The events surrounding my knee surgery were so providential that I had to write down the timeline to give glory to God.

And, why it is smart to put your life in God’s hands.

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Never had any serious surgery or sustained pain in my 68 years on earth. My knees were beginning to hinder daily life and threaten our ability to travel and lead pilgrimages. On a 2022 pilgrimage a friend on the bus, Dr. Tom Stanley, grabbed me and said, “You are in pain; I can see. You have two choices 1) live with increasing pain your whole life, or 2) get the surgery and have pain for only 3 months.” Bingo! He cinched it for me.

I had no doctor or hospital in mind for knee surgery and was told most doctors will not do two knees at once. My personal physician Dr. Chavey at Emmaus Health, a very devout Catholic with a very devout practice, recommended Dr. Creg Carpenter in Chelsea Michigan.

I figured it was time to make an appointment with Dr. Carpenter because of Chavey’s recommendation and because my knees were progressively getting worse. Janet and I moved a few things around on our calendar and determined the only time we could block out for surgery would be April-July, 2023.

When I called to set up our first meeting I found out it would be 6 months before Dr. Carpenter could arrange a consultation, which would be the end of 2022. Not good! I was afraid that he would be unable to fit me in for surgery with our timeframe of April-July.

So I asked Dr. Chavey for a second recommendation and he suggested a doctor at U of M hospital in Ann Arbor. I called and the two appointments with the two doctors ended up two days apart in October.

We usually don’t go to the dinner parties. But on a whim we decided to accept this invitation even though we only knew a few people. So on the evening of August 20,2022 we spent the evening with our friends Liz Lev, her husband Thomas Williams, Teresa Tomeo and John Hale at a house we’d never visited before with a host we did not know. We were kind of “tag-a-longs”.

Unbeknownst to us, this dinner was a divine appointment. The hosts were Mike and Irene Ryan. He was wearing shorts with long scars on each knee. He had recently had both of his knees done separately — one by Dr. Carpenter and one by U of M Hospital. What are the chances of that considering my two upcoming appointments??

He said, “There’s no comparison with the results of each of my knees. Dr. Carpenter is the best. He’s a real professional who only does knees. Make sure you get Dr. Carpenter out at Chelsea hospital.” What a providential divine appointment that dinner was! What were the chances?

I took his advice as from the Lord and the next day I canceled the appointment with U of M. With anxiety and lots of prayers we waited for my meeting on October 27 with Dr. Carpenter.

Knowing it took me 6 months to make the first appointment with Dr. Carpenter I was still very nervous about him having time to fit my surgery within my timeframe. Or even that he would accept me as a patient. He came highly recommended—but highly recommended doctors are also very busy and I was told that he was fully booked into the future. I learned later that people come from all over the country to have him do their knees, and he does six to nine knees a day.

After waiting 6 months just to get a consultation, I was stressed that he could not do the surgery for a year or so, since he was so busy.

We met with Dr. Carpenter on October 27, 2022. When he entered the room he exuded confidence. He was friendly and professional, and I immediately sensed I was in the right place at the right time. God was moving events and dates like pieces on a chessboard. I could sense his divine smile.

Though doctors rarely do two knees at once (and my timeline required bi-lateral surgery) I was blessed by the Lord again. He said I was skinny and healthy and youngish and determined, so he would go ahead and do both knees for me.

He also had a quick smile and witty sense of humor. I was 165 pounds at the time and told him I would drop another 10 pounds to make it easier (which I did) and he laughed and said, “In the knee surgery world, you are a minnow in a pond full of whales.“

When Dr. Carpenter left the room I was confident and grateful — but the time of the surgery was still unknown.

Janet and I had blocked out April-July over a year ago with hopes (and the need) that the doctor could do it then. We would be arriving home from Israel on April 3, 2023. After working through our calendar we decided April 5 was the first day we could have the surgery done — and that would give me four months to recuperate before leaving for Poland with a group on the first week of August.

The doctor said he didn’t know his schedule but to talk to his assistant. The assistant apologized and said, “I am sorry but the doctors is very busy and booked up for the near future. The soonest he could get you in would be April 5. Huh?!?!

There’s no expressing the emotion and gratefulness that welled up in heart! It confirmed the Lord’s will and his timing. I love confirmations like that. That date was only available in a small medical center in Brighton Michigan. We found out later that this was by far the best place to have the surgery and Dr. Carpenter only works there one day a week.

Since then, we have talked to a lot of people, including the hospital staff, and many others who almost bow in reference when Dr. Carpenter‘s name is mentioned. They all say he is the very best and can do knees in about half the time of other doctors with better success and that you heal better and faster with Dr. Carpenter‘s knees.

And so with all the divine planning and assistance, on April 5 I went under the knife and I had no idea what hit me when I woke up. But everyone says I’ll be happy when it’s all over. On our 2-week conference call yesterday Dr. Carpenter said I was healing and rehabbing very well.

So I conclude with two favorite passages of Scripture…

Romans 8:28: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Matthew 6:33: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

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