All of My Help Cometh from the Lord

“All of My Help Cometh from the Lord”

For quite some time now I’ve wrestled with the idea of writing these words to describe the last 2 years of my life…..it seems that now is the time

It was almost 2 years ago to the date that my life almost ended and was changed forever. It was a cold end of winter day as I left my condo to meet my mom to go somewhere. This time the long stairwell that I had battled for some time was winning more decisively than ever before my heart and lungs were desperately reaching out for air that didn’t seem to be in supply. As I reached near the top of my steps I’ll never forget the horror and fear on my mom’s face as she was witnessing her youngest son battle to breathe. We immediately raced to the Hackensack Medical Center Emergency room, a misnomer if ever there was one because I laid on a gurney for some 6 hours or so before someone came to my attention. They really weren’t sure what the problems were and wanted to do more tests but the whole ordeal was overly frustrating and burdensome or so I thought.

On the advice of the doctors in Hackensack I sought out a cardiologist that was covered by my plan and met with Dr. OB in nearby Ramsey. As we met I proceeded to go through the normal pre doctor checklist and I was shocked, embarrassed and scared by how much I weighed---it was beyond comprehension. After checking my blood pressure Dr. OB told me I had the symptoms of a weak heart. She warned me about a few things that day, one I was morbidly obese and I desperately needed to lose weight, she made many recommendations the premise was eliminating sodium for its effect of water retention and stress on the heart. I took her ideas to heart and began to find ways of creating more movement in my life even so much as parking my car further away from buildings I would frequent. I also gave up all processed and fast food immediately no more Burger King drive ins late at night while on my way home.

Around May or June of 2015 I underwent a nuclear stress test and EKG. Apparently the results weren’t too good because Dr. OB called me immediately and told me I needed to get a catherization of my heart done at St. Joes Hospital in Paterson. My mom and my big sister Lillie went with me. After laying on a table when they injected die into my heart I soon found myself face to face with a doctor who monitored this test. He said he had good news and bad news. The good news was that my heart had no blockages and all my arteries were clear. He was glad my blood pressure was normal. The bad was that he did not know what was wrong with me other than I had a weak heart. I never did get an explanation of what that meant. This Dr theorized that it could be hereditary or that I might have sleep apnea. He recommended that I take a sleep test he asked me if I snored and I said I had no idea because I sleep alone.

I did go to the Sleep Center in Fair Lawn and underwent the test where they hook you up to about 50 wires and monitor what happens when you sleep.

At my next checkup with Dr OB she said my heart was starting and stopping on the average 40 times per hour while I slept so I was introduced to a CPAP machine a staple of sleep apnea patients. This machine continues to provide oxygen when you stop breathing.

Slowly I began to lose some weight and expanded my motion idea to walks inside climate controlled malls in the area. I wasn’t quite so exhausted any more but still needed my afternoon naps.

For the next few months I continued to do what I could and I relied on many of you reading this story---The prayer warriors. I didn’t know it at the time but I needed a miracle to stay alive. I did continue to lose weight and finally some clothes that were too tight no longer fit me they were too big

In March of 2016 I was watching tv at home when suddenly a commercial flashed on my screen for my tormentor Congestive Heart Failure. I saw in color for the first time the battle I was facing and the odds were against me. Less than 20 percent of those with CHF every experience any kind of recovery. I was scared stiff literally. I called many that I thought could help me or listen to me I never felt so alone in my life. Sadly many were not home or did not return my messages. One more time it was me and Jesus my Savior who had healed me of epilepsy at the age of 7. I thank God for the ability to pray and for the one on one audience He grants all that seek Him. I was relieved Someone heard me and I know He could help me.

I continued to do my best to stay afloat walking daily and changing my eating habits, I also consulted a nutrionist to see if I could find more energy in the foods I eat.

In addition to all this I was battling to keep my house from foreclosure and apply for disability as my doctor directed me

In July of 2016 I underwent a second EKG and nervously awaited to hear if anything had changed hopefully for the better. During this entire process there were many time where I sat alone in my kitchen and cried, and prayed.

In October of 2016 I went to visit my cardiologist Dr. OB in Fair Lawn, my mom was with me. When we walked into meet her, her first words were, “ YOU are a miracle!!!” I was kind of stunned and said “ What” She repeated and notice the weight I had lost but more importantly she told me that the EKG had shown so much improvement over the one a year ago, my heart had completely recovered and was now considered normal. I can’t hold back the tears even now as I write these words but I said to the Dr, “Doc you have given me good advice and medicines, I have done what you told me and,,,,, Doc Ive prayed”. I think we both had tears in our eyes at that point

Beloved don’t let anyone or anything tell you you are in an impossible situation ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE TO THOSE THAT BELIEVE…..I BELIEVE IN MIRACLES CAUSE I BELIEVE IN GOD…..PRAISE HIS NAME FOREVER