May 31, 2021 Monday
Had a hard call today with Dr. Mendi. I understand that it is their job and have to do their due diligence to be sure that I know all of the bad things that could happen to Steve. It is very difficult to get out from underneath the weight of the information and put it into the information bucket in case I need it and focus on The Lord who is holding us all through this. It is even harder without family in the area. We were so blessed to have my youngest sister here with us for almost a week. Praising God that my middle sister will be coming soon. ❤️ I also praise God for my spiritual family who has me surrounded and held. Angels who mow, bring dinner, send encouragement, provision, show up for the dirty work, packing for our move, and will be available to help me figure out the business and finances. So many who are standing in the gap. We are so blessed.
They ended up doing dialysis last night because Steve's potassium had increased, but they are still going to try for an every other day model. There are three main things we are praying for healing for, his kidneys, covid brain which is really encephalopathy or swelling, and the big unknown, the evidence of stroke. The covid affected his brain and kidneys most and the evidence of stroke is throwing in yet another unknown. The medical world has years under their belt with stroke knowledge, but only have a year with covid and it is very difficult to give any kind of time frame for any of it. Dr. Mendi said that this is not a day to day update thing, it is more of a week to week update. We need to look at the bigger picture of progress. Daily we may not see anything, it will be in the weekly. He also said that Steve will not be transferred out any time soon. This is a blessing because he is receiving the greatest care and is surrounded by believers as well as hospital angels who are praying in the building and some directly over him. It is a "curse" because that means that he is still frail.
I was thinking about how I was fearful of the frail term, yet, thankful. Blessings and curses, life and death. It says in Deuteronomy 30:19-20 "I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; 20that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days." It says to choose life, so we may live. I felt The Lord speak to me that HE is life. He is abundant life. Maybe this is even prophetic? Is he talking in the Old Testament about Jesus, because Jesus gives us everlasting life in heaven? Even in this valley, where there is so much difficulty, trauma and grieving. I choose to take the information(sometimes can be like a curse because it takes away peace), I've looked at it, I've cried over it, and now I am setting it aside and choosing life. Jesus, he is my breath right now, my peace, my sustenance. I choose to pray life for Steve & Adam. I choose to hope where sometimes it is difficult and sometimes painful to hope. I choose to trust in The Lord who loves Steve, Adam, the person who is on your heart that you are lifting up, and, each of you reading this.
In 2 Timothy 1:7 it says, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline." Self discipline is what I am learning, the battlefield of the mind. The information would have me crushed and in a ball with fear, but as I exercise self discipline in my mind I am not. This is self-discipline: turning to God instead of running away or filling time with mindless computer, turning on a worship song instead of watching tv. I caught myself earlier, doing just those things. Instead of addressing the hard future talk, I started cleaning(If you know me, you know that I was avoiding, lol). I stopped myself and turned on worship time I will post below. The battlefield of the mind includes taking ALL your fears and burdens, small or large, ALL your thoughts, pictures of what may be, what ifs, and even outright lies, and talking to Jesus about them, trusting in Him, and choosing to not take on the problems of tomorrow, today. That is where the problem lies. We need to have the information, yet not take it on as truth right now.
This is the information, the what could happens, BUT that is not Steve's story. We don't know the rest of Steve's story. The doctors don't know the rest of Steve's story. I choose to pray and fight on my knees for him today and The Lord will carry us tomorrow when tomorrow comes.
Deuteronomy 30:20 that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days." I choose life so that I am able to better love The Lord, I come out of my introvert shell to be obedient in sharing this walk and how He is working in our family. I cling to Him, He is my daily bread my provision and protection. He is my life, without Him I would not be able to navigate any of this. I am thankful He never gives up on me, even when I turn away or feel not plugged in. I can always run back to Him for the lengths of my days.
Please continue to pray for Adam, he had a great day of clarity yesterday. His life is a true miracle as most who have a motorcycle accident and crack the helmet in half with his TBI don't even make it to the hospital. The doctors can't give Riley an answer as to how or why he is doing so very well. The doctor told her that Adam must have a big God! Yes, Adam does. Thank you Jesus! Adam will be going to a rehab yet to be named soon. Please keep his family in your prayers.
We are so thankful for all of you. I pray you are blessed today and remember the sacrifice of so many who fought for our freedoms and their families.
Comments
- Tina Sellentin : Dear Sister I am praying and believing with you that the Lord has Steve in the palm of His hands ! He is able and He is the Great I AM ! All things are possible to him who believes ! And we are believing that Christ the Lord is healing Steve 🙏 ❤ 💖 Amen6/1/21
- Jeannine Santo ZupoPraying tonight for Steve’s kidneys, the encephalitis to heal, the stroke to actually disappear. That same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us- gives us that same healing power that Jesus and the disciples had- so let’s use it together to believe and trust amidst the scary what IFs, that one of the possibilities is complete healing for Steve and Adam. I continue to praise God for your faith and endurance, Heather. Thank you for sharing the journey with us- it’s a privilege to pray for you.6/1/21
- Kris RomerPraying for Steve and Adam - for complete healing in Jesus’ name- and for God to sustain you and help you persevere. Your posts are ministering to so many!🙏🏼❤️5/31/21
- Mark WichernKris and I join you in Praying LIFE over Steve, and Adam, and that Jesus is so close to you and the girls....Your FAITH and testimony through this "valley of the shadow" is a encouragement to all and shows how followers of our Lord handle and battle adversity in the Spirit and by God's Grace, Mercy and LOVE.5/31/21
- Joseph CurtoStanding and praying with you and Steve.5/31/21
- Jeanette GrondinSuch a difficult road you are on, I am so sorry. But our God is big enough and He will carry your family through this. Praying for you all ❤5/31/21
- Sharron TaftHeather I will not stop asking our God for complete healing. Love you all.5/31/21
- Carol BusbyWe are at a loss for words, but we put Steve in God's hands. The Lord's time frame is not the same as ours. We pray for ALL of you across the miles. We love you!!5/31/21
- Nicole HorschLove you, Heather. You are right - no one knows the story but God - we will sit at His feet and listen patiently❤️5/31/21
- Karen Mills Bailey❤️💦🙏🏻5/31/21
- Heather Rumentshttps://youtu.be/QYhap63b-kw5/31/21
