Let me tell you just how much I hate roller coasters. I hate roller coasters with a passion. One of my greatest fears, second to snakes is free falling. I know many of you might say that it's my fear because I like having control and there would be much truth in that. I do not like the idea that someone else gets to control me free falling on rails, wearing only a flimsy strap. I don't like it! It instills a deep, painful fear. As much as I love him, I have never been on a roller coaster with my son. At amusement parks, he always had to go with a friend as I watched from below.
This week, my entire family as a group went on a roller coaster ride. My mother suffers from diabetes. It is a terrible, debilitating disease for her. It has taken the mother we once knew and changed her. Long gone are the days of shopping together, watching a play or movie, or just taking a stroll. The disease is robbing her of her eyesight and has severely limited her waking abilities.
Last Friday she finally advised us of a cut that would not heal. When we arrived at the doctor's office it was as we expected...serious. He was not happy that she waited so long to tell some one yet he treated her and sent her home with antibiotics hoping it would help. Unfortunately, having limited eyesight and not being able to walk, my mom failed to keep with the schedule and was admitted into the hospital two days later. Hold on for the roller coaster ride.
Her admitting doctor, a podiatrist surgeon from the initial visit, was not the ER doctor. The ER doctor was someone we knew nothing about, someone we had never met, someone mom was not really comfortable with, and she became the primary doctor by default.
Mom settled into the hospital and the primary doctor administered intravenous antibiotics telling us she thought it would be fine. That made us all happy. Within three days that changed The primary doctor had made a grim diagnosis and threw our family as a whole into a deep, dark place. We were torn between the doctor's decision and mom's unwillingness to submit. Wanting to honor our mother, we waited the few hours we had before a making and accepting a final decision.
In the meantime, her podiatrist had not made a visit and he was the one that knew my mom best. He was the one that for years has taken care of her, he had dealt with this once before, he had both scolded and loved on my mom for many years yet he had not stopped by once. The primary doctor advised that she had texted him, called him, and emailed him requesting that he stop by for a second opinion but she had received no response. We were desperate.
I knew our church was praying, I knew mom was on many prayer lists but I needed more! We needed more! We needed that doctor to see mom and give us direction. We would succumb to his decision.
I, along with my other siblings took our turns sitting in a corner chair watching my mom struggle and we needed more. I needed this doctor to come in...we needed him. I picked up my phone and began to text a dear high school friend who is one of my two strong praying warriors. I merely texted for her to pray that this doctor would come in and see my mom. We needed him, we needed his opinion, we needed answers that only he could provide. We felt like our prayers for direction would be answered through him but in order for that to happen, we needed him to come in.
My friend merely texted back "Praying Now." With that text, I bowed my head and prayed with her in one accord. As I said amen, I lifted my head to look at my mother and out of the corner of my eye, I saw her room door open and an angel walk in. I was stunned! This doctor that we had so fervently prayed for walked in the room literally seconds after the amen.
I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I was stunned, I was thrilled, I was humbled. This God...the God that I serve, the God that has the power to part the waters, heal the sick, calm the storm, this God had come through in a big way! This doctor may have thought that it was his decision to visit mom but little does he know it was God that moved him to come.
The news gets better. During his visit, he disagreed with the primary doctor and opted to continue IV antibiotics for another forty eight hours. Such amazing news! I can't tell you how it felt to text my siblings and tell them and my father the good news. Within two days, mom was home. I had taken a ride on the roller coaster I so deeply fear. I would have to agree that the issue is control. I don't want someone at the controls dictating speed, motion or anything else. while this roller coaster was a rough ride, we felt safe because we knew the God we serve and trust is in control and He did not fail us, God brought us through.
My mom's road to recovery will be long and difficult as elements of life as she knew it have changed. I am grateful to all the prayer warriors, friends and family that reached out to us during this difficult time. I love my family and know how much this matriarch means-not only to us, but to many of our extended family as well.
And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:15-16
Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them. Matthew 18:19
Thank you Ruth Torres Orasco for your ministry In One Accord and for including me and Lydia Guerra Lewis in praying for our friend.
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