Consider it Pure Joy (Robin’s Illness)
Due to recent family heath issues, I feel obligated to share some news with you. It was my desire to postpone this announcement until after further tests, however, I need prayer. The Bible says, “Share one another’s burdens.” It does not say to wait until you have all the facts and decisions made. So I am spilling out my family burdens here and requesting prayer.
The Bible also says “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials..” This news may appear discouraging but God is doing a mighty work that we cannot see (for now).
I h ave been diagnosed with a cardiac/lung condition called Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH or PH). It is chronic and incurable with an unpredictable survival rate. The cardiologist ordered several more tests.
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UPDATE July 6, Open Heart Surgery: Robin’s problems rapidly progressed and lead to more tests and hospitalization the first week of July. She had open heart surgery (coronary bypass graft) on July 6. She is now home recovering. She does not have Pulmonary Hypertension! It was a misdiagnoses. The real problem was a major blockage in her left coronary artery. She is expected to fully recover.
UPDATE July 21, Back in the Hospital: Complications developed and Robin was hospitalized again on July 21 and treated for fluid in her lungs, fluid in the heart lining and erratic heart problems. Read details here.
UPDATE July 24, Home Again: Complete bed rest ordered for 2-3 week. Read details here. Full recovery expected.
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I know God has a plan in this and I’m excited to see where this all leads. The Bible studies I have been in the last few months have been amazingly perfect for this type situation. It’s been as if God has been building my trust in Him for several months in order to trust Him in this weakness. I feel perfect peace. I feel blessed to have news that forces me to put priorities in order.
The most significant impact for me is my energy level, or lack of energy. We have to make several adjustments in our family and business schedules. Some days I can cook dinner, some days I can’t. Most days I try to cook sitting down. Walking across a room is exhausting. I clean my home and teach when I have a few minutes of energy. I’m unable to care for my horses. I can sit at a computer and write but not nearly as much as I have in the past. On a good day, I only take one nap. I can only compare it to the exhaustion you feel in early anemic pregnancy (with more shortness of breath) where you constantly crave sleep.
What About Heart of Wisdom?
God has provided! Heart of Wisdom has been in transition for many months Over the last year Ronnie (my husband) Peggy (my right hand person) and others have been diligently planning and working on ways for HOW to run without me (or at least a lot less of me). Praise God HOW is now at the point where administration is taken care of, orders are filled, etc. without much time from me.
Heart of Wisdom is (and I hope always will be) directly in God’s hands. You should not see any major changes, things will continue to run as they are now. I will continue to contribute to fulfill obligations , write the blog and answer emails. The new homeschool blogs, the new site, and the coming lesson bank are my ways to prepare homeschoolers to work together with less time from me.
I’m working on a new blog directed at teaching lesson planning (to teach you to fish, instead of giving you a fish). The lesson bank vision will help everyone who willing to contribute (with alternatives to those who cannot contribute). Watch my blog (or subscribe) for more on the lesson bank in the coming months.
This diagnosis viewed in perspective with my husband Ronnie’s second heart attack two months ago has forced us to put ourselves first in order to care for others. We both continue to receive on-going out-patient treatment to help manage our day-to-day activities. We too are continuing further tests to facilitate our medical diagnosis and prognosis. In short, we are both medically “booked” for next month. Please pray for wisdom and correct medical treatment for both of us. Pray for our for health and for the wisdom for the many, many decisions we need to make. Pray only God’s will be done.
I am spending a lot of time in prayer and Bible study requesting direction. I will continue work on my priorities in order: my spiritual walk, my husband, my children, my grandchildren, our family’s health and nutrition, and encouraging homeschoolers.
Rejoice with me, watch to see the work God is doing. I’ll post updates on this blog under Robin’s Health. Thank you for your prayers.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
-James 1:2-5
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praying for you and your family!!
laura
Dearest Robin,
You are in my family’s prayers. May God strengthen you and carry you through this difficult time. May He also grant you joy–In the book, Lies Women Believe, Nancy Leigh DeMoss writes, “True joy is NOT the abscence of pain, but the sanctifying, sustaining Presence of the Lord Jesus in the midst of pain.”
May His Prescence be yours.
Love Deanne
Dear Robin,
I am going away for a week and am currently on a stop off on the road but needed to send you my love, thoughts, hugs and prayers.
What a great and might God we serve. You are a shining testimony of His love!
Robin,
I am in fervent prayer for you and Ronnie. God will bring you through. Don’t worry about anything. Just lay back and listen for God to speak. Continue to develop your relatinship with Him. That is what is important right now.
Heart of Wisdom is God’s Word. We know it won’t return void. God will bless it and continue to multiply the blessings.
Thank you for keeping us updated.
Much love and hugs to you and your family!
Our Father is a mighty Father! In His Will nothing happens that was not written at the biggining of this beautiful story!
I am praying for you and your family. HE has used you in such a wonderful way and we all appreciate the sacrifices you have made of your time and energy to bring us closer to HIM in our homeschooling.
You are a blessing! Thank You!
His~
Audrey
Dear Robin,
I am new to HOW, but you have been a tremendous blessing to my family through your writings, unit studies, website, etc. I hope to, in return, be a blessing to you and your family by praying daily and diligently for you, your family, and your ministry.
Love & Blessings,
Martha
One more thing…Hawthorn, used for heart conditions of all types; look into it.
His~
Audrey
Robin, I am sorry to hear of your health problems. I will be praying daily for you and your family. God is good and will sustain you. I am glad to hear you are in complete peace. Praise God for all His blessings.
I live with chronic illness part of which is fatigue so can pray with much understanding. I really like your list of priorities. God bless you dear sister.
In His love, Sharon Sue
Robin, I am thankful to you for sharing of your illness that we may join in and pray for you and your family. I am new to this website and HOW. The Lord has used you and the wisdom He has given you tremendously in my life and homeschooling. I will be praying for you. ~blessings Michelle
Robin,
You are in my prayers this day. You have made such an impact on my family and on the homeschooling world. You will be blessed! I have been ‘with you’ since the first ‘hint’ of HOW was found on the internet many years ago. I have seen you grow in wisdom and perserverance in spite of, and, many times, because of your circumstances. Continue to stand strong, the Lord is with you!
Blessings to you and your family,
Lori
Dear Robyn,
I’ll be praying for your health and for your current situation. The Lord is faithful and has a plan for everything.
God bless you- your writings have been an inspiration and a great blessing to my life.
In Christ,
Eren
God’s sweetest blessings be upon you as you go through this time. We are new to HOW, but already amazed at how our precious Lord has used you to teach others about Himself, and now you’ve chosen to allow us to pray for you during your sickness and weakness.
Our love and prayers,
Natalie
May God continue to bring you peace and rest as you take on your daily walk. I’ll be praying.. I’m reading HOWTA right now, perfect reminder to pray for you every time I pick it up.
I just want to say thank you for being courageous and letting God’s strength shine through your weakness. What a wonderful testimony to God’s greatness you are to me.
I have shared with you that 2 of my 3 children now are dealing with Crohn’s disease. You asked me to keep you posted on how they are doing. They are both doing quite well and I think this chiropractor really is doing lots of people some good. I gave out his name once and just want to do so again (Dr. J. Dobson). He went through some serious health issues that were deemed hopeless by medical doctors and even other chiropractors. But he discovered help for himself and after learning how to implement the technique, is now using this to help his patients. It may just be worth a try. I love you so much without knowing you personally so forgive me if I’m being presumptuous in giving out this phone number. It’s 605-854-9141. Lisa
Robin, thank you for stopping by my blog. I am praying for you - thank you for sharing so we can lift you up in prayer! Our God is Almighty and I pray for your strength to be renewed daily. Please take care and keep us updated.
~Jenn
The Lord will bring you through it. In face of challenge you still manage to praise His name, that is wonderful! You and your family are in my prayers, please do not worry, our Father never abandons us. Be strong.
Hi Robin, God Bless you for visiting my journal. I pray you come again. I have enjoyed my visit here and meeting you. I will pray for you the you continue to glorify God even with the thorn in your flesh just as Paul did. I look forward to getting to know you better and will return. ~hugs~
Bless your precious heart, you will be lifted up in my prayers.
I am so sorry to read about your diagnosis. My prayers are with you. Be strong in knowing that God is with you and that we are out here praying for you and your family. Blessing to you.
Robin,
Thank you for stopping by my blog. I don’t know if you had time when you were there, but I have a “Homeschooling in the Midst of Illness” category where I share a bit of my journey with chronic illness. But most importantly I shared some resources that strengthened and encourged me spiritually and emotionally during that time. If you would like I can send you the list (if easier than going online) My email deanne@deannecrawford.com
You and your family remain in my prayers.
Love,
Deanne
Go to Blessedherbs.com and herbsetc.com to find out and pray about how God can heal you from what the world says is incurable.
Dear Robin,
I am new to your blog and just love your blog and you my new sweet blogging friend. I will be praying for you and Ronnie. You are an inspiration and a wonderful person. My prayers are with you. May the Lord bless you this week and always.
In his endless love,
Angel ( Angel Mama )
Robin, (((hugs))) I am sorry to hear of the health condition you have, and yet I am so glad to hear how you are looking to how the Lord is going to work in this; that is awesome! And, I rejoice w/ you in how the Lord has the most perfect plans! Thanks also for stopping by my blog.
Praying for you Robin!
Thank you for sharing the personal as well as the business aspects. I have been praying for your guidance in this since your last “meeting”.
I have made up unit studies, and I know it can be a daunting task, but one I think more of us could do ourselves with some encouragement!!
Thank you so much for your following the Lord’s leading and staying prayerful before Him.
blessings!!!
Love, J
[...] go to Robin’s Heart of Wisdom blog and read about her diagnosis of a cardiac/lung condition called Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH). It is chronic and incurable with an unpredictable survival rate. Let her know she is in your [...]
Robin, I was heavy hearted after learning of your diagnosis. Then I remembered, Is anything to difficult for the Lord? We know the answer is absolutely not! By His stripes, you are healed. I am praising and thanking God for complete healing from this condition.
EXODUS 15:26 “… I am the Lord who heals you.”
MALACHI 3:6 “For I am the Lord, I do not change ….”
I wanted to write you a few weeks ago when I saw your entry about your sweet precious Grandmother. I lost my father this past Feb. and now know what it’s like to bring a 2 week old into hospice to visit a dying parent.
I was not nearly as close to my Dad as you were to your Grandmother though. But praise God they are both seated in heavenly places right now.
Will keep you in prayers sweet friend.
I am so thankful for Heart of Wisdom. It is my plan to eventually get up to speed with it. You revolutionized my way of thinking about homeschooling. What a precious gift you are to so many.
May He keep you in His perfect peace because your mind is stayed on Him.
Thank you Jesus for your loving touch and for healing Robin! We thank you for Your Word that Heals Robin’s cardiac/ lung condition. In Your Holy Name we pray Amen.
In Jesus’ love,
Allison
Keeping you in prayers…bless you.
Traci
[...] Consider it Pure Joy (Robin’s Illness) [...]
[...] Consider it Pure Joy [...]
Dear Robin,
Praying for you and your husband and Heart of Wisdom and staff.
Rest and let God renew, refresh, rejuvenate your heart, your body, your soul, your mind, and fill you with HIS presence and HIS Peace.
He will meet your needs as He is faithful.
Blessings, Jillian in TN
Volunteer for Rest Ministries and Above Rubies