My Unexpected Hospital Stay

Last Thursday morning I visited my doctor to go over some strange symptoms I'd been having. After a few questions and an EKG (which was normal) she told me to go immediately to ER~she thought I'd had a mini-stroke! I called Steve at work, who came home and drove me to ER. I've never been to ER before as a patient. Eight hours later, after numerous tests and questions I was admitted to stay overnight. I could feel my anxiety gradually rising thru the whole thing and finally asked Steve for prayer. He was only able to make a couple of phone calls because cell-phone service was so bad in ER, but it was enough to get people praying for me. (Thanks, Courtney! ;-)) It was amazing, because within minutes I felt my anxiety drain away. I turned to Steve and said "I can literally feel people praying for me!!" I began to focus on God and promises I remember from the Bible. My MIL joined us and accompanied us up to my room. Almost immediately I was then taken down to have an MRI taken of my brain. It is a long narrow machine that you're inserted to and cannot move. I'm not claustrophobic, but I have to say I was challenged in there..knowing I was going to be in there for about 45 minutes. Only a few minutes in and I felt fear and anxiety creeping up..stretching up to clasp around my neck in a choke-hold and I began to pray and think of scriptures and songs I sing in church that brought me comfort, and I heard Jesus in my head say "I am here."  The anxiety and fear just whooshed away! And in it's place was indescribable joy!  I began to pray for anyone that popped into my head-- nurses, doctors and staff that were helping me, my family, my friends, even my blog-friends!! Suddenly I was being moved out, and not realizing I'd been in there for 50 minutes said, "Well, that was cool!!" Lloyd, the technician said "I have done countless MRI's and no one has EVER said that before!"

I told him "I was praying in there and the time went by so fast..I even prayed for you, Lloyd!" Lloyd was about 30, African American, with long dread-locks.Big husky guy..coulda been a line-backer. He said "Wow, thank you for praying for me!" That just touched my heart.

I had other tests done, but I won't bore you with the details. The next day, after all the results came, in the doctor said everything was normal~Praise the Lord. We're guessing some medication I'm on is giving me the problems. I have a follow up appt. with my doctor on Monday.

What a lesson for me, though. The importance of focusing on God in the good AND the bad. The importance of asking for prayer..my pride had kept me from asking earlier..I didn't want to "bother" anyone, or cause any worry. I won't do that again! When I feel I need prayer I'll ask for it immediately. And the other lesson..the power of prayer. For anyone who's reading this and feels secluded, or home- bound for whatever reason and feels useless: YOU CAN ALWAYS PRAY!! Pray for others and know that it truly makes a difference. That may be the very thing God has called on you to do. It was only through the prayers of others that got me through a very scary situation. Think of the difference you can make in other's lives by just praying for them!! And you will make a difference!

Ephesians 1:15-20 (New Living Translation)

Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere. I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.


I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.