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After a quick decision last Thursday in my cardiologist’s office, I underwent a cardio catheterization at Broward General on Monday, 2/16/2009. All three of the primary coronary arteries had very significant blockage – evidently in the 80%-90% ranges. The first one was “beautifully” repaired with a medicinal stent. The second will be repaired in about 5 weeks. The third will never be repaired as it is congenitally damaged and irreparable.
I already feel better and expect that the second repair will be even more noticeable. What it seems to have done for me is give me more energy. I had not had much in the way of symptoms except for a lack of energy and trouble with stairs and quick movements. I was blaming those symptoms on having one lung. But I just had a nagging sensation that something was not right. As it turns out, I was a “walking time bomb”.
By the way, I have had a whole lot of cardio workups done in the last two years due to the lung cancer and diabetes. There had only been a suggestion last August in a stress test that maybe there should be some follow-up but my previous cardiologist was in no hurry. I do not mean in any way that he was wrong. The current cardiologist saw that, did a little listening to me and to my heart and simply asked how soon I wanted to have him go in. After a bit of a recoil, I said let’s get it over.
The procedure was painless. Of course the valium, morphine and versed helped. But having to lie quietly for 12 hours was torture till they got me sufficiently doped up. I had already made it perfectly clear that I had absolutely no interest in the procedure itself and was out for it. The most interesting part of the whole operation to me was as follows. After six hours they remove a sleeve that they have around the femoral artery where they went in, using millions of dollars of equipment and a whole lot of computer guidance. But then a human, in this case a very nice and experienced RN, uses her thumb to press down on the femoral artery for 20-30 minutes. The artery repairs itself, they hope. Otherwise, things get really, really dicey. But I kept praying that that thumb was God’s thumb. As always, it was!
Now – a bit of a God story! The cardio assistant took all my history before the doctor came in the room, meticulously writing down my now rather complicated medical history. Then Dr. Chizner came in and, as were were chatting, mainly about FBCFL and Pastor Thompson, I mentioned that I had gotten “my new heart” in 2004. He smiled but, at the same time, we both noticed the assistant rise up in her seat, stricken that I had not mentioned that I had a heart replacement. After both the Doctor and I managed to quit giggling, I got to do a little testifying by way of explaining what my “new heart” was. He always gives us a way to do HIs work, doesn’t He. We just need to see it and use it.
And on that line, my wonderful wife Linda and dedicated, great friend Brian Doyle were there, as was ever faithful Toni Hamilton. I think, between the three of us, we must have about 10 nurses and family members coming to the next Pageant.
My health journey for the last several years has been a bit troubling at times. I don’t think anyone likes to feel like a 63 year old sicky. I mean high fevers to cancer to hypertension to diabetes and now coronary artery disease would have had me railing at the world – bitter, at the least very, very grouchy, and very unpleasant to be around. But finding the Lord in 2004 altered that. I have been able to face this with equanimity and peace. I know where I am going and I know that I will go when He wants me. I only pray throughout whatever journey remains that I am able to figure out what He wants me to do, to learn where He would have me be.
Vaya con Dios, my brothers and sisters, actual or to be, and thank you for all your prayers……………
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
John’s Quick Health Report – and a God Story!
Sunday, February 8, 2009
OK God! I got it ……….
by Linda Sykes
This is a story about how God kept giving me a message over and over and over. Once I got it, He told me to share it with you. Like many things in life, I don’t know why.
What I do know, this is for you.
Our story.
After battling a nagging case of pneumonia my husband John was diagnosed with a tumor in his left lung September 2006. Repeated testing revealed the tumor was not cancer, and we rejoiced. Nevertheless his wise doctor said the 7 cm tumor should be removed and we agreed. But there was a catch. Since it wasn’t cancer my courageous John decided to wait until after the Fort Lauderdale Christmas Pageant at our church home, First Baptist Church of Fort Lauderdale.
If you haven't been let me tell you it is a very big deal. It is a big deal to the 50,000 people who attend because it rivals a Broadway production. It is a bigger deal to the 1,000+ cast members who donate their time in 19 performances and thousands of hours of practice as an act of worship.
2006 was John's 3rd pageant. He joined the family of Christ in May 2004. His pageant “job” was to stand guard on the stage door, where he quickly began to know everyone. He wouldn't miss it for the world, and that little ‘ole tumor would just have to wait.
First, the card.
We received a Christmas card that year from my cousin Irene with a hand written bible verse on the inside. It simply said, 'Heal me oh Lord and I shall be healed.' There wasn’t any scripture reference for the verse. It touched me. I didn't know my cousin all that well, growing up in separate states, and thought she too must have my faith. Pretty cool I thought.
Next, the radio show.
The next day while listening to a Christian radio station I heard a prayer request for a man who had been diagnosed with cancer and was going in for surgery. The prayer request claimed a verse for healing 'Heal me oh Lord, and I shall be healed'. Of course it caught my ear but I missed the verse’s reference. I thought how interesting that the same verse had come to me twice in 2 days.
The following day; same time, driving the same path, same station, I heard the report that he was healed. The cancer was gone when they examined him before surgery! They were rejoicing and I was with them. I was going to have to look this bible verse up!
The twist.
John had surgery to remove the tumor December 20, 2006. Our 15 year-old daughter Alice and I were in the waiting room surrounded by our beloved church family. Pastor Brian and Connie Doyle were there early enough to pray with John before surgery. There was a whole slew of others, around 20 friends in all. In the waiting room we effectively had church, which is what happens when this family is together.
I decided with all this bible brainpower in the room that someone could tell me the reference to the verse 'Heal me oh Lord and I shall be healed'. After much search through Bibles on hand we couldn't find it. Someone finally said with authority it was in Psalms so I decided to find it later.
As the day dragged on we really embraced the concept of ‘waiting‘ room. John should have been out of surgery at noon, but it wasn't until 2 that the doctor finally showed up. He came right at me and told me that the tumor was much larger than expected and it was cancer.
We were all stunned. However the family of faith quickly kicked into gear with prayer networks and simple hugs. What was supposed to have been a serious surgery with a good outcome grew into something bigger and sinister. As the day turned to evening friends filtered to their homes. One of the last to leave, my dear sister in Christ, Connie Doyle was urged to go home.
Then the gift.
Less than an hour later Connie called me all excited. She had found the verse!
When she arrived home she opened a Christmas gift from Cynthia Thompson, Pastor Larry's wife. It was a daily devotional; you know the kind, with a verse on every day. She decided to turn to the entry for that day and there it was...Jeremiah 17:14 ' Heal me oh Lord and I shall be healed, save me and I shall be saved!' We were just blown away.
By this time God really had my attention. We wrote the verse on the white board in John’s hospital room and claimed it for his healing. And we added the next part of the verse which I truly love.
Heal me oh Lord and I shall be healed, save me and I shall be saved, for you are the one that I praise.
Three times He sent this word to me for John and our family to have faith for healing, to trust him for salvation and to praise him in the storm. He sent the message in a card, on a radio show and in a gift.
And then very much to my surprise, He gave it to me again.
Many nights had passed after the surgery before I again crawled into our bed at home. It was strange being there without John, but he had recovered enough to let me go home and rest in good conscious. As I had done many nights in my life before turning out the light, I picked up my bedside bible I thought , I am going to look up our verse! I flipped my bible to Jeremiah and then chapter 17... I couldn't believe it. A dog eared page marked my starting point, flipping back just one page was Jeremiah 17. My last sleepy reading before the hospital ordeal began, 'Heal me oh Lord and I shall be healed, save me and I shall be saved, for you are the one that I praise’.
Four times! God knows I am slow to get the message sometimes and he loves me enough to speak to me again and again until I get it.
It is now February 2009. John has been cancer free for 2 years. And we are still giving praise to the one who heals and saves us.
If you are still reading this, thank you. To say these words are life changing to me is an understatement.
Let me attempt to tell you what I mean.
‘Heal me oh Lord‘. It is a cry out to Him, the one who can heal, the master physician. It is a simple and yet bold request, and it recognizes the sovereignty of the Lord. We submit to his will and we come to ask for help. Who do you ask for help when you need it?
The next part, ‘and I shall be healed’ is a statement of faith, belief and strength, claiming the victory of healing in advance!
And the second sweet part, ‘save me’, another cry out for help, for salvation, for relief, for peace, to Abba Father the comforter, the only one who can save me and you too for that matter. Whatever you need to be saved from, he can lift your burden. His yoke is easy and his burden is light.
Then it goes on to say ‘and I shall be saved’, again reflecting wonderful faith, a position of strength, a confession of complete trust, just a word to our Lord and it is done. Those of us who believe in Christ can come freely to our heavenly Father by the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross. We can make ‘I shall’ statements in the very toughest of times. Can you?
Then last ‘for you are the one that I praise’ is a love note. If I could, I would have everyone on this planet have one sweet moment when they are washed in God’s love.
You can see how this verse touches our family.
But I now know that wasn’t the only reason he showed this to me.
He showed this verse to me so I could tell you that He loves you and He wants you to know that He is there for you.
That is why I wrote this.
And that is why you read it.
He is waiting for you to seek Him, and He won’t give up on you until you do.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Thursday, February 5, 2009
The Prayer Shawl
by Reverend Brian Doyle at The First Baptist Church of Fort Lauderdale
On Jan. 26th, 2009 my grandson, Parker, had his 5th surgery in 2 years at Boston Children’s Hospital. The surgeries encompassed the removal of most of his scalp on the back of his head and the implanting of two “expanders”, silicon balloons, to stretch his scalp for reconstruction.
A sweet believer of our church, First Baptist Church of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Elizabeth Covello, gave Grammy, Connie my wife, a prayer shawl to give to our son Kirk. Connie gave the prayer shawl to Kirk and Amy, Parker’s parents, when Parker went into the operating room. Kirk looked at the prayer shawl, read all the reasons for the prayer shawl, prayed, and then got up and headed out of the waiting room. Connie asked where he was going and he said to the operating room to give Parker the shawl. Obviously, Connie told him that the doctor would not allow him to go in and compromise the OR. Kirk went anyway. The doctor and nurse in charge allowed Kirk to give them the shawl and they placed it with Parker.
The surgery was a success. The surgeon came out to the waiting room to give the news to Kirk, Amy, and Connie. He said that he did not know that Doyle was a Jewish name and that they were Jewish. Connie spoke up and said of course they were, that they had been grafted in and that their Savior, Jesus Christ was Jewish.
The Lord Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, gave Elizabeth Covello the thought of giving a prayer shawl for Parker. Because of her obedience The Lord Jesus was glorified and a strong witness to Him was given to a Jewish surgeon. Our Lord desires for us to glorify Him at all times. The gift of a prayer shawl shows to an unbelieving world, the confidence of prayer, the faith of knowing that Jesus hears, and the power of healing through our Lord Jesus. Salvation!!!!! Jesus is the Life, the Truth, and the Way.
Praise Him and thank you Elizabeth Covello. Thank you my son, Kirk for hearing the Holy Spirit and being obedient even when man’s rules say you shouldn’t.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Monday, February 2, 2009
A Christian Hero – Tony Dungee
This is a man who led his life as the Lord led him, not as the dog-eat-dog, business-not-sport NFL world would have tempted him to do. Fortunately others recognize that and he was recently honored just before the Super Bowl. Please click here to see the news report and some pictures. It’s really a motivating story. And it makes me sad that more of the world doesn’t see this kind of stuff.