Editor’s note: Throughout July, we’re hosting 31 Days with St. Ignatius, a month-long celebration of Ignatian spirituality. In addition to the calendar of Ignatian articles found here, posts on dotMagis this month will explore the theme of “Hope Through the Twists and Turns.”
When I broke my hand two weeks before a scheduled hip replacement surgery, my hopes temporarily evaporated. My worst fear wasn’t the prospect of postponing the hip procedure.
When preparing for hip surgery, I was told to set a goal to motivate my recovery. I dreamed of accompanying my husband on long bike rides. How could I possibly purchase an eBike for use after the hip healed when I couldn’t even avoid falling off a stationary bike? I cried in discouragement. I would never ride the gravel trails again.
Then a friend suggested, “What about a recumbent bike?” Hope rekindled in a heartbeat. Of course! I’d be on three wheels and close to the ground! I started looking at options.
Earlier, when I traveled to urgent care for the hand, I prayed with hope that the X-ray would show no break. “Funny story,” I told the nurse. “It starts with the cell phone I was holding instead of the handlebars and ends when my foot slipped off the pedal.” Even as I feared my hand was broken, I hoped and joked.
Pessimism nipped at my heels when I got a splint all the way up to my elbow. Would my hip surgeon, who I would see seven days later for a pre-op appointment, keep me on schedule for hip replacement? I had waited six long months for that appointment. I anticipated walking pain-free post-procedure. What would happen now?
The seven-day wait to see the surgeon seemed like 70. I dared to cling to hopefulness. When the surgeon looked at both the hand and hip X-rays, he shook his head. “Are you sure you want to go ahead with this? Your hand is fractured. It will certainly add a complication.” Hope swelled in me; he wasn’t saying no.
“I want to go ahead,” I said. He prescribed a walker accommodation so I could push it with my elbow. Hope turned to elation.
And yet, waiting for major surgery is fraught with ups and downs. How much pain would I experience, before and after? When I arrived at the hospital, a part of me wanted to run away screaming. My devotion to Mary via the Miraculous Medal helped me through the temptation to bolt. I prayed, “Jesus, through the intercession of your loving mother, I surrender this procedure and everyone in pre-op, in the operating room, and in recovery to you. Please take care of everything.”
While waiting, I listened to instrumental Christian music to calm my nerves and fight the temptation to put on my clothes and leave. I prayed for whoever would be in this bed the next day. I knew I could choose either to give in to worry and despondency or act against it.
Now, there’s something to know about me. I love giving away Miraculous Medals to strangers. Ride-share drivers, cashiers, parking-lot attendants, and others who seem to need a blessing find me pressing a medal into their palms with a promise of my prayers. Of course I gave one to everyone I met in the hospital, from the receptionist, who accepted it excitedly, to the anesthesiologist, who rolled his eyes, and most importantly to my surgeon, who agreed to say an Our Father with me before I entered the operating theater.
Now three weeks past that surgery, as I type with one hand because the other is still in a brace, I’m healing very well. What stays with me most is a deep consolation as I remember the surgeon bowing his head and praying with me. He kept the Miraculous Medal in his pocket during the surgery. And I pray still with hope for everyone treated in the hospital that day. I imagine Mary, in scrubs, walking around the hospital long after I checked out.
Today in 31 Days with St. Ignatius, read The Devil Comes Cloaked as an Angel of Light by William A. Barry, SJ. Use the hashtag #31DayswithIgnatius to share this or any of our articles on social media.
Hello! Thank you so much for sharing! I pray that you will continue to heal. Your initiative to hand out Miraculous Medals is very inspiring and exciting. Is there any website etc. that you would recommend to buy these Miraculous Medals? My parish has handed them out many times, but I haven’t been able to figure out where would be the best place or website to purchase medals for others yet. I’d appreciate any advice. Thank you so much and have a great day! 🙂
That’s beautiful Loretta and I’m especially glad to hear your recovery is going well! I have been praying for you when I pray the rosary when I water my garden ❤️
May I print your testimony and share with my neighborhood prayer group? They all will be inspired by it.
Absolutely!
Medals, scapulars, and rosary beads – bring people of goodwill together. Out here some one said, those precious spiritual artifacts are weapons of mass construction. Wishes and prayers for good health and spiritual wellness.
Loretta,
Thank you for this beautiful epistle of gratitude, hope and Marian inspired faith which you shared – it reaffirms my hopefulness of a good outcome. My journey to a healing procedure on my spine has been twice delayed by both welcome and unwelcome circumstances beyond my control. First, a very welcome marriage of our daughter, and second, the unwelcome positive COVID test the afternoon before the scheduled surgical procedure.
I’m praying for a good outcome, too!
Love the mental image of Mother Mary in scrubs circulating in the hospital. We had a miraculous medal visor clip in our car and when we were involved in an intersection collision a number of years ago due to someone running a red light a burst of light appeared above Mary’s head on the clip. Everything went black after that but I remember at the time wondering “What was that?” Our car was totalled, we came to covered in broken glass, not seriously injured, but were able to retrieve the clip and contents of the glove compartment and trunk. Days later, looking at the visor clip I realized it was a dull textured metal, nothing that could have reflected light so still don’t know what the flash was. Our priest believed it to be the supernatural energy that shielded us from serious harm, definitely originating from Mary to whom I prayed at the moment of impact to help us find our way should we die in the crash.
Thanks for relating your experiences. The God who can feed 5,000 with a few loaves, and part a Red Sea, can certainly shield beloved ones during a car accident.
I think you DO know what that flash was.
Sorry to hear about your osteo-adventures. I bet you’ll never say “Give me a break!” again.
Seriously, carrying one’s cross and sharing Our Lord in whatever setting we find ourselves is what Jesus calls us to do. The operating room is hardly a setting that will grab headlines, but that’s where God called you to be at that time. Thanks for sharing.
And to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal: “O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.”
This blog is filled with hope and encouragement for all who are going through difficult times. May the Lord bless you.
Loretta, your stories never disappoint. When I see your name I’m excited to read your reflection. Thanks for sharing your gift of Being a storyteller in writing. Blessings, Pat
Thank you, Pat, for the encouraging words.
I love the image of Mary walking around the hospital in scrubs. ❤️
You just never know, do you?
Why not? She has appeared all over the world. . .
What a beautiful message of hope for those of us who are in situations that may feel hopeless, whether it be illness or another set back. That you for sharing your story of courage with Mary walking beside you in the form of her miraculous medal. “…Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God! “
That we may be welcomed in heaven. Amen!
Although I have loved many of the Reflections, somehow I personally connected with this one. No, I haven’t broken my hand…just my foot. And I haven’t had major surgery…yet. But the connection came in other ways. I loved how so many prayers were said for others. I loved the thought of Mary in scrubs walking around the hospital because I am a retired nurse who Hopes she was with me so many times in the past. I loved the surgeon who prayed with her and laughed about the anesthesiologist who rolled his eyes. In fact, there were many laughs and smiles as I read this. Thank you for reminding me there there are so many wonderful people and things to pray about with Mary! From a mother of four, grandmother of 13 and great grandmother of 12.
Thanks for taking the time to write, Joan. Nurses are angels of light, in my opinion.
You are way ahead of me in the grand and great grandkid category!