The ICU Waiting Room

We have never had to sit in an ICU waiting room 
for very long, until Karl’s accident.
I had no clue what it would be like, and, frankly, the powerful emotions that have been present are hard to put into words.
Both Dw and I agreed, the thoughts and feelings that whiz through your heart and mind each time the door from the ICU unit opens are so painful to even talk about.  Each person waiting scans the expression on the face of whomever is coming out….
Do they look ‘normal’? 
Are they crying?
Have they been crying?
Is their face showing the signs of fear, panic or dread?
Seriously.
  
It’s been such a yukky rollercoaster.
Some of the time, the only thing I can do is to kneel and pray:  In a darkened corner of the ICU waiting room, kneeling before the throne of Grace on Karl’s behalf.  
****
Autumn refused to leave from the first day.
She camped on a chair in the waiting room and 
curled up and slept right there.
She didn’t want to be far, just in case Karl needed her. 
Ryan, Karl’s brother slept there too.
Others have spent some nights there as well. 
Derek, Karl’s youngest brother {until he had to return to work}.
Many of us have stayed into the wee hours of the morning, then went to sleep in a hotel down the street, hurrying back at dawn again. 
There is something comforting about being ‘right there’.
Twelve days after the accident Autumn
 was forced to return to work
{or she would lose her job}.
So she slept at home, starting her shift at 4:30am, and then when she finished up the first part of her split shift, she jumped in her car and drove an hour and 20 minutes to the hospital, so she could see Karl on her 4 hour break between her shifts.  
Then she turned around and headed back to Colorado and her job.
It’s been driving her nuts to have to return to work, 
she desperately longs to be right there with him.  
I snapped a picture of her, a few days back, 
with daddy’s hand on her back 
while she slept for a little while in the middle of the afternoon.  
As we waited, the ICU became and amazing place of ministry.

There have been a few families waiting 
for loved ones in ICU as well and we have gotten to know most of them, to one degree or another.

Dw and I had opportunity to spend some time 
talking and praying with some of them.
A young wife waited as her 34 year old husband is put on life support from liver disease due to alcoholism.  Our hearts broke.  She knows Christ.  They have 2 young children.

Another mom waits for her son.

Another daughter hears the news:  her dad has cancer. 

A young husband {from out of state} had come to work in the area, falls while on the job and breaks his neck.  
His young bride comes from out of state to be at his side.
He “codes blue”.
Vicki comforts and prays with this young woman. 
Vicki ministering to her in the midst of her own pain.

And at one point, I had been in seeing Karl.  When I came out, Autumn moved her eyes toward a group of ladies and whispered, “They want to talk to you.”  
I turned and saw a small group of women, 
none of whom I recognized.  
As I leaned closer to her, I whispered back, 
my eyes wide,
I thought I must have misunderstood… 
“What did you say?  They want ME?  
Have I talked to them before?”  
Autumn whispered again, “They came over and said they wanted ‘the woman in black – the Prayer Warrior’.”  I tried not to giggle,  “What?  They called me that?”
I went over to the group of ladies and hesitantly asked, “Did you ask for me?”  One of the older ladies of the group said, “My sister is in room such-n-such of the ICU with her husband, she wants you to come in and pray for him.” 

Really? 

So I went to the ICU phone and told them what the lady had said.
They buzzed me in.
When I approached the room, I saw that anyone entering had to be ‘suited up’.  So I put on a sterile gown and rubber gloves 
and hesitantly motioned to the woman {whom I did not remember seeing before} standing beside the bed, hoping that she had, indeed, really wanted me.
Sure enough, she smiled and motioned me closer…
she wanted me to pray for healing for her husband.
He was clearly having a very, very, very difficult time breathing.
I asked him if he knew Jesus Christ as his Savior {I thought I might have the privilege of telling him about Jesus}. 
 He nodded that he did. 
 His wife nodded an assuring gesture too.  
I felt so honored as I prayed for
 Almighty God’s healing over him.
  
Utterly amazed that in the midst of this horrific pain, 
the Lord would use me to minister to others. 
And sure enough, the next day the Lord had moved on this gentleman and he had been moved to the 
step down Unit a floor below!  
Only GOD!
So why share these stories?
First, so that our family and Karl and his family can have 
some record of some of the events while we waited
 for Karl to be healed….
AND
To remind all of us, that wherever we are, 
whatever our own circumstance, 
there are always 
people needing us to be His hands and feet.
We aren’t “off the hook” because of our own pain.
In fact, He has placed us wherever we are, 
at just that moment,
{no matter what}
to share with those around us. 
The Lord is continuously trusting us to serve others on His behalf
no matter our own situation.    
Truly a God-sized privilege. 

And each time, we are again reminded,
 that even in our own weakness, 
He is still made strong.

19 thoughts on “The ICU Waiting Room

  1. I can so relate to Autumn's experience. When my now husband (then boyfriend) was injured, I too stayed at the hospital for 17 days until I had no time left to use. I needed to be as close to him as possible. I would around the clock visit Mike and then trek to the chapel a few floors up to get on my knees and pray. We had many people that came to us to offer prayer and comfort and we were and are still so grateful for that. As Mike got better, it became harder and harder to be at the hospital. My heart broke continuously for all the families just starting or sadly ending their journies. Please give Autumn a hug for me…we have never met, and likely never will, but I very much understand the place she is emotionally and pray that her and Karl will get to experience all the joy, healing and living that Mike and I have.

  2. Thank you for the reminder that in our own pain we need to be witnesses for Christ to others. Prayers for you Karl and both families. Hugs.

    BTW – my word verification is gheals – and I just thought woo-hoo – G- God Heals! 🙂

  3. Oh, Linny – my tears flowed while reading your post. So many tragedies, sad and anxious families. My heart is so sad. You are God's messenger here on earth. How beautiful that you are able to minister to others who are suffering, just as Autumn and all of you are suffering such pain. I just can't find the words to express how much your posts mean to me, how you minister to me. My prayers continue for Karl, Autumn, Karl's family, each one of you…..and all who are hoping and praying for their loved ones in the waiting room. So heart wrenching. I live close to a nursing home. Ambulances go by countless times a day. Anytime I see an ambulance, no matter where it might be…….I stop immediately and pray for the person in trouble, and for their families. God bless and be with you. I am so blessed that I found your blog, so very blessed. xoxoxo

  4. Oh, you're making me cry! I wish all of this was easier for you and for everyone, but I am so moved by your love and grace and heart for ministry in the midst of all the pain.

    Waiting rooms are amazing. When my parents were in the hospital after the tornado, it was a hospital in another city where they and we didn't know anyone, but we watched as people in the waiting room reached out to us and each other. One family left the hospital to buy my parents new clothing (since they'd lost everything), new underclothing, shoes and socks, and toiletry items. They ministered to my parents when we were still several states away, and while they themselves were waiting through a horrible situation of their own (not connected with the tornado). God's people can be so kind to one another!

    May God continue to use you for His glory, and continue to bless Karl's family through you!

    Still praying every day for Karl. We won't forget.

  5. Thank you for sharing this. I have been there so so many times and love to hear about the Lord's prescense. I just love to hear about everyone else's stories and meet people and pray with them as well. Wish I lived closer so I could snuggle with the kiddos, run around the yard with them and make you all some meals. Honestly if we had extra money I would love to fly there and help. You are all such an amzing family and we love you dearly!
    Love the Funkhouser's

  6. I love the picture of Autumn sleeping and daddy praying. Wow, I've been praying for Karl, Autumn, and all his family as well as your family b/c I know you all need it.

    There are many reasons I follow your blog: Christian, adoption, prayer warrior, and just real.

    I'm glad God could use u to pray for these suffering and I'm so thankful for your blog because it is a constant reminder to believe for the unbelievable and do the unthinkable. Thanks for being HIS servant.

    I check for updates on Karl several times a day, b/c I adore your family and I'm believing with you for total healing. May God bless Autumn and Karl abundantly as they seek Him!

  7. How beautiful and such a testimony of your love for people that in the mist of your trials you would go into a room in sterile garb to minister to a complete stranger! God is using you! May all of you be filled with super natural strenght by the Holy Spirit to go forward to serve him! Blessings! Janet

  8. Love this post! It is so true that every moment is useful to the kingdom – even those that seem to be the worst. Loving your ministry in the midst of this hard time. Love you!

  9. Your words bring back memories of the ICU waiting area after my Dad's brain haemorrhage ~ what a sad place it was, yet an amazing place for ministry. People asking for prayer, people willing to pray with you who have never really thought about God before. I often think that they should have a chaplain just for that area so critical is it.
    Still praying for Karl, Autumn & family
    XO

  10. This post stirs so many emotions. It is so true, I have experienced this as well. One time it was at the courthouse as I was awaiting a hearing on my unfortunate divorce stuff. I was hanging on to Jesus in my own fear and pain and I saw so many hurting people awaiting outside the courtroom. As I passed to use the rest room God specifically called me to pray for a woman and on returning I stopped and sat down with this total stranger and understood her pain. She never said a word and I just asked her if I could pray. I think when you obey like that God brings such boldness and strength. I truly felt that God turned my pain into a chance to be there at such a time as this. It happened almost everytime I was there. It really gets the perspective on His big plan. Thank you Linny for your obedience and all of the people and family for being His hands and feet where God placed you.

  11. linny, i loved this post. it brought me to tears. i remember that icu feeling before my sister died… we were there a week. i know that sense of strange community that develops. this post makes me happy to see you witnessing in such a way that you are labeled as prayer warrior by others that don't know you. oh what wonderful things are happening around you in Jesus' name. 🙂

  12. Thanks for sharing, Linny. Precious insights and memories… LOVE, LOVE, LOVE hearing how God is working through His children to show His love to a hurting world. Blessings on all of you! Continuing to pray!

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