Friendship With God

Valley Of The Shadow Of Death

I was stopped in my tracks back in 2017 when I had such a bad infection in my legs go septic. It was recommended I have one of my legs cut off. My kidneys shut down and I needed four rounds of emergency dialysis. When they put me under to implant a stent in my neck for the dialysis, I stopped breathing and had to be put on a breathing machine for nearly a week. During this time, I also required two blood transfusions. First, I was told I'd never walk again, and then at one point, my husband was told I wouldn't live thru the night. I spent five months in a nursing home recovering. In the next 3 years, I'd be hospitalized five more times with re-occurring infections. Each time took several weeks to heal from. My kidneys failed me twice more, I needed dialysis both times, I needed a third blood transfusion and once more, doctors insisted I'd never walk and my best bet was to let them remove my leg. All this stopped me for quite some time. But. all the well-meaning doctors did not factor in I have a husband who prays. Or, that I have a God that heals.

Today, I believe I am totally healed from that horrible affliction. December 2019 marked one full year since the final time I was admitted into the hospital with leg infections. This last time, I was sent two hours away to a hospital in Dallas, Texas. The Physical Therapist did what no one else over the years had done. She ordered me a hospital bed, that was delivered right to my home. Since having it, and being able to elevate my legs at night, I can control the swelling.

By controlling the swelling, I reduce weakening the skin and having skin breaks.ofis reduces my risk for getting the bacteria that caused the infections. My nurse, a wonderful lady, actually took the time to educate me about what actually causes the infection and how to control it. The others were merely happy to just blame the cause on weight and previous bad health. They offered no real solutions. However, the hospital in Dallas is the most wonderful hospital I was ever admitted to!

It has been over a year now since I've had an infection. For a long time, I could only walk by using a walker. Then, because I have a high fall risk and had fallen several times, it was recommended I use a wheelchair. They were worried I'd fall and cause more damage to my legs. I still use a wheelchair when necessary. However, I have become much stronger and can now walk short distances, mostly from the bed to the bathroom or the bedroom to the kitchen without any aids whatsoever.

Memorial Day weekend, for the first time in years, I used a walker and walked outside my house. I sat on a yard bench and watched my husband grill and family play. I was not in a wheelchair! YAY! The road to this point has been long, grueling, and at times devastating. Through it all, I learned powerful lessons and was reassured I do, indeed belong to God.

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The following pictures are very graphic and you should not view them if you have an easily upset able stomach or not mentally strong enough. I am choosing to share with you pictures of the different phases my legs went through so you can truly grasp how wonderful our God is and just how much he brought me through!

I shall start at the beginning and the pictures are by far the worst of the bunch.

Invalid Photo #1057950 Invalid Photo #1057949 These pictures were taken the day I was admitted into the hospital for the first time. Believe it or not, I actually had gone to work that day, walking on these legs, and did a whole shift. It was on a Wednesday. My husband and I got dressed and attended church that evening. We were in revival and as I sat there, I kept getting sicker and sicker. I had chills and got dizzy. Just as the guest preacher was taking the stage, I leaned over to Fred and told him he had to help me get outside.

The minute we stepped outside I got sick and threw up in the church's bushes. I was more concerned about the bushes than myself. I was running a high fever but didn't know it. Because my husband can't drive, I got behind the wheel and we really don't know how I managed to get us home safely. My husband said I nearly passed out several times. Once in our yard, I refused to get out of the car. My husband has never been the "pushy" kind and just kept coming out to check on me. However, even he could see I was in bad need of medical help. I was refusing everything, all I wanted was to sleep. It was March and hot and I was covered in a thick quilt with the windows rolled up in the car. The intense heat felt good to me.

Finally, my husband called 911 and I remember arguing with them that I was "fine" and one of the EMT's insisted, that, no, I was not fine and that I was going to come with them. He said it with such finality, I guess I stopped arguing. These were the pictures that were taken when I was admitted. It is easy to see why the doctor thought amputation might just be the best medical answer.


Invalid Photo #1057947 Invalid Photo #1057951


These photos were taken about a month after I was released from the hospital but admitted into a nursing home. There, I'd spend the next five months healing, getting stronger, and learning how to walk with the aid of a walker. The physical therapists were really good and did as much as possible to help me regain as much mobility as THEY thought was possible. When they felt they coud do no more for me and I was able to stand unassisted for at least five minutes, they deemed me well enough to go home.

Invalid Photo #1057948 This is my leg two years into the journey. Large bumpy scars covered my legs. Each round of infection busted my legs wide open again and the whole healing process would have to start all over again. These infections were horrible. Not only were they painful, but they were messy. When my legs developed those wide-open sores, the sores would weep tons of fluids! Not blood, but fluid and that fluid had a sickly odor that lingered in the house no matter how much Lysol or bleach we used to keep things sterile and clean. I kept my legs bandaged most of the time, but those bandages would soak through and would have to be changed multiple times a day, and that was not always possible.





Let the Son shine in your life.

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