Nine years ago I started getting sick and my doctor diagnosed me with the flu. By December I was in a coma and my body was dying; the prognosis was dim, very dim. I was so sick that family and friends prepared each other for the worst and prayed for the best. Through prayers, God’s mercy and the knowledge He has allowed man to develop and share, my health improved after several months. My family prayed for me, sang hymns to God asking that I be healed, rubbed me down with creams and lotions, talked and pleaded with me, laughed with me, watched me cry, encouraged me and on and on until they felt they could let me go. Friends were finally able to visit with me and told me how much I was missed. I appreciate all everyone did and thank them very, very much.
Because of God’s miracle and my determined husband (when I’m upset, I call it hard-headed), I went through that paper of letters and images that helped me communicate, learned to breathe again, months with a trake, lots of pain, occupational and physical therapy month after month and year after year, in facility after facility, until today; I can be active a quarter of a day. Yes, four or five hours a day! Over the years, I have come from being unable to hear, unable to talk, unable to move anything except my eyes on to functioning with all my body except standing and walking.
What would I have missed? I saw my husband take charge of a medical staff with far more knowledge than he possessed and felt his gentleness with me while demanding the best from my caretakers. He stood by me through the enter ordeal and is still by my side supporting me. One of only a few human beings who I can count on, no matter what. Since that time I’ve called him Rock. Not The Rock because God is faithful but Kenneth has been a more dependable husband than I have ever seen and I love him so. Although the twins were married before I became sick, all our grandchildren were born after my coma. I met some fantastic medical professionals, who are also beautiful people and we have become friends. We went back to the church of Christ and joined Hilldale here in Clarksville and it has been SUCH a blessing to be in a wonderful congregation of God’s children who strive to sin less. I have been able to see my parents in retirement together; growing closer in love and contentment. I watched my dear sister-in-law, Alice, die with dignity and full of love and longing for her Savior. I read The New Testament many times (God drawing me closer), my daughter-in-law’s first book ‘Cryptid Girl’, and one of my favorite books A Muscle and a Shovel. I travelled to several states by car, visiting many places, including Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Monument. One trivial item, NFL Sunday Ticket with Andrew Siciliano on The Red Zone. 😉
I should also remember and say thank you to America for living up to their promise, so far, to ensure I have medical care. Yes, I am a veteran (attached photo of, left to right, my brother, me, and my sister-in-law) who signed on the dotted line four to five times, offering to make the ultimate sacrifice (if necessary) in service to my country. I served in the military for 22 years and had an enviable career. Six years later, I became ill and the country has taken care of my medical needs, as promised. It was also a blessing that my husband worked for a company that offered great medical insurance. With an initial bill of over $800K, after just a few months, we needed all the help we could get.
Now I am thankful for family and friends, thankful to still be here on Earth, thankful for my life, thankful for the time I spent serving my country, etc etc. Now I want to use the hours I am able to function to serve God and others. I pray that when I am on my death bed and going to join my Lord, He will take me on and say “well done”.
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