Psalm 73:26
I am writing on behalf of my sister-in-love, Lisa, to tell you
about her recent admission to OSU’s Ross Heart Hospital.
On behalf of the family, I would first like to thank
Lisa’s friend, Carylee Meyers, who listened to that little voice inside her that
said “something’s not right” on Tuesday evening. Through what appeared to be vague comments
Lisa made to her through several texts, Carylee was moved to further
investigate the situation by showing up at Lisa’s front door. After a confirming phone call to nurse Lesley,
Lisa was taken by Carylee to the ER.
God moment: A
concerned friend was prompted to take action.
For those of you who don’t know, Lisa had been
complaining of overall fatigue and feeling like her heart was “beating out of
her chest” for some time now. Several of
her doctors had been trying to correct these symptoms by what they saw. First treating dehydration with IV liters of
fluid, then treating a clot found in one of the chambers of her heart with
injectable blood thinners, then treating low blood counts with units of
blood. But Lisa’s symptoms persisted. Feeling frustrated and discouraged, Lisa began
to believe it was perhaps because she was just “out of shape”.
An EKG performed in the ER revealed that Lisa was in
complete heart block, a very serious condition. Let me explain as best I can
with easy terminology and for those of you who like details!
The heart has an “electrical system” of operation. Impulses that generate in the upper right chamber of the heart (the atrium) travel to a point called the AV node that then sends the signal to both lower chambers of the heart (the ventricles) in order for all heart chambers to pump in sync. In complete heart block this pathway of impulses is broken at the AV node site. Therefore the upper chamber of the heart sends signals to which the lower chambers of the heart do not respond to. Lisa was told that her upper chamber heart rate was 120 while the lower chamber (acting on random cells trying to compensate from the broken pathway) was at 40. Needless to say this was causing all sorts of symptoms! If not corrected, her heart would have eventually stopped.
God moment: Lisa
was at the right place at the right time.
Many doctors, fellows, residents and medical students
tried to figure out why this “pathway” was broken. There was discussion that perhaps the
previous radiation to her chest when she had lymphoma (Hodgkin's Disease 1989 & 1994) had caused this
progressive heart block. Since a reversible cause was not discovered, Lisa was
told that she would need a permanent pacemaker.
“But you, O
Sovereign Lord, deal well with me for your names sake; out of the goodness of
your love, deliver me. For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within
me”
Psalm 109: 21-22
"In my distress I
called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my
voice; my cry came before him, into his ears."
Psalm 18:6
The last cardiac physician to see Lisa was the
Electrophysiologist….or EP for short. This
physician specializes in the “electrical” system of the heart and performs
pacemaker surgery. He came into the room with a nurse (Janice) trailing him,
who proceeded to begin writing on her tablet as he spoke to those in the
room.
Within minutes Janice and I made eye contact and I
immediately thought to myself “I know her from somewhere” just as she said to
me “I know you from somewhere!” After
the EP visit and confirmation of a pacemaker need, Janice and I talked in the
hallway and realized where we knew each other from. Janice was also employed at the TLC Laser Eye
Center in Columbus, where I would occasionally come down to work for other
nurses that were on vacation. We had worked together on two occasions. Then it
dawned on me. I remembered how Janice
told me she also worked for the biggest EP group at OSU and was their “right
hand girl”! How could I have forgotten
this piece of valuable information?! Nurse to nurse connections for the best of
the best!
God moment: God remembered.
I believe God sent Janice in to Lisa’s room to assist her
in getting not only the best EP doctor to place the pacemaker, but the best
doctor to perform the heart catheterization being requested prior to the
pacemaker insertion. She went to work making phone calls to these key physicians
and quickly getting Lisa on their schedules.
I told Janice that she was part of a divine
appointment. She started to cry. She told us how rare it was for her to follow
the EP doctor into a patient’s room when he did the consultation appointment,
choosing instead to do charting or computer work. But for “some reason” she was moved to go
into the room. She shared how she
recently felt God calling her back to church and fellowship, but had not
acted on those prompts. Through
conversations and an exchange of phone numbers, Janice plans to attend Grace Polaris
Church this Sunday, and hopes to sit next to Lisa.
God moment: God calls.
Lisa left OSU Ross Heart Hospital Thursday evening,
commenting how amazed she was that all of her symptoms were finally gone, well most of them! Thanks to all who prayed fervently! God moved
in many ways over those 48 hours! The EP doctor told us that Lisa’s heart tried
to stop on several occasions during the pacemaker procedure, and I am convinced
that God responded to those cries for help.
Please continue to lift Lisa up in prayer for healing and
strength as she recovers. Many decisions
are yet to be made regarding the future treatment of her breast cancer post
mastectomy. We are trusting God to give
Lisa clarity and direction.
Special thanks to Sarah, Zac, Kelly, Mike and Barbara (mom) for their
servant availability at this time…..and to all who continue to lavish on Lisa
with meals, gifts and words of encouragement.
Praising God with you for His presence and mercy,
Cheryl
3 comments:
Amazing God moments. Thank you so much for sharing, Cheryl. It is so obvious that God continues to watch over Lisa and have a very special, specific plan for her. Praying much.
Love,
Cathy
Cheryl, thank you for sharing with us. How amazing to be able to see how God prompts, moves and arranges people and circumstances to work for good in the lives of His people. He has Lisa under His wings. Will continue to pray fervently for Lisa and all who love her.
I had a wonderful time at church with my friend and Angel on Sunday. The Devine appt with the holy spirit keeps on reminding me of the work that i need to be doing as a follower of Christ. j
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