of us who are Christians know in our heads that God has numbered the days of each person’s life.  But when one of our patients dies, our heart's question everything.  What else could I have done.  Second guessing each decision.

In the moment however, is God’s grace.  In the times when I have had to deal with real emergencies, it is as if time slows down.  Everything becomes razor sharp and it seems as if every second lasts an eternity.  And through God’s grace each moment is taken one at a time.  Decisions made one at a time.  Adrenalin keeps the exhaustion away.  And you just do whatever it takes until it is over.  

And so this morning when you read this and we begin to find out exactly what happened.  We will hear of the cost, the price that Sandy exacted.  And the first responders will begin to process what they have been through.  And I ask you to continue to pray for all of them.

4 comments:

  1. Nataline,
    Thank you for the reminder to pray for a scenario and group of people I didn't fully comprehend. I am comforted, as you should be, by the truth that God hears and answers prayers such as yours and uses them to do miraculous things. God bless you this day.
    Visiting from Be Not Weary

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  2. Thank you for your comment and your prayers. Thank you for visiting.

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  3. This is such a moving post!! I am wrecked by the devastating photos of the loss and destruction. My heart and prayers are with all those who have been affected, especially for those putting their lives on the line to help others. I read about those nurses moving the babies down flights of stairs...such compassion and love. ~ "That is why we do it to begin with. Because we love God’s children and we want to help the way we can. The way He has gifted us." ~ Beautiful :) I am so thankful for people like you!! Thanks so much for stopping by Chaos & Coffee, have a blessed day!!

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  4. Reading about the nursing moving the babies down the stairs inspired me to write this post. Thank you for your visit Amanda.

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