M.E.T. Results
Test results...prayer results...faith results
In my last M.E.T.(miracles, experiences, and testimonies) post I shared a journal entry from a time in 2008 when I suddenly found myself in the hospital in isolation. You can read it here. This post is the continuation of that story….
On day six of my hospital stay, they performed a lung biopsy. During the procedure they cut out pieces of 6 different masses that were found in my lungs and sent them off for biopsy. The initial results came back indicating that it still appeared I had something called Mycobacterium intracellulare, or MAI. Though the bacteria itself is common, it can cause a rare lung infection like the one they thought I had. The treatment for it runs about 18 months and is a drug cocktail with several adverse side effects.
We waited a week for the more detailed pathology report to come back as they needed to allow the sample to grow. I still remember very vividly the day the pulmonologist called.
I had asked a few friends to come to my house and pray with, and over me. The doctor called during our gathering and said that though he still thought I had MAI, when looking at the biopsy under the microscope, the cells appeared to be healing themselves! He was surprised because this infection does not normally work like that.
Six weeks later they performed another set of CT scans and the lung spots were completely gone with no lasting damage. I still have pictures of the masses that they took during the biopsy and gave to me.
I remember how scary it felt for us and how lonely the hospital feels. I remember the terrified look in my girls’ eyes when they walked in to see me while having to wear face masks, gloves, hair covering and hospital gown because I was in isolation. I remember how desperately I wanted to touch them and feel their warm skin.
I remember what a blessing it was to have friends step in and do fun activities with my girls when I could not. I remember a special friend bringing flameless candles and food up to the hospital so William and I could celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary together, despite us being stuck up there!
I remember people bringing Christmas decorations and music up to my room to make it festive, as it was during the holiday season. There was even someone who brought up small gifts for me to give the girls to help them with the anxiety that hospitals seem to universally bring about.
I remember the lessons that I learned.
First and foremost, even when I am isolated from everyone else, God is there. Not only is He there, but He cares that I felt sad, worried, scared, etc. and He has prepared me to be where I am at.
I learned how important it is to listen to the gentle voice that tells you to reach out to people, and how much of an impact a small act of kindness can make.
I learned that life could change directions in a second and we absolutely canNOT take a single moment for granted.
And I learned that God hears us....ALWAYS!
My experience here had the ending that we hoped for. But… if it had ended differently, God is still good. I’ve learned that in the years since, as I have had other experiences where the ending was absolutely not what I wanted.
That is when it comes down to trusting that the road is taking me where I need to go, like I talked about in this earlier post.
And I do.
Regardless of the tourist traps, beautiful scenery, or inclement weather along the way…I trust Him.
Why?
Because I know Him.
And He wants YOU to know Him too.
How can we truly love the one we do not know?
My prayer mimics that of Paul in Ephesians 1… I pray that through these writings we all might gain spiritual wisdom and insight so that we can know Him more…love Him more…and serve Him more
