Life

A brief overview of my day yesterday:

Wake up at 6:00 am, drive through a blizzard and unplowed roads to a lab to have blood drawn…we get there safely…lab is closed due to weather.  I was assured they would be open.  They are not.  We drive through the blizzard again to my doctor’s office which is thankfully open and a lab staff person has safely made it to work.  She draws my blood.  I then find out I need an IV medication to be infused and we wait all day for the orders to come through.  They finally do.  I go to the hospital where it takes four nurses nine tries to get an IV in my arm.  They finally do, but not before some significant pain and bruising is inflicted on both my arms, wrists and hands. I get the medicine and finally go home at 10:00 at night. 

Imagine my dread when I find out this morning I need another round of blood drawn for more tests…13 vials to be exact.  Last time I had that much blood drawn it required somewhere in the neighborhood of 7 – 10 needle sticks and I nearly passed out.  Enter Rodney.  I am sitting in Rodney’s room this morning at the lab he works at waiting for him to draw all this blood.  My arms are sore and bruised from yesterday and I am not looking forward to this.  “Whew, this is a lot of blood” he says. “What do you need this much blood drawn for?” he asks.  I tell him about yesterday and I tell him a very brief version of my whole story and difficulty carrying babies to term.  I tell him how hard it was last time they tried to get this much blood from me.  He is quiet.  I look around his office.  It is obvious he is a follower of Jesus.  He has cards and notes hanging on his wall that reflect his faith.  He stands up, looks at my bruised and battered arms and says, “I will use a butterfly needle. I will hit your vein the first time and I will get all the blood with one stick.  Just relax.”  As he is taking my blood he asks me, “Are you a believer?”  “Yes, I am.” I say.  “Well you need to start speaking Life.  You have every reason to be as scared as you are, but nothing is an accident and God’s ways are not ours.”  “I know” I say, “It’s really hard though”.  “A few years ago I was an alcoholic and addicted to drugs.  Today I am a leader in my church.  I have two sons and an amazing wife.  You have to speak Life”.  I say, “I know it might not seem like I am today, but I try, in my own way, to speak Life.  I am still trying to have a baby.  I must be speaking Life if I believe on some level God will still make that happen.”  He shakes his head in agreement."You are a strong woman."  he says.  "I have no choice.  I have to be." I reply.

A conversation like this is rarely had between two strangers.  But Rodney and I aren’t strangers really.  We are heirs to the same kingdom, believers in the same God.  We are a brother and sister in Christ.  And because of this connection, we can have this talk.  It is this faith that connects so many of us and makes friends out of strangers. Rodney delivers on his promise…one small needle, one stick, all 13 vials drawn in a matter of minutes.  Done.  A walk in the park.  And as I leave, he says something to me that is, for the time being, for my ears only.   

I want to speak Life.  I want to say that though these past few days have been physically and emotionally grueling, I am thankful for the science and medicine that’s helping to bring our dream to reality.  I am thankful for a husband that drives me all over town in a blizzard.  I am thankful that the nurses who took nine times to get an IV in me were so sweet and felt so bad that we were having such a rough time getting it in.  It’s not their fault.  I have really tough veins.  But through these veins flows the blood of Jesus that has washed over me and through me and set me free.  I have hope in Him.  I am thankful He lead me right into Rodney’s lab chair today.  Not an accident.  I am thankful for Life.  I praise God today and thank Him a million times over for Life.  Thank you, God, for this life.

I love you always and forever and no matter what.