Please visit our new blog , notaccidentlly.blogspot.com

Please visit our new blog , notaccidentlly.blogspot.com
As we sat and talked we were reminded of how many times God has stepped into our lives and provided a miracle. This blog will be the opportunity for us to write these down for the next generation, and hopefully inspire you in your walk with God. Come by every Tuesday for a new post.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Stroke intervention

It was weekday morning,
September 17, 2008.



I woke up feeling fine and had plans on going to the gym with my friend Linda.

We planned on my driving and leaving around 9.
I had started to get a headache but thought it was probably that I had just not eaten.

The closer it got to 9 the worse my head hurt so I called Linda and let her know I didn't think I would go.
She offered to drive so I said to come on over.

By the time she got to the house my head was throbbing so I decided not to go at all.
Then I remembered...


Linda and I both enjoy sewing.
I had finished my granddaughter a dress and took a picture of it before putting it in the mail.
I sat down at the computer screen and brought up the picture.
I looked at Linda and remember saying "something is just not right"

I stood up to walk into the livingroom and slumped to the floor.

From then on the memories are sketchy.
The pain was gone but I felt I was in a complete fog.
Linda called my husband then the paramedics.
I can remember being curled in a ball on the floor, unable to move.
I remember Linda sitting and reading scripture.

When the paramedics arrived there were two hospitals they could take me to.

The choice made a life changing difference in my life.

They decided because my husband would be driving from the East to go to the hospital closer to where he was.

After tests to see if I had a brain hemorrhage, the ER decided I had a blood clot causing a stroke.

That hospital had a stroke intervention drug called TPA

Tissue plasminogen activator

on hand.  We found out later the other hospital did not have this drug. There is only a three hour window for this drug to be fully effective and by the time all the drive and tests were done, it had been 2 hr 45 minutes.

The drug has a 5% chance of fatality but the choice was easy.  As my husband tried to explain to me what was happening, some of what I remember was crying, I had no movement, and speech was just grunts.

I knew I didn't want to live in that state for the remainder of my life and although I couldn't say, I agreed with my husbands decision on my behalf, to try the drug.


Within the hour I was able to talk, lift my arms and move my legs.
I was kept in the hospital for a few days and by the time I went home, although weak I was back to normal.
You might notice, it has been a long time between this and the last entry.  One of the children in my sisters church in Kansas lost her battle to cancer.  It really threw all of us for a loop.  Why.

I don't understand why God allowed me to be spared, and others not to be,
maybe just to tell you of His Great love.

Blessings,
Debbie

Linking with
Walk with Him
Thought Provoking Thursday
Spiritual Sunday

8 comments:

  1. Wow. Praise God. We begged for him to spare a friend this past year that had one but sometimes he brings 'em home and sometimes he lets 'em stay. (And gorgeous dress)

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  2. It goes without saying that everything worked out for the best. Linda came at the perfect time and all the decisions were made at the right time too. So glad you post this for our remembrance book.
    Hugs
    Ann

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  3. What an amazing story of God's rescue and grace. Nice to meet you through Thought Provoking Thursday.

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  4. Wow. What a God-thing that you weren't alone, that you were taken to the right hospital, that you recovered. We can never understand his ways, but we can thank him when we see him at work. Thanks for telling your story of his care for you.

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  5. As I've been reminded over the years, our times are in God's hands. What a blessing for you to share this. So important for so many reasons, including the important reminder to act quickly if there is any chance you or your aging parents might be having a stroke. Thank you.

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  6. Thank you for sharing your experience, Debbie. I'm so glad it turned out so well for you. I've heard how important it is to get help fast when you think you're having a stroke. You are a good example of that being true.
    Blessings,
    Charlotte

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  7. Oh, I'm so thankful that your story didn't end. You've blessed me so many times. I know God is planning on using you in a big way.

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  8. Thank God you are spared! It also means you still have a purpose to fulfill here on this earth:)

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