Delays Become Divine Appointments

16 Nov

Delays Become Divine Appointments

Before Dan could begin his treatments, we had to have an interview with a billing representative about the cost of his infusions. We also had to talk with a nurse practitioner about how the drugs will work to stop his cancer, the side effects, and what to do if serious side effects occur (i.e. when to go to the emergency room). Then we were given the grand tour of the infusion center. We did all that on Tuesday and Dan will begin infusions today.

He will have a one and a half hour infusion of nivolumab, better known by its brand name of Opdivo^®, every two weeks. After each four infusions, he will have a PETscan to determine how effective the drug is in his case.

There was no need after all for an insurance approval, but here is where the divine appointment came into the picture. The doctor’s office called last Thursday to set up an appointment for the pre-treatment interviews for Friday morning. We had an important personal business meeting scheduled for that day so the clerk made a Monday afternoon appointment at 4 p.m. for us instead. About a minute later she called back to say that the other clerk had given that appointment to someone else at the same time as we were on the phone with her. So we ended up with a Tuesday afternoon appointment. Both of us really want to get going on his treatments so we were a little frustrated at yet another setback in timing. At the time we still thought we were waiting for insurance approval, as well.

After the interviews on Tuesday, we were taken into the infusion center to meet the nurses there. I briefly scanned the patients in four of the big recliner chairs and proceeded to look around the rest of the room. Suddenly one of the patients there spoke to us, expecting us to recognize her. We didn’t until she told us her name. She is a woman we had sung with in various choral combinations years ago. We talked with her for a while hopefully encouraging her.

During our conversation it occurred to me that had we been there Friday or Monday, we would not have had that chat because our friend would not have been there at the same time as we. This divine appointment with her was orchestrated by God and is, I’m sure, the beginning of a whole string of God-coordinated conversations with the people He sends our way. The other side of this is God’s gentle reminder to not try to second guess Him when we don’t understand the circumstances, like perceived delays, of our lives. He knows what His plans are for us and gives us plenty of experiences on which to base our trust in Him.

I am reminded of Psalm 23:

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies: you anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

How true this is in our lives right now. We cannot fully understand God’s love and meticulous care for us without the experience of going through “the valley of the shadow of death.”

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Prayer Request: Dan is increasingly tired as his body continues to fight the melanoma invasion. With that loss of energy comes a decrease in focus. Pray for both of us to be aware of adverse reactions when they occur and to recognize the divine appointments God will place in our path.