Wherever You Go

Terry rounded the corner to her dad’s hospital room. What she saw next brought her to an abrupt stop. Men in white coats surrounded the door of Room 107. The scene was alarming.

What are they doing here? she thought. Did something happen to Dad while I was gone? Terry reached out to touch one white coat.

“I’m Mr. Sanders’s daughter. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. We’re here to insert a feeding tube.”

“Feeding tube? No one mentioned anything to me. Who ordered it?”

“Dr. Thomas. Didn’t he tell you?”

“No. Not a word. Shouldn’t I have been called?”

“Sorry. You’ll have to discuss it with him. Wait outside, please.”

“Wait outside, please?” I’m his daughter. What’s going on? Terror, anger, frustration, and worry welled up in Terry’s heart.

Hours later, Terry spoke with the doctor and learned how and why this care decision was made—and that it was for the best. Knowing that her dad’s time was short, Terry came to a pair of realizations: The hospital staff wanted to make her dad as comfortable as possible and, because she and her dad were both believers, God would give strength and courage no matter what happened.