Kneed to Know

Hello, our fellow Americans. We’re still here with you. For at least a few more days. In case you are wondering why, here’s what you kneed to know.

Back last year, we planned a longer-than-usual trip to the US, for several reasons:

1. We usually only get to spend a few days each year with our son Parker and his wife, Ashley. We wanted to expand that.
2. We had had a more-than-normally busy year (especially fall) in Brussels. We wanted to have a bit of time to rest.
3. We normally race around like crazy for a couple of weeks each year between our supporters and home churches in Hampton Roads, VA. We wanted to make that time deeper and less frenetic.

So on December 15 we left Europe, taking the slow way back via the Queen Mary II from England to New York. (We have discovered that if you buy the tickets at just the right time, it is the same price as flying!) This gave us time for just the two of us to spend together and kick off the restful part of our trip. On arrival, we spent a couple of days with my (Shannon’s) parents in Pennsylvania, and then traveled to Knoxville TN for Christmas at Carlton’s sister Jennifer’s family home that included not only Carlton’s parents and Parker and Ashley, but also our daughter Ani who flew over from Brussels for the week. (You can see our family after a Christmas pancake breakfast above!)

After that, for most of the month of January, we hung around near Murfreesboro, TN, home of Parker and Ashley. We had an enjoyable time with them (and their dogs), eating and talking and playing games and watching movies. So as not to intrude on their space too much, we spent a few days by ourselves in Jennifer’s cabin on retreat, and also a good bit of time staying in an Airbnb about 15 minutes from P&A’s house. For us, it was a really great time to catch up with them, to catch our breath, and to catch up on sleep and reading.

However, while on the ship I suffered a seemingly minor injury to my left knee. Once I got off, however, it started swelling to Chicago-softball size and it became difficult to walk. Just after Christmas, I went to the doctor who diagnosed a sprain and prescribed rest, which fortunately we were planning to do anyway. By the end of our month in Tennesee, it had still not completely gotten better, but I thought maybe it was on the road to recovery.

The first week of February, however, proved that hypothesis premature. We spent the week, which was full of exciting encounters we could never have engineered, at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C. (For more details on this amazing week, see our post here.) During this week of much standing and walking, my right knee went the same way as the left.

In the month following, we had some incredible opportunities to connect with our supporting churches, and with small groups and individuals who have been praying for us, and/or contributing to our ministry. (To all of you we got to see, we are SO grateful. To all we didn’t get to connect with, let’s make sure we do the next time!) In addition, we got to be there for a re-launch of STC Norfolk and to connect to many other STC teams here in the US and around the world (see related post here).

Carlton also was able to have Lasik surgery while in Virginia, with the result that he can now see more clearly than he has been able to for forty years! He decided to have this done in the wake of his sudden hearing loss last year in his right ear. This way, rather than struggling both to see and to hear, he faces a challenge in only one of those dimensions. It has taken some time for his eyes to adjust following the surgery, but now he is feeling quite happy with his ability to see with his own eyes.

Meantime, I kept trying to cope with my injured, elevating and icing them whenever possible, and taking anti-inflammatories. In spite of this, they did not improve and my right knee was actually worse by the beginning of March. Still, the idea was that I would just manage the situation until I returned to Belgium where I have health insurance.

But my plans, like those of almost everyone in the US and Europe, were about to be thrown into chaos.

Carlton and I were supposed to travel up to my parent’s house in Pennsylvania on March 8, and then he would travel on to the UK and Dubai. I was supposed to stay for a week or so, going on to New Jersey for podcast interviews and then to the STC USA Forum in Baltimore. Normally, we would have rejoined each other in Brussels today. But right now we are still both here in PA.

First of all, Carlton’s Dubai plans were canceled by the organizers at the end of February. Then he faced the question of whether to still go to the UK or not. At that point the COVID-19 virus was not yet such a big issue either here or in the UK. But he made the choice to stay with me, both because I was struggling with my knee issues and needed (kneeded?) help, and because my mother had been having severe health issues since January that made us think we should be here together.

After we arrived in PA, the following happened:

• Brussels went on a progressively stricter lockdown due to COVID-19
• The STC USA Forum was canceled
• We agreed with the STC South Jersey team that we would visit them for the podcast at a more opportune time

All of a sudden, we were just here. My plan for taking care of my needy knees was no longer so clear. Should we just chance it and go back? Should we try to see if our travel insurance would possibly cover care?

It has been a day-by-day process of decision as to what we should do, as we have now been here for two weeks. But in the meantime, these things happened:

• I called the travel insurance and discovered it was the last day that I could possibly open a new case file with them
• We saw a doctor who prescribed physical therapy
• The travel insurance pre-approved the doctor’s recommendations
• We got the first available PT appointment a week later
• Our Belgian doctor advised us to go ahead with at least this appointment, since much non-urgent care has been suspended in Belgium
• We found out that United, the airline we usually fly with, has its last flight to Brussels next Friday, March 27

So… we still don’t know what will happen, but the plan is to see the PT in a tomorrow, and if they just give me an exercise plan to follow and clear me to fly, we would leave by Friday. If, however, they want me to have an MRI for a better diagnosis, we would do that here, as it might not be possible for some time in Belgium. Still uncertain. Still waiting for direction.

HOWEVER, IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL OF THIS, WE SEE INCREDIBLE EVIDENCES OF GOD’S PROVISION FOR THIS TRIP:

• We were able to spend lots of extra time with family: our son and his wife, Carlton’s family in TN, Carlton’s mom in VA, and my parents in PA (not to mention our daughter coming for Christmas). This was one of our goals and a huge answer to prayer. The extra time with my parents has been especially valuable given my mom’s recent ill health.
• We were able to connect with all of our supporting churches and all of their pastors, as well as many small groups and individuals. If the COVID-19 virus had struck the US just a little bit sooner we would not have been able to do this. But as it is, we were able to see everyone we wanted to see, and many we would not have expected to spend time with!
• We had a great time with people who hosted us. We stayed with a couple of families that not only took great care of us, but with whom we share areas of ministry interest both currently and for the future.
• Carlton has been able to spend the time we have been “stuck” connecting online with many STC leaders around the world. The fact that others were also confined meant more people were available to interact.

We know that this time has been difficult for so many, but we think it is worthwhile to be grateful for the ways that even this situation has been used in our lives for good and to advance his kingdom. How could we not trust that He will meet our other kneeds?

UPDATE! Following my PT appointment, we have decided to stay and take it a week at a time. We felt like traveling would set my progress back significantly right now. And especially since we would have to self-quarantine for two weeks after arrival, that I might not be able to get physical therapy when I arrived. So for now we are staying put! We’ll let you know when that changes.