New Life’s Perspective

Recently, I had a close call, three hours was what the doctors surmised.  I had an undiagnosed medical condition know as diverticulitis.  This caused a potentially fatal situation on Jan. 13th, 2008.  While playing some hoops at the Norwich Alliance Church gymnasium, I felt a slight cramping in my right side.  I drank a little water and it didn't go away.  I cut the hooping a little short and went home.  At home, Leah served me some delicious Curry Chicken her mom made (Yum!).  After eating, I started feeling some stronger pain in my abdomen.  I decided to go to bed, as I figured when I woke up the next morning I'd be okay.  Well, I woke up at midnight and launched that delicious Curry Chicken dinner into a bucket.  I felt a bit better after that and fell back asleep.  When I woke up the next morning, January 13th, I got up and felt really dizzy and nauseous; again I launched.  I laid back down, thinking it was just a bad stomach virus and I could 'sleep and rest it off'.  As I was laying there in bed, I heard a voice say, "go to the emergency room."   I know that voice, it was the Holy Spirit.  You have to know me, I would have just tried to sleep this thing off if I didn't hear God telling me to get my butt down to the emergency room.

   The pain became excruciating in my abdominal region, the kind of pain that makes you want to scream out with everything you have.....JESUS SAVE ME!!  My wife drove me to the emergency room.  Upon our arrival at the emergency room, we checked in.  The pain was getting steadily worse with each passing minute.  I went into the rest room, dropped to the floor, and cried out "JESUS, Save me!"  After laying on the bathroom floor for a few minutes, I mustered up enough strength to get back to the waiting room.  The pain continued to worsen, and I ended up laying on the floor in the emergency room, shaking uncontrollably.  After a few more minutes, they brought me in for observation.  The attendant came in and gave me some pain medication, which really helped comfort me.  The doctor came in and said that there was a bad stomach virus going around, and it may be that.  I felt pretty good hearing that.  He went on to say, "however, because you seem to be in a lot of pain, I am going to run a scan, just to be sure it isn't anything else."  So, they rolled me on down to the CAT Scan room.  The pain was pretty much gone at this point, and the technician performing the scan was very good at this process.  After the scan, he looked at the results; his face had a bit of concern on it, as he told me the doctor would review the scan and let me know what the results were. 

  The doctor came in and said, "well, I was wrong, it wasn't a stomach virus; you have a perforated colon, we have to operate immediately.  He said this can become fatal.   I looked at Leah, and we were both kind of shocked.  That was the first time I have ever heard the words, "this could be fatal" used to describe something associated with me.  The amazing thing was, I wasn't in the least bit concerned; I had this incredible peace within me.  As they rolled me into the operating room, I could see the surgeon, Dr. Wesolek, with a multi-colored cap on.  Then the anesthesiologist leaned over and said something, and the next thing I remember is waking up in the recovery room. 

  The operation was successful, they removed the diseased portion of my colon and created a stoma, which is a small hole in my abdomen which is where they re-directed my large intestine.  I now was one of those people with an ostomy.  It was quite a life-changing experience, and continues to be.  I had to get used to this new way of living.  The good news is, they will be reversing this back to normal in a couple of weeks.

  As I reflected during my recovery, I realized that if the Holy Spirit hadn't intervened and told me to get to the hospital, I would have put off this mortal coil, and stepped into the eternal at the young age of 43, leaving behind my beautiful, precious wife to grieve.  I can't even begin to tell you how glad I am that she didn't have to go through that, she doesn't deserve to cry a single tear.  She is the most giving, caring, loving, sweet, kind, joyful, and amazing woman in the world to me.

  This entire experience has blessed me immensely.  I have such a new love for life, and a raised appreciation for each new day.  I don't plan to take anything or anyone for granted anymore.  I will not allow things to stress me out.   Jesus rescued me again.  I feel born again, ...again!  He heard me cry out on that emergency room floor...JESUS, please save me!  My faith was increased, my outlook on life renewed, and my appreciation for my beautiful wife, as she nursed me back to health, could not possibly be expressed in words.  She was, is, and will always will be, my angel. 

  I thank the good Lord for all he has done for me.  I thank Him for allowing me to go through this; for what I gained in this new life's perspective was worth the suffering I had to go through to acquire it.  The great thing was that He was with me throughout this ordeal, and I knew it, without a doubt.  I could feel Him there with me; He did not let me go through it alone.  Along with Him being there with me, was my amazing church family visiting me, and helping Leah with meals, snow removal, cards wishing me well, and phone calls.  All that they did for Leah and I during this time, meant the world to me.  My mom, brothers and sisters and nephew, were also there for me, visiting, and offering their assistance as they could.  Even some friends I haven't seen in a long, long time came by or called.  Love came raining down on me during my recovery time.  Love filled me with a new hope, and a new joy.  I Praise the Lord, my King and Savior Jesus, for His great loving-kindness, His Ever-Presence, and His healing hands.