Coming home from the Hospital

It had been a long week away from my husband and the kids missing daddy, with no response yet from the doctor on the timing of Chootie's release from the hospital. So I decided to pack our bags and take the kids in a hired van to Colombo City to go see Cody and Chootie. By 11:00 pm the decision was final, with still one last chance to hear from the doctor and still no response; by 12:00 am the van arrived. I carried the kids to the van with the help of Johnson and headed on the journey for our red-eye transport to Colombo. I slept in the van in and out making sure the kids were comfortable and could sleep; with one hand in my bag gripping my knife at every stop of the van (as my husband had cautiously warned me to do so). We arrived by 5:30 am, which was the fastest trip to Colombo I'd ever heard of. With less than 4 hours of sleep, Cody came down from the very hidden "hole-in-the-wall" hotel room to greet his family with open arms. It was such a sweet reunion as we had all missed each other so much. We dosed off a little longer in the hotel room, but were awakened to music playing. I had never heard something more beautiful in such a long time. Over a loud speaker, I heard the song playing "How great thou art" then next "Amazing Grace." I can't tell you what that does to a soul after the only noises coming over a loud speaker are prayers and songs to Allah 5 times a day for the last two months; and this will continue to be the sounds we hear living in our village. Right next door was a huge Catholic Church, that I guess took the liberty to play their songs loudly, as so many others do. It was so refreshing, and we just sang along.

We headed to the hospital and spent a few hours visiting with Chootie. Cody had been sleeping at the hospital for the week, but with us coming he got a hotel room. We had lunch as a family then the kids and I went back to the hotel to take a nap. Cody went back to the hospital to spend time with Chootie and Jinsen (Chootie's cousin that had been with them all week also). By that evening, around eight o'clock, the doctor had checked out Chootie's arm and released him. By 1:00 am we were in a van headed home on a red-eye transport to Arugam Bay. It was a crazy couple of days, but so good to see Cody and so good to get Chootie home to recover and relax. He is doing much better. The doctor was able to clean the wound from all infection and stitch up his arm. Cody will take him this week to have his stitches removed. We are so thankful to Papa that his major tendon was the only thing left in his arm not damaged- because of this he is able to move his arm and fingers still. Please pray that the scar tissue will not decrease his mobility. We all appreciate all of those who supported Chootie in many ways. Chootie is forever grateful.