Seven Years Ago I Was Dying

Seven Years Ago I was Dying

Seven years ago, “I’m dying”, I said to Mark. He replied, “I know you are baby”. I was so skinny, my rib bones showed front and back, my hair was falling out in clumps, even a sip of water down wouldn’t stay down.

When we arrived at  University Hospital GI Clinic in NOLA, it took Mark & a very nice man passing by, to lift me from our car to the wheelchair. Fear was written all over Mark’s face, and something I’ll never forget. The amazing doctors had just received the results from my MRI. I had a total bowel blockage and an abscess that went from colon, around lower back and into right hip. That certainly explained the excruciating pain in my lower back I’d experienced for over 2 years!

Before Doctor D came back into the examination room he already ordered an ambulance to rush me to Tulane Medical Center. It was my first of many trips in an ambulance and thankfully the only terrifying one; sirens roaring, a doctor straddling the gurney while inserting IVs. The EMT was hanging on for dear life and yelling at the driver to go ‘faster, she’s fading’. It was an experience I’ll NEVER forget! Immediate surgery was not an option because I was to weak. For two weeks I was given extremely high dosages of TPN (IV nutrients such as glucose, salts, amino acids, lipids, added vitamins and dietary minerals) to help gain some strength. To complicate things, with the high levels of TPN, my sugar levels soared, requiring regular insulin injections. Everyone’s primary focus was improving my health so surgery could take place.

Today I Smile

Today I smile, because I have a good life. Everyday I deal with ongoing pain, loneliness, the financial stress, forgetfulness, horrible insomnia, my severely deformed left hand and the long-term dental issues resulting from the malnutrition. Often I struggle with feelings of guilt, being unworthy of more, anxiety and some depression.

This year, Mark and I have committed to focusing on us more. Since I’m very visual, we are currently working on a ‘This Is Us’ board that includes things we like to do, our prayers and dreams (will post photos when done).

Since we are empty-nesters (again), we’re converting what was ‘Luke’s room’ into a permanent guest room. We’re determined to give the room a facelift by repurposing and crafting on a $0.00 budget. It’s challenging but super satisfying too (will post photos when completed). Also we continuing working on TheOneHandedCrafter.com and ForPoopSake.com (full of information for Crohns & Ostomy patients, as well as, their family & friends). It’s slow going without a laptop, and I’m often overwhelmed by the lack of independence. That said, Mark is awesome! When he has time, he downloads embroidery patterns to a thumb drive and cuts out vinyl on silhouette machine so I have projects to do while he’s working. Also Mark designs the websites, adds photos, edits and posts blogs.

Meanwhile, it’s mind-boggling learning all we can about promoting traffic to sites, professional blogging, launching them successfully, boosting, Tailwinds etc.

What God has planned for us in the future, we aren’t sure but we pray daily that He uses us and our testimony to encourage others.