The Unexpected

Life is very fragile......as we all know. I should be at church right now. Prepared to teach my Sabbath School, lead in Song Service and listen to my husband's sermon, after sundown taking the girls to their friends' birthday party. But....things change!

Garhett and I were talking the other night, while I was saying good night to him. (This seems to be the time when he likes to talk!) He has such a desire to be a missionary nurse/pilot/Evangelist.
He was saying,"Mama, all of the great preachers have such testimonies! Take Ivor Myers, Doug Batchelor, Pastor John, and on and on. I don't have a testimony! It's not like I want to go out and do something in the world and come back to who I am...I just want people to know I understand them and I feel for them!"
I knew how he felt. I felt much like this when I was younger. We are told to tell our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ our Testimony of how we found the Lord. I was also brought up with the knowledge of Bible truth. I often wonder if I would have found it on my own? A thought that scares me, and I am so blessed to have had the childhood I hold in my memory!  I told him, he has a Testimony! He has a relationship with Jesus all of his own. On his own accord he had a great desire to be baptized at the ripe old age of 9, he "found" God early. Yes, I know part of it is training him, teaching him, but he LOVES the Lord. I knew what he was saying. Then....

Yesterday, as we were preparing for the Sabbath coming up, the "unexpected" happened! The kids were all doing their Friday chores, dusting, sweeping, mopping, laundry, vacuuming, etc. I was in the kitchen preparing Friday night and Sabbath's meal. Just our normal Friday activity. The kids were trying to hurry, because they had two subjects to finish up for the week as well. I was making re fried beans and Bulgar/veggie meat, when I heard Garhett's "weak" deep voice. "Mama...Mama!!" He turned the corner into the kitchen, with his knees buckling, holding his chest with both hands, while his lips were a shade of light blue/purple. I didn't panic! I took his arm and lead him to a chair, where I layed him back and put his feet up. He couldn't even talk to me, I could see it was very uncomfortable to breath. I checked his pulse and was watching the clock. Five minutes went by, ten minutes...he started saying the pain was in his chest and shooting through to his back. I prayed over him...all of his siblings were standing as if they were statues, I was wondering if they were breathing! Now, Garhett is a tough kid, when something is really wrong he "finally" lets me know about it. He doesn't want me to worry! After the 15 minute mark of him still hurting, while thoughts were whirling around my head,  ("he was born with a hold in his heart, they did say it closed at the age of 7, his asthma, Eric's heart transplant, Kyle's heart problems, Uncle Bud, Granny, Gramps.....") I came to my senses, while continuing to pray, I called the doctor. I got right through to his nurse, which is unusual, she told me to call 911. Well, I think that is protocol, I knew he was able for me to drive him. I loaded up the kids and as we were backing down the driveway I called my husband. I felt terrible. He was in a three hour administrative meeting...I talked to his secretary...I tried to be calm, but I started crying. She said she'd run and get him from the district office. Garhett was saying, "Mama, we can't afford an ER visit. I am fine. Just give me time. I don't want to go, don't worry. We aren't ready for the Sabbath.....Dad's in a meeting..." I knew he was doing okay, because he was back to worrying about everyone but himself.
I told him, "This may be part of that Testimony you were looking for!" He tried to smile...

When we got to the hospital the children sat in the waiting room, there was no one else in there. A male nurse came right out and talked with us...weighed and measured Garhett...who is now 5"11!....Keep that in mind. The nurse said he would be back to see what rooms were available. I could almost see what Mitchell was thinking....the nurse came back and asked me about the other children. I told him that my 2nd and 3rd oldest were fine to watch the other three. ( I thought about leaving them here, but they so wanted to know how their brother was, so how could I leave them here to worry? I couldn't!) I saw maturity in Mitchell's face, just then, almost telling me..."I am fine Mama! I will take care of things here..you go and take care of Garhett!"

Well, to make a long story short.....after x-rays, ekg, all that stuff.......we heard what was going on. Rhett had gotten there by then, the other children were quietly and patiently waiting....

He has grown 5 to 6 inches over the last two months. His chest cavity is pulling away..almost like a huge stretch mark on the inside. It sounds strange, but they said it happens to tall, slender boys who have a growth spurt like this. He is growing sooo fast right now. His feet are a size 11. When he was younger he was of an average height, as he got older it felt that everyone else was growing, but him. We are vegetarians/vegan and I do believe, without the hormones that meat has, my children will develop at a slower rate. Mitchell, well, he is a different story..he is at a constant growth rate.

Well, after being in the hospital for hours, we headed home. I was so proud of the other children. Staying out there for so long, the receptionists asked them if they would like to watch cartoons or something. Mitch said he politely said," No thanks, we are okay." They gave them coloring books and Rhett and I took turns being with them, sometimes they were alone, though. When I walked through the ER to go home, people were stopping me and telling me they had never seen children behave like that, with just an older brother watching over them. On the way home, I told Garhett that the kids were a witness of who Christ is to those people at the hospital. Everywhere we go, including home, we need to show Christ in all we do. My kids could have caved and watched TV we don't have TV (I wasnt there to advise them, but they didn't!) My heart rejoiced!! To most of you, that probably isn't a big concern, what they watch, but to me...it's just a foot into the world! Maybe two feet!

Well, we have another appointment on Monday morning for a follow-up and for more information about what is going on. Right now Tori has a temperature and Garhett is still in pain. I am having "church" here with five children, Mitchell went to church with Rhett. I feel terrible I can't hear his sermon, but things 'unexpected' happen, what do you do about it?

I would truly appreciate prayers on Garhett's behalf. I will update on him when I learn more! God bless you on this Sabbath day!