As the name of my blog indicates, I spend a lot of time thinking about home. Of course, my Heavenly Home is the one that is eternal, so that’s where I need to lay up my treasures, and that’s the one I’m striving for. But in the meantime, I have been given this tiny piece of the here-and-now—this home on the edge of town, this family, this neighborhood—in which to serve Him. And, though this is in the earthly realm, I want the things that happen here to be investments in the Heavenly realm.




Thursday, August 20, 2015

Fifteen Years Later


It has now been fifteen years, and I am reposting today as a testament to His mercy in our lives. So grateful...

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(Repost from August 20, 2010)

This morning I am quiet, sober, reflective...and my heart is full of praise.

Ten years ago today
, I was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance after suffering a grand mal seizure, following several weeks of mysterious neurological symptoms.

Most of the time, I don't even like to think about those weeks as they were so troubling. It was like my brain was short-circuited. I'd try to say something, and before I could finish my sentence, I would not know how to complete the thought. I couldn't remember words. I couldn't look up my friend's phone number because I couldn't find the H's. My daughter had taken me to the ER during this time, and I couldn't even answer the simple admittance questions, like my birth date or my home address. My right hand had a tremor.

Then I had the seizure, and woke up two days later in ICU, not knowing where I was and how I had come there.

I don't intend to tell the whole story as it is also painful to remember. It is enough to say that the ensuing days were filled with tortured thoughts and hallucinations, mostly brought on by the medication with which I was being treated.

But the end of the story is cause for rejoicing. Lots of good came out of that painful time.
  • I eventually returned to normal health. Before I regained consciousness, my family had been told that there was a possibility of permanent neurological damage, but I experienced literally no long term effects. In many of the dark moments during my hospital stay, I asked the Lord to restore me to health so that I could raise my young daughter. My illness was never definitively diagnosed, but as I was weaned from my medications over a period of about a year, the symptoms did not return...and ten years later, I remain symptom free.

  • I was bathed in the love of my family. From the night that Ron rose from sleep to come to the hospital and calm me...to the nights that my mom slept in a hospital chair to offer a calming presence...to the countless things that my daughter did to make her little sister's life as undisturbed as possible.

  • I experienced the love and care of friends in amazing ways. "Acquaintances" would not have done for me and my family what my brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ did...prayers, meals, words of encouragement, babysitting for my six-year-old, yard care, generous financial gifts, chauffeuring services during those many months when I was not able to drive.

  • Shortly after my illness, I became pregnant with our youngest child. We named her Rebekah Hope, for I felt that she was a symbol of the hope that was given back to me.

As I reflect today, I am grateful for His mercy.
This life is a vapor. It is tenuous. There are no promises of tomorrow.

But I am thankful for His plan, for His mercy, for His grace.

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.


I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. 


(Psalm 139: 1, 14-16)

19 comments:

  1. I had no idea! A wonderful testament to God's healing power and importance of the love of family and friends!

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  2. Grateful for His mercy. What a wonderful testimony.

    Deanna

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  3. Thank you for sharing your remarkable experience and God's mercy and grace in your life. I'm so thankful that you enjoyed a full recovery and your family had you to enjoy and enrich their lives. Gonna be a grandma again?

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  4. That should say "HAS" you to enjoy....... ;D

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  5. Oh dear Cheryl, Thank you for sharing this frightening time in your life. God has a plan for your life as He does for me. Your faith and trust in Him is a wonderful testament to me. ♥

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  6. Wow! Praising the Lord with you as you celebrate 15 years later! A wonderful testimony to God's hand on our lives...

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  7. Oh Cheryl...wow...thank you for sharing your story with us. What a wonderful testimony to the restoring power of our God! What a blessing it is that you didn't suffer long-term health issues from this. God certain IS good....ALL the time! Blessings :)

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  8. A beautiful post and worthy of retelling!! I prayed for you this morning.....

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  9. What a wonderful story. God's restorative power is overwhelming.

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  10. What an encouraging post! I needed to read this today, Thank you..Jesus the same yesterday, today, forever!

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  11. I am so touched by your story of a difficult time and God's restorative grace in your life. How good it is to stop and take note of what He's done, and mark the years with thankfulness and praise for His healing power!

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  12. A powerful and moving testimony, Cheryl. I can not even imagine all that you went through. God is so good and what a beautiful way to bless you after such an ordeal. i'm looking at her pretty self right now. =D

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  13. Your story is incredible. My husband has epilepsy and I know what seizures are. They are scary. God in His infinite wisdom has given you this time of sickness and now a time of health along with a beautiful family. Thank you for this testimony.

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  14. A beautiful testimony! Thank you for sharing!

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  15. Wow! What an incredible time of scary circumstances and frightening happenings, and yet to KNOW and experience God's healing and mercy and the helping hands He provided is a powerful testimony of His grace and mercy and love for us! Thank you sooo much for sharing this with us! Our God is mighty and good!

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  16. Cheryl, this is such a beautiful and moving testimony. Praise God, from whom all blessings flow!

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  17. I am so happy you are fully recovered. God is good. And he blessed you with a wonderful family.

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  18. Praising God with you! God can do ANYTHING!

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  19. Praise God for his mercies! I am so glad that He spared you and restored you to full health!

    I have a similar story, one that is still being written unfortunately.

    I completely understand what you are feeling!

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