Stress and the Emergency Room

This week is a highly stressful week of meetings and travel. You don't want to see our schedules. They're insane. Both Ray and I are constantly rushing from meeting to meeting and city to city. If I add in our unexpected financial obligations, it can definitely bring me down. Just yesterday, a friend and I were discussing financial woes. Her family has some financial hardships, as well, and we were wondering what God was showing us through this time. Just after that conversation,  I found out that Ray would not be furloughed this Friday, which had been originally anticipated. He will be receiving a paycheck for (at least) the next 2 weeks. I thought, "Woohoo! That's right! We're going to get through this! Things could be worse."

Yesterday I had 2 serious health episodes. For the past 16 years I have had intestinal issues. I don't know what causes them, but my doctors have always believed they were stress related. I experience a severe pain in my lower intestine which immediately drops my blood pressure and usually results in losing consciousness. Yesterday morning was my worst episode yet. I don't even know how long I was passed out. I just remember a period of 40 minutes that I was conscious one moment and unconscious the next.  I was drenched in a pool of sweat and it was the longest episode I've had, thus far.  About 20 minutes later, I had another one. I've never had more than one a year, and sometimes, only one every 3 years. They usually don't last long, so I just figured this is my life. I feel them coming and I know to drop to the floor and suffer through. However, my dad's brother died of an intestinal aneurysm a couple years ago and I recently found out his son, my cousin, just had part of his intestine removed. Therefore, I've decided that, even if it relates to stress, I really need to see a specialist. That's on my list of things to do.

As I was driving to Austin today for an Army meeting, I couldn't seem to reach Ray on his cell phone. I wanted to meet up with him before the meeting. When I finally reached him, he told me that a couple hours earlier, he had experienced some chest pains and went to the medical facility on Camp Mabry. They immediately rushed him, by ambulance, to the Seton emergency room because they thought he had a mild heart attack. Yes. Heart attack. When I was with him in the ER this afternoon, the doctor said that he didn't think it was a heart attack, however, his valve could be 90% blocked and then became totally blocked and then went back to 90% block. Nevertheless, he'll be meeting with a cardiologist in the morning.

When the doctor was talking to us about schedules and possibly admitting Ray for the night, we both were so stressed. No, this is Ray's only night home... he can't stay in a hospital. He has to pack for the next 4 days - 2 ceremonies, commander conference, etc. After interviewing 4 people that must be interviewed tomorrow, he has to rush back to SA and then drive to Houston in the afternoon and then on to Corpus on Friday. And, I have an early appointment tomorrow, then rush to pick up Jared and spend 4 1/2 hours with Dr. Champagne and then pick up and drop off Ray and then rush the boys to soccer practice. It was like our heads were saying, "You don't understand! We don't have time for a heart attack! Are you crazy?" I know that sounds ludicrous but it's hard enough to keep our schedules going this week.

You would think that our serious health issues during the past 35 hours would slow us down. We do plan to slow down. Unfortunately, it may have to wait until Monday. I am definitely trying to slow my mind down and focus on Someone much more important than our crazy schedules.

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life^? Matthew 6: 25-27 (NIV)