View from the Back of an Ambulance

Thank you so much for taking the time to pray for my family and all your lovely comments this week. I wept as I read them. Thank you, Kathleen, for keeping everyone updated. I coveted your prayers and, as usual, God not only answered them, He did exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask (Eph 3:20).

Rejoice: This Week Has Been a Trial

Paul said “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us - they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us ….” Romans 5:3-5

I began this week hemorrhaging and went to the Shelbyville Emergency Room where they immediately sent me to Vanderbilt Hospital in an ambulance.

There is nothing more sobering than an hour ride in an ambulance with flashing lights and screaming sirens.

After five days of poking and prodding I was released on Thursday night but had to go back Friday night. Nothing serious this time, my arm is infected from IV Infiltration (one of the blood transfusions didn’t go well). The swelling got pretty bad and my fever was creeping up so I went back to the hospital for an antibiotic shot. I feel much better now.

Praise God, for the first time in years my blood levels are all in the normal range! Even with aches of an infection spreading through my body, I still feel good because I received 6 units of iron-rich blood via transfusions.

Now I have color. I walked by a mirror and thought I had a sunburn; then realized I actually have a flesh tone, I’m not pasty pale white anymore.

Praise God, my heart is doing well. The heart troubles (erratic EKGs and bigeminy and trigemini) were a result of blood and electrolyte loss–not from the heart surgery last month. So now that the blood loss has been corrected (well, mostly) my heart is doing well.

Rejoice: This Week Has Been a Test

We give our children tests to find out what they have learned. God designs spiritual tests to help us find out about ourselves, to become closer to Him and develop spiritually.

Kathleen told you, “Robin has lost the will to live.” Well, I did. When you give an anemic, weak woman a whole bunch of hormone pills she will transform before your eyes from Jekyll to Hyde.

The third day in the hospital my blood levels bottomed out and the doctors gave me a ton of Progesterone. My thoughts were like spaghetti. I was in a deep, dark, nasty pit–sobbing for several hours. Once the meds were stopped I was fine. Hormones are powerful chemicals. This was a spiritual battle and all your prayers kept me in God’s protective arms.

Our bodies are amazing–temples entrusted to us by God; so complex, how can anyone doubt Our Creator?

We are all in the process of growing spiritually and sometimes it is a painful process. Once a seed is planted in fertile ground, it takes root and grows into a fruit-bearing plant. The plants that receive proper pruning will bear the most fruit.

There is always a lesson in tribulations. We just have to ask God to complete a good work in us through it.

I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. (Cor 12:10)

Rejoice: This Week Has Been a Reminder

This week has been a reminder we are in these temporary bodies for such a short time. Our days here on earth are a mist, a breath, a wisp of smoke (Ecc 4:7). God alone is “from everlasting to everlasting” Our life in these bodies is but a drop in the ocean.

Once we adjust our focus from the cares of this world to eternity with a loving God we become true positive thinkers. Not the pop-culture/talk show/Oprah’s bestselling self-help book positive thinkers, but people positive that God loves us and that He has a specific plan for each of us.

Beloved, the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. God has provided for our sinful ways and rescued us from a horrible sin-death. Rejoice!

I appreciate the short time I have here and the many blessings God has given me. But this week has been a reminder that I am accountable for this time I have in this body. We all need to consistently examine our time and be sure it being spent in God’s will.

LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am. (Psalms 39:4)

Rejoice: This Week Has Been A Physical and Spiritual Healing

You prayed for my family and God answered in many ways. A long overdue restoration and healing is in the works and I look forward to watching how God makes the transformation.

It is late and I need to rest. I can’t thank you enough for your prayers. What a wonderful age of communication we live in. We can share one another’s burdens and encourage one another thousands of miles apart.

Please keep praying as my family continues to fight spiritual and physical battles. Thank you!

Image Credit: The card on the top of this post and more Christian cards are greeting cards you can print from your desktop color printer from http://www.abigraphics.com

Related:

• Object Lesson: Heart Surgery
• Object Lesson: Blood Covenant
  

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Robin just now called to let me know she is home. She gave me the long version of her ordeal, but requested that I just give you the basics for now. She has had to run to her doctor for some tests and will post the details later.

She has received 6 units of blood and has about 32 “stick marks” from attempts by the hospital staff to take blood for tests and give blood when she got low. They sent her home Thursday night but she is very concerned that the doctors have not evaluated her situation correctly and thinks she may have to go back to the hospital soon.

Please, please pray that the doctors (there are several) will interpret her test results accurately and that she will get the exact treatment she needs to get her bleeding under control.

As any of you who has had to “run defense” for a loved one in the hospital already knows, details concerning the patient’s condition can get overlooked and mistakes made all too easily. Robin feels that the staff might possibly be missing something important and would appreciate your prayers for wisdom for all the medical staff involved with her case.

Thanks so much,

Kathleen

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Well, ladies, there is good news and bad news. First the good news: Robin is feeling much better now that they have changed her medication. She is back to her normal cheerful positive self :-). They had given her some hormones to get her bleeding under control which really did a number on her emotions. Now she is off that treatment and is feeling much, much better.

More good news: The doctors have determined that her heart is functioning properly so she does not need any more heart surgery.

Now for the bad news: She is still losing large amounts of blood and there isn’t an obvious reason. They have scheduled some GI tests to see if she is bleeding internally.

Once again, thank you for your prayers. God has heard and graciously answered.

In His love,

Kathleen

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Dear Ladies,

Thank you so very much for your prayers and concern. Robin was delighted when I spoke to her yesterday and was able to report that a small army of homeschool moms has undertaken to intercede on her behalf.

Please continue to pray for Robin. She is under attack spiritually and has lost her will to live. She was scheduled to have an angiogram this morning but it has been delayed because she is hemorrhaging again and has had to have more blood.

The meds and her weak physical state have left her weary of mind and unable to focus on trusting God. Please take time when you read this to lift our dear sister up to the Great Physician. Ask Him to calm her troubled spirit and renew her trust in His sovereign love and care. She needs our prayers now more than ever as the enemy tries to rob her of her peace.

In Christ,

Kathleen

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Robin just called from the Critical Care Unit at Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville to ask me to pray for her so I am passing the request on to you as well. She has lost a lot of blood and will probably need another transfusion. Please pray that the blood they give her will be clean and also pray that God will give wisdom to all the doctors treating her.

Ronnie drove her to the hospital in Shelbyville where they gave her an EKG. The EKG was “abnormal” so they took her by ambulance to Nashville. She is suffering from low blood pressure (about 80/30) as well as cardiac issues.

She sounded weak and weary. Dear sisters, please spend some time in prayer this afternoon for her healing. She has been through so much this past year and I know she would be very grateful to know her Heart of Wisdom friends are lifting her up to the throne of grace as she endures yet another setback.

Thank you so much.

Kathleen,
Robin’s friend in Virginia

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