On February 20th I awoke in intensive care at a local hospital, clueless as to why I was there. I was admitted on February 8th, but I have no memory of anything from the 7th through the 20th. Conversations with my husband and medical personnel, plus notes and cards from family and friends filled me in on an amazing story, as they shared how they had been praying for me. Later, after discharge, I obtained my medical records which told me what the doctors did not tell me. And when I returned to morning worship I learned about the enormous outpouring of prayer from many sources. Many people prayed for me and in many ways Jesus answered their prayers. This is not a story about my hospitalization as much as it is a story about Jesus answering prayer. I am convinced that I would not be here today if it were not for the prayers of the saints on my behalf. (Ephesians 6:18)
By the time I got to the emergency room (ER) on Friday the 8th I was cyanotic and in respiratory failure. I could have died ― but Jesus answers prayer.
In the ER I was in renal failure because of dehydration so the doctors poured fluids into my veins. They were able to bring my kidneys back to life without any residual damage ― because Jesus answers prayer.
In the ER my blood pressure was double what it should have been. Any number of blood vessels could have burst causing permanent brain damage from a stroke but it did not happen ― because Jesus answers prayer.
In the ER my heart was racing and once they brought it under control, they could see that my heart was not beating properly. I had a cardiac arrhythmia called atrial fibrillation which medication brought under control. A few days later I had fluid in my lungs and was in congestive heart failure. By the time I woke up all of the heart problems were taken care of, without any residual damage. Why? Because Jesus answers prayer.
My lung problems were due to asthma and pneumonia. I had to be intubated and placed on a respirator because I was not breathing on my own. Over time they were able to wean me off the respirator and they took the tube out two days before I woke up. With each successive month after discharge my lungs have been getting stronger and stronger. The only residual damage is a small amount of scar tissue on one lung. Why? You guessed it, because Jesus answers prayer.
For the first ten days at the top of the list of problems each physician listed in their progress notes was "change in mental status." I was combative and hallucinating in the ER and for ten days, despite three medications to sedate me, I was easily agitated and restless. At times I would call out for help and moan for hours. A CAT scan of my head showed just a sinus infection, but the EEG indicated a type of atraumatic brain injury called "severe toxic metabolic encephalopathy." Once I woke up the doctors said that I would have a neurological deficit but they were not clear what form this type of brain damage would take. Initially they thought I would have to go to inpatient rehabilitation to learn how to walk, but the hospital's physical therapy department had me walking and doing stairs before I was discharged. Again, Jesus answers prayer.
After they moved me out of ICU into a regular room I had a number of infections including septicemia and even a "fever of unknown origin" (FUO). While they were treating these I discovered some of the brain damage the doctors mentioned. Most of my problems dealt with cognitive functions such as reading, comprehending what was being said to me and my ability to communicate. I tried to write but couldn't put a sentence together. Over time many of these cognitive difficulties improved, but even today, there are holes in my long-term and short-term memory. I still have problems with concentration and focus. And I have difficulty connecting complex concepts. I have been a student of God’s Word for over 40 years and have lost much of it. In the days and weeks after discharge my recovery from the brain damage seemed stalled. Some days are better than others and I still have days in which my brain feels “fuzzy” making comprehension and communication difficult.
I was concerned that I would have to learn to live with these new mental limitations, so I had neuropsychiatric testing in mid-June. I was relieved to learn that I will probably have a full recovery within the usual 12-18 months my type of brain damage takes to heal. I have some games to play to improve my cognitive function, but when my brain goes fuzzy I have been warned not to push to try to get over it. My brain problems are minor compared to all that could have, but did not go wrong. Jesus continues to answer prayer.
Physically I came out of the hospital in better shape than I have been in years. Part of it is because they finally gave me enough thyroid and adrenal medications to make up for the years I have been deficient in these hormones. I know many people have been praying for a full recovery and physically Jesus decided to honor that prayer.
There was one prayer that did not receive an affirmative answer. For one to two years before I went into the hospital I was severely depressed and had been praying for the Lord to take me Home. At any number of times He had the opportunity to do just that while I was in the hospital, but He didn't. So I have to say that His answer to that prayer was probably "no" or more accurately, "not yet." Jesus continues to answer prayer.
How Should I Be Praying?
My experience as the recipient of prayer support has shown me the importance of prayer for people who are gravely ill. (James 5:15) For some I may only pray for God's will to be done. At other times I may be moved by the Holy Spirit to pray for either healing or to ease their journey Home. (Romans 8:26) It is important to earnestly seek God's face, looking for His will in each situation. Despite the appearance of impending death, I may be surprised when Jesus decides that healing is His will. I am learning to go by faith and not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7) No matter the answer, Jesus always answers prayer.
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