Missing in Action, but not Really

Life can be a real challenge at times. I ended up at the ER Saturday the 24th with a high fever. They thought it was one thing which is turned out not to be and sent me home with a prescription for antibiotics. Things went from bad to worse. I was so sick by Tuesday I could hardly walk and my husband called an ambulance. I was admitted back to the ER with a temperature of 102.6 and a mystery disease. Lab tests were normal. I mentioned I'd had a tick bite so they started testing for various tick borne diseases.

To make a long story short, after numerous lab tests, a consult with an infectious disease doctor in Pittsburgh, more lab tests, IV broad spectrum antibiotics, several retests for Lyme, etc. they identified the culprit, Ehrlichiosis. That enabled directed treatment and final hospital escape yesterday afternoon. It was definitely four challenging days.

Being in the hospital is definitely no fun, but is also definitely in God's plan. And God can use us wherever we happen to be. 

When I was thirty-nine I had cancer and had surgery at Providence Hospital in Northeast, D.C. I told the Lord I would be happy to be used while I was there. It didn't take long for him to say, "You got it!" I was having trouble sleeping one night and got up and walked to the lounge around 2:00 a.m. where a young woman was crying. I sat with her for several hours chatting and encouraging her before heading back to bed. The next day, the staff asked if they could move an elderly nun in with me. She wasn't doing well on her own. Of course I said yes. She was confused and had dementia. I remember how she kept hearing her bird, Pretty Bird, singing telling me he was in the corner. Sister and I talked. I washed off her dentures and just visited with her. When I was ready for release, the staff said they didn't know what they were going to do without me. I think they were ready to sign me up as an aide.

I didn't feel I could be much help this hospital stay since I was so sick, but the Lord answered my prayer again. The hospital chaplain came in to visit, a Baptist. I told him I'm Catholic but love my Baptist brothers and sisters. Then I explained that I could never be anything but Catholic because of John 6, "Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you." It turns out that his mom was Catholic and his dad was baptist. His mom, deceased, always practiced the faith. "Your mom is praying for you to come back to the faith," I said. He smiled and we had a very pleasant exchange. I thanked him for his kindness in visiting. He's now on my prayer list and will be forever I told him. I hope you'll pray for him too. 

Later on Larry and I had a conversation with another staff member who belongs to the local parish in Woodstock but isn't practicing. She said, "I know I should be," and we encouraged her to begin again. She's on my prayer list now as well. 

So really, was my illness an "accident" or God's purposeful outreach plan? 

A dear priest friend who's gone to his reward once told me, "If you want to be used by God, by God you'll be used!" I do and because of some indications of other issues, I may get more chances. So please pray for all these dear souls and for me too. The times are so confusing people really need extra help. If I can be that with a cheerful smile and an attitude of gratitude, then praised be Jesus Christ! 

And, by the way, I received excellent compassionate care at SMH. I love that little hospital!