I have always been healthy. Even as a kid I wasn’t sick very often. Maybe that comes with being the first born. You are expected to be a helper not a needer. Oh I had the normal bouts and scrapes; cuts, bruises, allergic reactions, stuff most kids in the 50’s got into. My biggest problem being born with calcium deficiency which caused me to have poor teeth. My brother never took care of his teeth and never had cavities and me who took care of mine constantly always seemed to need work done.
Then as a teenager discovered I was allergic to wild grapes and swelled up like a balloon and had a rash everywhere. One summer I got poison ivy so bad I had to soak everyday in boric acid. That was the worst summer I can ever remember. I had to get stitches in my head, as a senior in high school as the result of a swimming accident.
But here I am over 75 and had the worst scare of my life. A couple of weeks ago I had a small stroke, as the doctors called it. All of a sudden I couldn’t stand up. My left leg would not hold my weight. We called 911 and the medics suggested I go to the ER. I was given a cat scan and it was determined that I needed more evaluation than our hospital could provide and was sent to the next large city that could provide additional care. After crises medication and further testing it was decided that I needed a MRI of my head that could give a better picture than the CT SCAN. This test said I had a small blood clot or bleed in the right frontal side of my brain and I was given a medication to dissolve it. By the next morning I had no symptoms and was able to get up and walk on my own.
I stayed in the hospital for another day for observation and then sent home with orders to see my primary care doctor with-in 3 to 5 days. My doctor wanted me to see another neurologist before releasing me. I was also put on a lose dose blood thinner to help stem the possibility of having another episode. I try not to take prescriptions but decided to give it a try of 30 days. Of course it was going to be another month before I could get in to see the specialist. And I could not return to work or drive.
For someone who seldom gets sick it is hard to admit you might have a problem. And dealing with scheduling follow up appointments when you have to rely on other people to get you there is frustrating to say the least. Inactivity has always been my downfall. I don’t do well without some deadline on the horizon. My one true pleasure activity is reading. I have been an avid reader ever since I learned how to read. I always have a book within reach; it doesn’t matter if it is an actual book; pamphlet, or an electronic device. I need to have access to the written word. Knowledge has always been paramount to me. Our parents instilled in us the importance of continued learning. Be it a new skill or the perfecting of an old one.
One thing I have learned is that inactivity is ok. Eventually the body needs to recharge, to step back and reset. The human body was designed to live a certain amount of time. But if you over tax it, that amount of time can be lessened, or your health will be compromised.
This is where faith comes in. If you rely on faith in your creator you will be able to step aside and put your health, future, even life expectancy in His hands no matter the outcome. Jesus paid the price for our health, well being and future when he died on the cross. That never changes, it is still as viable today as it was the day he hung on the cross. Whatever you need, don’t hesitate to ask, He will meet your need.
1st Peter 2:24 He personally carried our in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right by His wounds you are healed.
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