I guess we all have those things that come, and we see them and don't let them bother us. But sometimes things come in a flurry and knock us down; and then the least little thing becomes too big to handle for the day or week or month. Andrew tells me (no offense!) that I am too sensitive. He says it in a sweet but knowing way. And one of the sins Pete mentioned in his sermon Sunday was worry. And he knows I have been so guilty of that lately. But he also says he knows how hard I have been fighting it and to keep on.
So I decided that since most of April I did not feel well, I would try to get a change of scenery soon. Because I need it and because I need the boost. I felt really run down and ran through most days and tried to rest when I could, so I would be able to keep up. And I remembered a friend who did the very same thing for years. And it was hard to know your whole life revolved around trying to keep up the best you could, while feeling as if you were losing ground more and more. And now that I feel better, I can be out of that loop.
When last Friday rolled around, we had already had a couple of tough weeks with Andrew - he was tired and fighting an infection. We'd been trying to get him well and back on track, and he was doing better. But we knew his thyroid was off (had just found out), and Carla had sent the labs to his newer doctor in Winston. Andrew was planning on manning the water station at our half-way point at our road race the next day on the Greenway. Paula and I were doing early packet pick up at the Greenway and had gone to her mom's to get Andrew's water station supplies. When we got into her car to go back to the Greenway, Sam called and calmly told me I needed to come home. He said, "Andrew is having a seizure, so you need to come home." I asked where his dad was, and he said that he was on the phone with 911. I knew it was bad if Pete called 911.
Paula rushed me to my car, and I jumped in and took off with my flashers on. I was being very careful, even though I was frantic because I could not get Sam back on the phone. We had already prayed for Andrew, and I kept praying and put on some praise music. As I came down the road from the Greenway, a car pulled out from the swim complex; and an SUV pulled up to pull out. I beeped my horn slightly, so they would notice I had my flashers on and was in a hurry. They pulled out right in front of me anyway and hit their brakes a few times in a short amount of time.
Now, I know those people were probably coming from swimming and had children in the car. And they could pull out in front of me if they wanted to. And they could hit their brakes and slow me down more. I just wish they had had some compassion. I was not doing anything wrong or running up on them. It's that power trip that a lot of people have driving. And I think it's just the by product of our society now - that if we can do it and want to, we can. No matter what. Who cares about anyone else. God helped me see a straight shot through a parking lot before we pulled out onto the next road, and I took it and was able to save a little bit of time.
My friend is a fireman, and he told me once that if I drove on the road with my flashers that people were MORE likely to pull in front of me. And he has been right. Another time, I tried to get to the old high school where Andrew had pretty much collapsed while running in the infield, and a car saw me and pulled out in front of me from the gas station. Because he could. And it has happened a couple of other times, and I have not driven with my flashers on many times! I have watched cars not pull over for fire or ambulance. And it is appalling to me! I cannot do anything about it but make a way when it's my turn. And I just have to work around them when trying to get to my person who may need me. Just something to think about if you see someone in a hurry. Maybe they are just rude, or maybe they are on their way to an emergency?
I drove down my road and saw the ambulance and fire truck in front of my house. I pulled in at the lower part and ran up through the yard to the front door. Andrew was lying in the floor with oxygen and four people working on him. He was able to smile at me and tell me he was doing better. So I could breathe again. I just hate seizures so much.
One young fireman was holding Andrew's hand. I noticed he kept holding Andrew's hand, because Andrew had a grip on him and did not realize it. I was there when the fireman got ready to stand up and gently undid Andrew's fingers from his own. So Andrew still did not notice. It just showed the kindness and compassion of this emergency worker.
We decided that Andrew felt okay and did not send him to the hospital. He was exhausted, and we called our doctors to check on one thing. My mind always tries to figure out what is different and may have caused him to be susceptible to a seizure.
Pete had called 911, because Andrew stopped breathing. Then Andrew went into a second seizure and was still too locked up to have any emergency meds that we have. I was not there to help, so he had to ask them to come on. It is too tough to call 911 and try to keep him turned on his side and try to get him breathing or give him his meds when you are by yourself.
Sam ran and got Andrew's emergency meds without Pete even asking. He corralled the dogs in the back yard and called me. He even flagged down the ambulance. He was a much better helper than his mother who literally freaks out. So we are very thankful for his calm, helpful little spirit.
Some of our faithful neighbors who check on us came by to check on Andrew. The same ones who offer help and mow yards for others even when they are sick themselves. We are thankful for them. They drop what they are doing and offer to help.
Andrew slept in my bed in my spot and started another seizure at around 10:00. Pete and I both were able to get the medicine in him before he got too bad. It's just hard to wait for it to kick in and to see if it will kick in and help. It was rough. He was so exhausted. But after that, we all slept, me on the couch but where I could hear. And the next morning, he was feeling better but foggy.
This week, we found out that Andrew has gotten the generic of one important drug since December, Carla suggested I check on that, and she was right..again. That has been changed back to name brand. We also added another seizure med to the two he already takes. We have tried to get him to rest and get to a place where he can take his exams. He has already gone to Bible study and run with his friends on the team. Like I have said before, he bounces back, so we do too.
Pete is helping me look for my change of scenery, and sometimes it's stuff right under our noses. I am thankful he takes it seriously and wants to help. And I am thankful that walking more and reading my Bible more and praying even more are things that bring about a noticeable difference. I know I cannot take care of these special charges if I cannot take care of myself! And I am glad I don't long for long and faraway trips. I just don't, so that helps too! I would rather be at home near my favorite people.
Please continue to pray for Andrew. The other boys can always use prayer, but they are doing well. Peter broke his ankle and just got his cast off. He is happy to be driving again and not be tied to our schedules!
Thanks for all of the prayers! We appreciate each and every one, because we know God hears each and every one!
"Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." Jeremiah 33:3
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