Hmmm…. How do I tell about this past week? Remember how I described a mission as a roller-coaster ride? According to my niece’s little boy, “Roller coasters are too fast, too bumpy and keep going down!” Just when I think we have come to the smooth part of the ride we find ourselves on the part that is too fast, too bumpy and keeps going down!
We started out the week with Transfer Day. Monday we shopped, cleaned and started making food. We had been running around all day so we decided to have Papa Murphy’s pizza for dinner. We get a half and half, which means I get what I want and Elder Hardman gets what he wants on the pizza and we don’t have to eat what the other person likes. Elder Hardman decided that something on his half of the pizza made him sick. Tuesday came and he still didn’t feel well but he came to help with the Transfer Day lunch (he didn’t eat anything) and was relieved that another couple took the missionaries to the Temple (usually his job). That night he stayed home from the dinner. Wednesday he still didn’t feel well but it is a day to set things in order after our busy Transfer day anyway so he was able to relax. Thursday he was still not feeling well. We were also waiting all day to hear if Shalene and Garrett had had their baby. They had gone to the hospital on Wednesday night. I started to think that Elder Hardman was having sympathy labor pains in honor of Shalene.
He finally decided at 9pm, when it was dark and rainy that he needed to go to the hospital. We drove to a hospital in Sparks because that is where the insurance said to go. They started running tests and finally found that he had two LARGE (9mm) kidney stones, one in the bladder, and one in the kidney. There was also a smaller stone on its way out. He was dehydrated and feeling pretty awful.
Shalene and Garrett's baby was delivered on Thursday, April 6 th at around 10:30pm. Elder Hardman’s delivery took another day! He was admitted to the hospital and was scheduled for surgery on Friday. He was the last surgery on Friday afternoon (at 4pm). Surgery went well, they blasted his stones. He has a stent that will stay in place for a week or so. At this point he is in the recovery stage. He had to come home with a catheter (which he isn’t too happy about) He slept pretty well last night and is starting to have a little appetite. We are thankful for that after several days of not eating. He doesn’t feel great but we know “this too shall pass” (along with those stones).
Shalene and Garrett’s baby was born with the cord around his neck and it had to be cut before he was delivered. This led to breathing issues. He is now off of the oxygen but he hasn’t decided that he is ready to eat yet so he is on a feeding tube and I.V. I think he is in cahoots with his Grandpa to be on a hunger strike! I hope he doesn’t take as long to decide to eat. We love to see pictures of him. He is beautiful! I told Shalene, “He looks like Garrett with a side of Shalene”. His name is Anders Garrett Wilcox. We are so grateful to have him here! His parents are amazing! We have had people ask us if we are going home. If anyone understands the meaning of selfless service it is Shalene and Garrett. They have not asked us to come home.
I have asked myself many times on this mission, “What am I doing here?” President Nelson gave me the answer I’ve been looking for in his talk at General Conference. “Faith in Jesus Christ propels us to do things we otherwise would not do”. That is the answer. I have faith in Jesus Christ. I know it may feel bumpy and fast and keeps going down but that it will be all right. There is a plan. We have the source of comfort and strength in our Savior. I have said it before and I will continue to say it. We love our family. We are grateful for each and every one of you. We know you are tenderly caring for each other. Thank you!
The Gospel’s true and we truly love you!
Love,
Elder and Sister Hardman
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