I have been debating on how to tell this; the latest incredible story surrounding Pat's recent stay at the luxurious Piedmont Hospital. Hopefully, I am not building this up too much, but I think it is a story worth telling to those who need some encouragement or those who need to know that God is still wowing those of us who simply need to occasionally see His handiwork. If you ever doubt that God is greater than any coincident, hopefully, I can do this story justice to show you just how incorrect you are.
Let me provide you with a little background on the players in this story. First, you know the lead player. Pat Guynn, cardiac patient, loving wife and mother, is the key player and ties this whole story together. Jana Guynn, daughter-in-law to Pat Guynn. She is my wife and is also the Executive Producer at North Point Community Church's (NPCC) Married Life marriage ministry. Dr, Gary Smalley, a sweet elderly man whose is the marriage/relationship extraordinaire so well known in christian family ministries. Finally, a mystery player whom I will reveal as the story proceeds. Here we go.
If you are reading this entry, then you know the history behind Pat's recent medical emergency visit to the Cardiac Care Unit at Piedmont Hospital. I'll do a brief recap. It all began on June 8, 2011 when Pat visited the emergency room only to find that she required immediate surgery to repair her aortic artery. The medical care team, nameless characters in our story, but key players in the survival of our main character, spent countless hours facilitating the healing process following Pat's emergency surgery. Pat, as you know, spent nearly two weeks in the hospital, then left the hospital on June 22, 2011; thanks to their incredible care. End of recap.
Jana spent most of the week of June 13th preparing for her Married Life event which was to take place over 2 days on Friday, June 17th and Saturday the 18th. She had been working for nearly two years to coordinate with Gary Smalley and his ministry team to schedule time for him leave his hometown of Branson, Missouri to speak for two days at NPCC for a marriage/parenting seminar. Numerous scheduling conflicts prevented him from coming earlier. Married Life is an event that allows married couples to enjoy an evening out with hundreds of other couples. It is a fun time of music, laughter and a focus on improving their marriages and in this case, parenting as well.
Saturday morning, Gary, Jana and our mystery character were having a conversation prior to the session. At some point in the conversation, Jana and Gary began talking about heart conditions. Gary had apparently suffered a heart attack about seven years ago and almost died as a result of it. It is a life changing time in his life story. Needless to say, today he is a very charming, seventy-something year old man who tells amazing stories about his life, kids, marriage, etc.
To make a relational connection during the conversation, Jana mentioned to Gary that Pat was in the hospital at the cardiac care unit due to a recent emergency surgery that almost took her life as well. Gary asked what hospital she was in, so Jana proceeded to tell him which hospital. "She's at Piedmont Hospital here in Atlanta." About that time our mystery player stepped into the conversation. His name is Dr.Wilmer. Gary introduced Jana and Dr. Wilmer where Gary then informed the good doctor that Jana's mother-in-law happened to be at Piedmont Hospital. Gary then informed Jana that Dr. Wilmer was his cardiologist and he occasionally flew up to Branson to check his "ticker's" status. He then casually informed Jana that Dr. Wilmer is the Chiet of Innovation and New Technologies at Piedmont Hospital. (Small world, huh, wait it gets smaller.)
Jana proceeded to tell Dr. Wilmer of the excellent care that the cardiac team had give to Pat. She mentioned how they had such great attitudes, they were so knowledgeable and that they went out of their way to make not only Pat, but also the entire family feel comfortable and informed. Naturally, Dr. Wilmer was extremely pleased to receive such great reports.
Dr. Wilmer then asked Jana who Pat's surgeon was. She told him. He then replied, "Oh, he is one of the best and he reports directly to me." Dr. Wilmer then asked, who is her cardiologist? Jana told him who Pat's cardiologist was and he replied, "oh, he reports to me as well." (Really small world, huh?)
Dr. Wilmer's curiosity got the better of him when he asked Jana what her mother-in-law's name was. Jana proceeded to tell him where he then responded, "I know of her case very well." "It was a case presented to nearly one-hundered doctors in a recent cardiac gathering." He said she is a very fortunate lady and we are thrilled that she is doing well.
Jana told me later that Dr. Wilmer and his wife attend one of the NPCC campuses and Mrs. Dr. Wilmer volunteers for Jana at some of her Married Life events at the church. One of the more interesting parts of the conversation was when Dr. Wilmer said that there were a couple of the nurses from Pat's Cardiac ICU attending the Married Life event that weekend and that he couldn't wait to tell them that they helped to care for and save the life of the mother-in-law of the Executive Producer at the event that they were attending. (Wait, it gets better.)
This just can not be a series coincidences. This, to me, was God just showing off and I have to say that I enjoyed every twist and turn as Jana told me this story. One of the by products of this story came to fruition when I remembered back around the time that Pat was moved from ICU and just a few days from being released when she said, "I have to tell the story of my time here at Piedmont." "I have to tell people what happened to me and who has crossed my path to help me to recover." Her opportunity was provided on a silver platter. (Watch this.)
When Jana and Dr. Wilmer were talking, he began to get so excited about the great report that he was hearing about how his staff had performed, he asked Jana if she would work with Pat to write a letter which tells of her experience. He wanted names and events that took place during her stay. He said that he believed in giving people the recognition, in public, for a job well done in hopes that it would inspire new stories of great care taking within the ICU and Cardiac Care unit. This was simply icing on the cake to see just how things were orchestrated from the time Pat was admitted to the time she left and Pat now had a chance to tell her story.
And now, our story comes full circle. Dr. Wilmer actually stopped by mom's room prior to her being discharged from the hospital. I know, I couldn't believe it either when she told me. They met. They talked and Dr. Wilmer made his request again, but of mom this time. He asked her to provide him with a note or letter of her experiences during her stay. Naturally, she was thrilled.
This is one more incredibly, miraculous story to add to the other stories previously written about Pat and her cardiac episode. Hopefully, this story will encourage you to see that God can weave amazingly and intricately designed stories in each of our lives if we only look for them. This one was pretty obvious in its incredible-ness. It could not have been orchestrated more perfectly. I have to say, I love it when God shows off.
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