I have a heavy heart

Good morning friends.  The tornado (s) that touched down in Lincoln county Monday night did not damage Tyler's and Kallie's farm.  However his Uncle and Aunt have an adjoining farm to Tyler and Kallie.  They were hit hard. Their house, two Barnes, rent house and live stock was taken. Kallie told us they were in the basement as the tornado went over their house.  It was not long until they got the call from Uncle Ronnie and Aunt Dorothy.  Thankfully they took cover in their storm shelter.  In Kallie's words, "Mom it looks like Joplin". They helped yesterday to get the surviving livestock to the sale because there isn't a place to keep them. (It blew the barb off the barbed wire).  The insurances set up at a community centers for the damages to be turned in and to help the insured in any way.  Kallie drove Dorothy to the claims area and later it was determined the house (a beautiful farmhouse) would be bull dozed.   Later she rented a car and Uncle Ronnie cut his hand cleaning up and had to go to the emergency room for stitches.  Kallie and Dorothy made a trip to the Tractor Supply for tarps to cover the house which now will not be needed.

Emotionally all are a mess but thankful for life.
Tyler's grandparents that live close are good no damage.  Of course no electricity is a real inconvenice with freezers thawing and no air but in the grand scheme of things that is minor.  I wanted to go be with them but with emergency personnel and crews we would be unable to get to them.  

Today is my appointment with Dr. Mcgriff-Chatman.  I pray for answers and hopefully improved health.   God has this and he is in control.  Please pray for Tyler and Kallie and for their family.  When our children hurt we hurt.  I am hurting.  Much love to all.  Please be with me and be in the moment.

Thankful Thursday

It has been a good day!   Of course the weather was fantastic but I received a good report with my doctor today. I am on the road to better health and while I have no guarantees I will not have another round with the diverticulitis I am doing all the right things the prevent ( if there is such a thing) from reoccurring.

I will be having a colonoscopy the first of June after I have healed from my recent attack.  Because of my age and again to make certain everything is okay.  I look at it differently now, I am just thankful test exist for early signs of problems and etc.

Next Wednesday I have an appointment with my GYN and hopefully I will be receiving information regarding the cysts that were discovered from my CAT scan.  My doctor today doesn't think anything can be done until I have an colonoscopy and it is determined I am okay?!  Of course I am anxious to have the cysts removed but I trust all will be well in time.

My energy level is to say the least low.  I am trying to regain all the ground I lost being so sick.  It is hard for me to realize I do not bounce back as quickly as I use to.
While I am getting better from day to day it has not been quick.  I appreciate everyone for caring, calling, praying and just being here for me.  Please continue to pray for me.  Much love to all!

Now what?

I am encouraged and inspired from all the comments, calls and acts of kindness I have received.  I have always tried to be an encouragement to others but of course have not done near enough.  I have learned a card or call or a visit can make all the difference in the world in someone's day.  My day has been special because of everyone that reach out to me in whatever way.  I appreciate and cherish each comment.  

 Now what?  First, I am going to try to just get healthy.   Spiritually,physically and mentally.  The mental part may take longer than I have but any hoo!  I have hit the reset button spiritually and invite everyone to join me.  Several years ago this town was blessed to have Kirk Brothers and his precious family as residents.  Whether it be right (politically or socially) or not, if I think a evangelist, preacher or whatever "they" want to be called  has the gift, I feel the best compliment to give "them" is you are a teacher.  Kirk Brothers is a teacher.  My Bible has highlights and notes where I marked and learned from God's inspired word through Kirk and others.  One highlighted area is Psalm 51:10-13 and written above is reset button.  Thank you God for a reset button and for teacher Kirk Brothers.  Physically I will try to make better choices eating and exercise.  I will listen to my body and seek help when I have pain or feel like something is just not right.  Mentally I will be doing more of what I enjoy and less of what I don't.  I will be living in the moment breathing deeply and taking everything in.

I have often shared photos of Poo and the projects he does for our home.  However, I must relate he is my best friend, husband, soul mate, father to our children, caregiver and a remarkable tender man.  He is my counselor,cheerleader, and the love of my life.  God allowed us to be together and what an amazing blessing we have together.  I love you Mark forever and always.

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I don't mean to get personal but.....

After the Doctor told me out was out of the surgery woods this time, I had to say thank you to him.  I began...."I just want to thank you for not immediately operating.  You are a surgeon and that is what you do and enjoy doing but you refrained.  Thank you for taking  your oath seriously and for helping me.  God put you with me!  He quickly said no, actually it was another Dr asking me if I wanting to go to the OR.!  He explained that the first Doctor that evaluated me knew I would need something done and called him. (God)  But he did not just operate just to operate.(God)  He was taken back by my comments, but I think he understood.  He asked me if I wanted to know the size of one of the cysts and I said yes.  It is the size of a grapefruit!  When I asked him why I could not feel it he said it is mushy and move when I push in.  Oh.my.word.  My prayer is for it to not be cancer.  Please pray for me.  

I am home now healing from the diverticulitis attack.  In the next several weeks I will have a follow up and an appointment with my GYN.  God is with me, I know because I see His work everywhere I look!

Writing is not my thing.  I know I have used wrong tenses, and etc.  But I ask you to please over look and share my journey with me.  

The motor home may just be closer than I think.  God knows.  :)  Love to all.

Continued.....

Lisa and Mark fanned me and tried their best to get vital signs etc.  The last thing I remember is Lisa putting me into the truck with Mark and telling me she would pray for me.  Mark asked for me to be sedated so he could get me to the ER in Murfreesboro. That is exactly what was done and we were on our way.  I didn't have a clue.

Mark told me to get out and stand by a pole, so I did. (God) He had to park the car!  Normally that would have not happened!  He pulled away and I just.stood.there.!?  We sat down in the ER waiting room and I asked him where are we?!  We were quickly taken to a room.  I could not keep up with the nurse, I had to pull over against the wall several times.  I finally made it to the room and a flurry of activity began. (God)  I am not sure what I thought at this time, maybe a kidney stone but probably something seriously wrong with me.  I remained calmed though. (God)    I was whisked away for a CAT scan and knew something was up by the look on the technician's face when he was pulling me out of the machine.  However, I knew he couldn't say anything so I didn't ask.  When I made it back to the room I had several people looking at me.  Mark sitting by my side. (God)  My new friend began talking, "you do have a large kidney stone but it is not the problem, you have diverticulitis which is the problem and large cysts on your ovaries and a small spot on your left lung".  We will more than likely take you to the OR to repair your intestines and you will have a colostomy.  I said I don't want that, which he replied death or a bag your call.  I looked at Mark and he looked at me and at that moment I thought we had waited too late for the motor home.   I'm not sure why (God)but the surgeon decided to try several cocktails of antibiotics before the OR.  All night Thursday night it was one bag after another of meds plus  pain meds every three hours.  Friday he still was leaning toward surgery but hesitated. (God) Saturday he said I was out of the "surgery woods" this time.  And at that moment I had to tell him God brought me to him.

The "Moment" came without warning......

 We all have dreams that help  keep a zip in our steps and give  a reason to get up when we really don't want to.  Ours has been to own a motor home and to enjoy a simple life with strangers that become friends and keep on the move.  Our children understand  our dream and support us. It is time for them to live their lives and they know we would be right beside them if they ever need us. We realize part of the fun is to day dream  of how it would be to just visit motor home parks and talk with fellow travelers.  We often pick out the ones we want to consider and something comes up.  We have gone back in forth whether to buy fifth wheels or an actual driving motor home.  It is fun to watch specials on television, visit websites, look at magazines, go to dealers, watch videos.  When we see couples out on the interstate we often honk the horn and give them the thumbs ups!  Kindred souls!!!  We never decided on what age we needed to be or when we would take the leap, we just dream.


I say all of that to say this....Thursday April 10, 2014 was a life altering day for Debbie Garrison Haley.  

I have been asked what has happened to me that required a 4.5 day hospital stay.  This is my story and I am sharing it for several reasons which I will discussed later.

I came home Wednesday (9th) with the pain from a kidney stone, so I thought.  I took  pain medicine and went to bed.  The pain was different from my normal kidney stone pain but I still thought it was a kidney stone.  Thursday morning came and the pain was much worse than before.  I knew I had to get help.  I called my Physician knowing he is usually off on Thursdays but thought he might have switched his days.  He was indeed off but I got an appointment with another person in his office.  I quickly got up out of the bed and put a hat on and left.  I did.not.need.to. drive but I had to.  I called Mark and he agreed to meet me there.  I honestly don't remember driving to the office but I do remember the walk into the office.  It is a small parking area but it seemed as I was walking to a far, far away place.  You know, you have been there..you can see it but can't get there!  I checked in, sat down and immediately began sweating profusely.  I got up to go to the bathroom in the entrance and met Mark.  He sat in the waiting room for me in case my name was called.  I shut the door to the bathroom door and immediately slid down the wall and found myself laying on my back.  I am not sure how long it was until I could pick myself up.  I had already envisioned men knocking down the door and at that time I was okay with it.  When I regained enough strength I got up and looked down and the impression of my body was on the floor in water.  I quickly took myself to my seat in the waiting room with Mark.  And at that moment the door opened with a nurse calling patients in and our eyes locked.(God's timing)  She and Mark helped me back to a room. She put me in a wheeler chair took me to the lab, stayed with me, fanned me.(God's angel Lisa Morton)