Anointing

I want to try and make this post quick!  I've stayed out of the hospital for two weeks!  This is a huge praise...May is a new month, new health and new energy!  I have felt the best I've felt in 7 months and I'm so thankful.

Last night several elders and pastors gathered here in our home to anoint me with oil.  I had been approached several times about being anointed and really struggled with it.  Not because I don't agree with it, I've been anointed before, but because I wasn't sure I wanted my earthly life prolonged!  Honestly I had been feeling so bad that I was just ready to meet Jesus and be among the "land of the living" (& Tom!).  After praying, searching and hearing God clearly say "now is the time", we had it scheduled and what a sweet time it was.  Thank you to my church, pastors, elders, family and friends who were here...either in spirit of prayer or physically.
Kelly went with me today to another doctor appointment that I was really dreading.  We met with a thoracic oncology surgeon.  He actually told me he had me on his surgery schedule for tomorrow!  I am thankful to say that the prayers of many have kept the fluid from returning and because of my health progress he didn't feel surgery was necessary at this time.  He ordered another chest CT scan and will evaluate it next to the last one to see where the fluid is at and we'll go from there.  I can say my heart is relieved, my spirit rejoices and I'm just so thankful that the Lord has allowed me to continue to feel better!  I have no more appointments until next Wednesday (5/22) and I feel so free!

Me, Sarah, Zac & Matt

The other highlights of this past week is God allowed me to feel well enough to travel to Indiana to see Zac graduate from Grace Theological Seminary!  What a special accomplishment and I'm so proud of him and thankful I could be there to share in this momentous occasion.  Matt was my superhero companion and treated me like royalty!

Zac's parents: Rich & Elaine

Zac's brother, Matt, Amanda, Addison, Aubree & baby boy due soon!

 

Congratulations to my niece, Cassidy Joy Herbst on her college graduation from The Ohio State University with a degree in dietetics!



Cassidy & Brady

So thankful I could be at her celebration!

 

Congratulations to my other niece, Erin Elise Kline on her graduation from Kent State University with a degree in nursing! (Like mother, like daughter!)

Cheryl, Erin & Mike

 

Thank You...Ashley Severence, Mary Peterman & Susan Knapper!

Thank You...Marti Grant!

 

Continued THANKS to all who continue to bless us with meals:

Nancy Green

Ginny Englehart

Jill Coon

Jeannette Sweatnam

Janice Whitmire

Stephanie LaMonte

 

We are blessed!

 

"God has ascended with a shout,
The Lord, with the sound of a trumpet.
Sing praises to God, sing praises;
Sing praises to our King, sing praises.
For God is the King of all the earth;
Sing praises with a skillful psalm.
God reigns over the nations,
God sits on His holy throne."

Psalms 47:5-8

Life is a Gift

If you don’t take it all as gift, you end up taking it all for granted —

which amounts to not taking anything good from life at all.

A head can think otherwise but somehow a heart can feel wiser.

You can cut umbilical cords but you can’t cut heart strings.

The best way to prepare for what’s ahead is to be present to what is now.

Be present to the gift of now.

-Ann Voskamp, A Holy Experience

I'm not sure where to begin...I spent 22 out of 30 days of April in the hospital!  I'm still in shock at what all has happened and my mind spins at the thought of it all.  Believe me when I say I've had my share of "wrestling matches" with God.  I've gone from, "Lord, take me now" to "Lord, Your will be done" to "Lord, why me?" to "Lord, what have I to learn yet?".  I've come to the point where I'm flat on my back (hands tied behind my back!) and completely helpless.  I've come to realize in all I've been through I still have so much to be thankful for:  eyes that see, wobbly legs still get me where I need (sometimes not fast enough), hands to praise and use, ears to hear His still small voice and the wise counsel of others.  Not one night did I have to spend alone, between Cheryl, Kelly, Sarah, Carylee & Ginny they kept the couch warm and my heart at ease knowing they were there...I am blessed. 

Someone once defined worry as:

"a small trickle of fear that meanders through the mind, cutting a channel into which all other thoughts flow."

Knowing these women were a whisper away at night helped me keep that "cutting" to a minimum.

Not only did I have family and friends to push me through the difficult days but also my "J-team" who all three sister's-in-the-Lord, work at OSU Medical Center, continually brought encouragement and straight talk when I needed it most:  Janice Akers, Janice Whitmire & Julie Mitchell.

Janice A. makes things happen, batting for me at every turn and then encouraging me with:

 

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you.”— Isaiah 41:10

Whenever I think of God’s faithfulness in the midst of suffering, I am reminded of my dear late friend Corrie ten Boom, the remarkable Dutch woman who, with her family, hid Jews from the Nazis. After being imprisoned in the infamous concentration camp Ravensbruk, Corrie traveled the world telling her story of suffering, forgiveness, and joy.

For thirty-five years she never had a permanent home, but when she was eighty-five and in declining health, some friends provided her with a lovely house in California. It was a luxury she never dreamed she would have (and one she never would have pursued on her own).

One day her friend, the late movie director James Collier, was visiting. He said, “Corrie, hasn’t God been good to give you this beautiful house?”

She replied firmly, “Jimmy, God was good when I was in Ravensbruk too!”

Most of us will never experience the horrors Corrie knew. But no matter what we face, we can depend on God’s promise: “Fear not, for I am with you.”

Janice W. made it clear to me that "the wheel" I'm on consists of 5 spokes: Tom, Lisa, Matt, Sarah & Zac.  We roll smoothly because Jesus is the Center of our wheel.  I understood that while Tom was sick he deserved the kindnesses of others because his life was such a reflection of Christ...me, not so much (very poor self-esteem at this point in my hospital stay).  Only as sweet as Janice can say:  Lisa, it's not about YOU!  My lack of health had brought me to a focus all on me.
From "The Red Sea Rules" by Robert J. Morgan:

First, He brought me here , by His will that I am in this strait place: in that fact I will rest.

Next, He will keep me here in His love, and give me grace to behave as a child.

Then, He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me the lessons He intends me to learn, and working in me the grace He means to bestow.

Last, in His good time He can bring me out again - how and when He knows.

Julie (my therapist!) made it so simple for me, from one line in a Christmas Carol, "O Holy Night":

"Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth."

Julie shot straight with me that this world in sin and error doesn't feel Christ's worth in their lives.  That was me.  I know who I am in Christ...I just needed that nudging reminder of allowing God's Spirit to infuse me with HIS worth!  This is all so much easier on the side of feeling better and being at home!  Without these precious women in my life I'm sure I'd still be wallowing in the stench of myself.

All the events of April are blurry to me...from complete heart block, a pacemaker, a lead revision, a cardio version, port removal and fluid on my lungs is quite a bit to go through for God to get my attention!  I'm praying that the fluid that remains with eventually reabsorb into my body, no more fluid will reappear and that through this busy month of May I will be able to share God's grace in all my doctor appointments and make the important events on my calendar a reality.

Thank you for your continued prayers on my behalf.  The doctors tell me that time and rest are my best friends.

Thank You Kent & Sally Johnson!

Thank You Di Coughlin!

Fresh Cut Spring Flowers from Julie Mitchell's backyard...Thank you, Julie!

Beachy, Peachy Roses...Thank You, Rick & Tammy Nuzum!

Thank You Sweet Friends!

So thankful for nice weather to get outside with Matt & Sarah...

tears came when they rolled me back in!

Cheryl & Lauren took me out on another beautiful day...

Congratulations to Tim & Lauren on their announcement

of their first child due around Tom's birthday!

I cried this day too as they wheeled me back to my "cell"!

Thank You Cindy Dunn for my special birdie!

Thank You Anonymous Friend!

Thank You Chris Grant for the seeds for my garden!

Thank You Linda Heimann!

 

My Goal:

Being more concerned for God's glory than my relief!

 

Last night I had the awesome privilege to go to my nephew, Zac's, tennis match.  What a gorgeous day for tennis.  As I sat there I thought...so this is what a normal life is like!

Aunt Lisa & Zac

After the match, Terry, Kelly, Zac & I enjoyed a wonderful meal together at Ruby Tuesdays!

Heart Ache

 

Well...I'm feeling like I've spent more time in the hospital lately than at home!  Not fun...
I had my mom take me to the ER on Tuesday morning with chest pain.  Now with being in complete heart block last week and needing a pacemaker, I wasn't going to take any chances!  As we waited for the results from many tests, the pain escalated to a breaking point just to find out that everything looked fine!  What? Are you telling me this pain isn't real?  Thanks to the Lord's intervention He had my cardiologist call me on my cell phone while in the ER just to see how I was doing and I mentioned I was in the ER and they couldn't find anything wrong with me.  He had me explain my symptoms/pain and he said, "sounds to me like you have pericarditis!"  Pericarditis is often found in people who have had recent heart surgery, chemotherapy, radiation to chest, stress and viruses.  I can check yes to most of these causes!  I am so sorry my mom had to see me in such discomfort, but thankful she was here to be with me.  I am thankful for Julie Mitchell, RN who came in and "took charge" when I was in great need.  Tuesday night and Wednesday I don't much remember thanks to medicine!  I was finally released from the hospital on Thursday evening.  Through all of this I just want to say my heart so yearns for Tom...this is why it (my heart) is struggling.  Wednesday was Tom's six month eternal home anniversary.  I don't remember much of Wednesday...my longing to "go home" increases with each ache my body experiences.

I'm so thankful that God brought Janice into my life.  She was at church with me last Sunday and is planning to be there again tomorrow!  She gave me a small devotional book...as I read today's writing I was hit with a ton of bricks:  "Hope in Suffering" was the title and while I was in the hospital a verse kept coming to my head:

"But I have this against you, that you have left your first love."

Revelation 2:4

Because of all I have been through I have used excuses not to be in the Word like I used to when "life was normal".  God keeps reminding me that He is my first love and not Tom.  This is so hard for me because Tom was so Christ-like and Tom had flesh!  I can't describe the pain...and this pain effects my heart.  The devotion ended with:

"I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich)...do not fear what you are about to suffer...Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life."

Revelation 2:9-10

Thank You, Janice!

I can't begin to express my thankfulness for my faithful family and friends who continue to support me through each trial.  Tuesday night mom slept in a recliner by my bedside at the hospital (with an over zealous air-conditioning unit) she is still trying to get over a sore throat, cold & cough.  On Wednesday I was moved to another room (I really don't remember any of this!) where my sister slept (or tried to sleep) on a recliner while another patient was admitted to my room and was up most of the night!  These women get the "woman of the year award"!  Also, Carylee and Ginny provided their own form of comfort, care and visited...even though I barely remember their presence...God knows their tender hearts!  Carylee brought beautiful daffodils from her yard:

Thank You, Carylee!

Prior to all this heart "drama" I was able to enjoy a Chick-fil-A lunch with Kelly, Brittany and Declan!

"Mr. Blue Eyes"...Declan John

On Good Friday we were able to have Zac's parents down for dinner and then join us for our Good Friday service.  Sarah made a delicious dinner and the service was heart touching.  Elaine always comes bearing gifts:

Thank You, Elaine!



Easter Sunday...He is Risen!

Matt, Lisa, Sarah & Zac

A delicious carrot cake from Betsy Berlin!

Easter peeps from Ginny!

A "pick me up gift" from Mary Gum Dilworth!

Thank You, Stomps Family!

Thank You, Anonymous Friend!

Thank You, Tracie Romanelli, Lisa Raikes & Lori Snedecor!

Thank You, Gayla Coldren!

I am SO excited for my niece Leah who had been in Madagascar for 4 months visiting her brother, Ben and his family, who serve as missionaries there.  What an incredible experience for her to have, BUT what an amazing SURPRISE on her return trip home on April 3rd...a young man by the name of Pete Cavanaugh surprised her in Paris to ask her hand in marriage!!!  Another Anglea wedding later this summer!  It doesn't get any more romantic than that!

Congratulations to Pete & Leah!

God Moments...Pacing through Life

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

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

There's Power in the Blood

Blood isn't a common topic in social circles.  I've thought about it a lot lately, especially Sunday night at communion and as we anticipate the most sacred of holy-days...Easter.  Last Thursday at my doctor's appointment, feeling rather down and worn, it was revealed that my hemoglobin had dropped to a point where I needed a blood transfusion.  Sarah and I spent the day on Friday at the infusion lab.  As the blood of an unknown donor dripped into my body I had plenty of time to contemplate this situation.

-we can't live without blood
-there are 4 "groups" of blood but many different "types"
-typing and crossing blood takes time
-it takes 2 hours to transfuse 1 unit of blood, I received 2 units
-I have no idea who donated, but boy am I thankful they did
Can I ask you a blunt question?  If you were going to die...would you accept blood from your worst enemy in order to save your life?
As I think of Christ's death and the blood he shed...it was for EVERYONE!  Even His worst of enemies...Jesus shed His blood as the PERFECT sacrifice for our worst of sins!  It is absolutely amazing that the very life giving substance that ran through Jesus' veins is what paid the price of our guilt!  Without His blood there would be no forgiveness of sin.

"If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work,

conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth;

knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold

from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers,

but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world,

but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God,

who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God."

I Peter 1:17-21

 

Do you have faith and hope in the ONE Who gave His lifeblood for you?

I pray that this Easter brings you a new and refreshed sense of why Jesus gave His blood for you...to give you life...abundant and eternal life!
Tuesday brought more doctor appointments and I am so thankful that my sister-in-love, Cheryl, was able to take me.  I was able to have my last drain removed!  Woo Hoo...I'm free at last...from drains and the restriction of driving!  I'm giving praise!  My next doctor appointment is on April 11th with the radiologist.  Please join with me in praying for clarity and wisdom as to whether I should pursue radiation treatment.

Giving Thanks:

Thank You Elaine Hess

Thank You Geetha Rivera

Thank You Suzanne Homoelle

Thank You Dave, Alicia, Tucker, Sam, Paisley & Elsie!

Thank You O'Roark Family

The O'Roark Family...You're TOO much!!

Thank You Jennifer Deskins...you make me laugh!

This is Tom's "prized" Swiss Army Knife...

He lost this knife prior to his diagnosis and he was very upset because he had looked everywhere!  When Tom was no longer able to drive we sold his 1992 Bonneville to Jacob Deskins.  While Jacob was on his Senior Trip to the Dominican Republic last week, his mom cleaned his car and found Tom's knife!  Thanks Jen

Thank You Jeannette Swetnam

It really is Spring...just hard to see it with snow on the ground!

Brady (Benjamin), Haydon (Joseph) & Noah (Napthali)

I am so thankful I was feeling well enough to go see my cousin's sons in their high school musical, "Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat".

Not only was I amazed at the talent (especially of the 3 pictured above) but for the fact that a public high school was willing to share one of the Bible's most profound lessons about family, tragedy, and the healing power of forgiveness!

After the show we were hosted at my Aunt "J" & Uncle Jim's home for a delicious lasagna dinner.

Thank You...Greenwich, Ohio family!

Thank You both Cathy Smith & Merino Family

Thank You Carylee

Thank You Stephanie LaMonte

Thank You for the awesome meals:

-Suzanne Homoelle - Meatloaf

-Terri Parrish - Mexican Chicken

-Jeannette Swetnam - Creamed Chicken & Biscuits

-Ulrike Brennan - Chicken Paprikash

 

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,

who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able

to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort

with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

II Corinthians 1:3-4