"Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing." - 2 Corinthians 6:10
The past month has been quite an experience for myself. It all started with waking up saturday morning March 29th in Eugene, Oregon on my first day of spring break from staffing in YWAM Lakeside, Montana. I woke up experiencing abdominal pain that didn't seem normal. The wrenching and pulsating pain lasted two days and by the third day at four in the morning I was brought to the local Hospital to seek help. After the nurses drew my blood they found that my white blood cell count to be half of would it should be. So, they rushed me into getting Magnetic Resonance Imaging (an MRI) to see what was wrong. Upon getting my images back they examined that my appendix had been inflamed and possibly ruptured. Due to urgency, they scheduled an immediate appendectomy operation on me (a pretty common medical procedure). I remember the vivid feeling of laying on a gurney while being wheeled into the operation room. The bright lights, the loud beeping, and even a glimpse of the surgical knives that were about to be used on my behalf. All I could do was pray, continually. I found out quickly that I couldn't pray clearly, or even utter a long and passionate prayer to the Lord, due to the morphine and whatever else they had in my system. So, I repeated these small outburst prayers. "Jesus be with me, keep me safe Lord, this is working for my good, guide me in your truth, this is only temporary, sorrowful yet rejoicing, I'm in your hands, let your will be done." These short yet powerful prayers were ingrained in my mind as I drifted away into my surgery... A shocking twitch later, I remember waking up in the recovery room while coughing up blood into an oxygen mask that stretched over my face. The mask was set on 15 liters per minute of oxygen, and from my prior work in the medical oxygen field I knew that this was a very serious situation. That amount of oxygen flow is often used when a hospice patience is going downhill quickly. I quickly found out that before my surgery my appendix had already bust, and during the operation both my lungs collapsed. The doctors had to perform an emergency intubation. They stretched a breathing tube down my throat (which cut up the inside of it) in order for me to breath properly. The cuts from inside my throat were the cause of the blood that saturated into my lungs, which also explained the bloody mask and painful coughing that I was experiencing. Not the kind of complications I expected. After I was stable enough the nurses were able to bring me to my hospital room. I finally examined the three incisions I had. One of them being a tube that was still inserted a few inches into my abdomen for draining all the fluid that the doctors used to clean the ruptured appendix and bacteria. What a scare that was to wake up to.. haha. The next two days were tremendously hard and painful in my hospital bed as I couldn't get up or walk at all. Very little rest in a place that never sleeps. I also decided to not take any medication after the day of my surgery due to my past drug use, dependance, and the overwhelming sickness it gave me. In doing so it cleared my head for deeper prayer and meditation in the word while in my hospital bed. Continually trusting God to help with the pain and healing process. Which He faithfully did. Finally, I was released Thursday April third, just seventy-two hours of being admitted into the hospital. The day of my release I remember sitting in my hospital room alone. Praying, thinking, and worshipping. The increasing tears begun to rush down my face. Not in anger, frustration, or any sort of physical pain. But rather, a rejoicing moment of gratitude and thankfulness of just being alive. Now of course, to die is gain. But, I realize that God has kept me here for His glory, and that He was not done with me yet. There is much work to do. Currently, I'm recovering very well and back in YWAM Lakeside, Montana. Staffing, studying theology, and discipling students in the Audio Production Course. For by God's grace and through your prayers of encouragement i'm alive and getting stronger everyday. His power is made perfect in my weakness.
- But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. - 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
I'd like to thank God for the amazing medical care that we have in this country. Most countries have very little if any medical care at all. This was something I sadly never payed attention to before visiting the hospital. We are beyond privileged here. I am also still overwhelmed by the love and support shown from my family and friends from all around the world. The countless hospital visits, prayers, phone calls, emails, letters, messages, etc. Your loving support and prayers have brought tremendous joy to me during these trials.
Thank you!
Thank you!
Let His faithful words saturate our beating hearts, and let these providintial experiences bring us closer to Him. Every day, for His glory.
- Jordan Scarbrough
Thank you for sharing this testimony of God's faithful care of you. Blessings as He continues the healing process. May He be glorified as you continue to testify of His goodness.
ReplyDeleteLisa Maxwell