"FOR I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU, 'DECLARES THE LORD', PLANS TO PROSPER YOU, NOT TO HARM YOU, PLANS TO GIVE YOU HOPE AND A FUTURE."
JEREMIAH 29:11
It's 3:12am, I am having a hard time sleeping. So, I thought I would share one of the God moments I had last week. I had gone to the ER with my mom because she wasn't feeling well. We were concerned because she was having some stroke-like symptoms and since she has had a mini stroke in the past, we felt it was important that we get this checked out fairly quickly. Thankfully, the tests showed that she wasn't having a stroke and we were able to come home later that day. Please pray for her too, as I know the stress of all of this with me is taking a toll on her.
While we were there, across the hall from her was a man. His wife/girlfriend was with him. I couldn't help but over hear a little of what was going on with him, and I told Melanie, I think they said something about pancreatitis. She, laughed thinking I just had pancreatitis on the brain. :-) Of course, I do.....but that's beside the point. :-) The man was talking loudly and I could see directly into his room from where I was sitting. His wife could also see me, and she continued to look up at me and smile. Whenever they were discussing things, she would look up at me as if she was including me in the conversation. I continued to hear comments, that would relate to someone who had pancreatitis. Each time, I would hit Melanie, and say see.....that goes along with pancreatitis! :-) She just laughed at me, but then began to agree it did seem that way. I knew the nurse wouldn't be allowed to tell me what was up with him, so I told her, I have pancreatitis and if that man has it to, you can let him know that I would be glad to talk to him.....I told her we need all the support we can get! :-) She just smiled and of course, said, I can't discuss other patients. Let me say, the man obviously didn't care who in the hospital knew what was going on with him.....he was talking VERY loudly and didn't care that his door was wide open. So, it's not like I was having to be nosey to find this out. I would always want to respect someone's privacy as I am fairly private myself.
Well, y'all know me.....I felt God prompting me to say something to him, but I was scared. I didn't know how to approach them, what to say.....I didn't know if he would scream at me and tell me to get out. And, I was afraid the nurse would say, " Miss, would you please stop bothering other patients!" LOL ;-) But, I knew I had to say something....I couldn't let this opportunity to pass by. So, I walked across the hall and stood at the door. I timidly told them that I couldn't help but over hear and asked if he had pancreatitis. He said yes.......and I immediately said, " I do too." I could see the disbelief on his face as he said "Really?!" I said yes and assured him I knew the pain and how difficult it was to deal with and understood what he was going through. He immediately started telling me his story, showing me his scar where they had previously removed a cyst from his pancreas, (I told you he didn't care. ;-)) and his wife started asking me questions. He was very open about admitting that he drank A LOT of alcohol on a daily basis ( 15 to 16 beers a day) and that he couldn't stop and probably wouldn't. He said that he had tried and would be able to for about 4 or 5 months but start again. I quickly wanted him to know that I did not judge him for that and understood his difficulty.
I would like to explain something about alcohol and pancreatitis. Many people believe the main reason for Chronic Pancreatitis is alcohol. Health care professionals who are uneducated about CP have the tendency to label any CP patient they see as an alcoholic. However, there are MANY reasons for CP. It is my belief, (along with many others in the support groups I am a part of as well as specialists in the field) that alcohol and smoking only aggravate an already existing condition. My CP was caused by a birth defect, Pancreatic Divisum, and the procedures that were required to try to correct and help the symptoms of this birth defect. (There are many people in the my groups that have Pancreatic Divisum as well.) In addition, there is Hereditary Pancreatitis and AutoImmune Pancreatitis. ( There is one lady in the group who's entire family has it.....her husband and two small children. I cannot imagine the pain of watching your child with this.) Cystic Fibrosis and injury can also lead to Chronic Pancreatitis. There are people and children who have never had a drop of alcohol that have Chronic Pancreatitis. And then sometimes, it is idiopathic pancreatitis, meaning there isn't a known cause. I'm sure we can all think of people we know, that should have Chronic Pancreatitis if alcohol was the main cause. And yet, I bet you don't know many other people, if any at all, who have it besides me. This is a misconception that I would like to help correct, because I have seen how it has torn a part the lives of some of these people. It continues the stigma attached to CP which makes getting caring, proper treatment difficult. Having said this, once you do know that you have pancreatitis, it is very important to stop drinking any alcohol even moderately. It definitely aggravates the symptoms and, if you don't stop drinking, then it will only cause more problems.
This is a problem for the guy at the hospital. He and his wife wanted advice......wanted to know what I was doing. I told them that I was going to see about the TP/AIT at UAB. And they wanted to know if I thought he could benefit from that. I told them I didn't know.....but, I had to be honest with them. So, as gently as I could.....as lovingly as I could, I explained how it would be very difficult to get any good results unless he was able to quit drinking. He surprisingly was not hostile or angry when I said this. I explained to him basically what I just said in the above paragraph. But stressed that it would be difficult to get better if he didn't stop drinking. He explained how his entire family was alcoholics and drug addicts....and yet, he was the only one with this disease. My heart felt for him..... and for her. Once when he had gone for a test, she came over to talk with me, and said they told him he was going to die if he didn't stop drinking. But, drinking was the only thing that made him happy and he said if he dies, at least he would die happy. Throughout the day, we would talk a little here and there.......it became very clear that it was a very dysfunctional relationship and he was very mean to her.
The whole situation made me very sad. I didn't have any advice for them. I felt his self- hatred ......I'm sure he blames himself. He was very open to the nurses about his drinking and confessed it with such humility. And he was nice to them and to me, yet very hostile and mean to his wife. He even kicked her out as well as his father. I think they eventually left him there.....which I don't blame them. Had I seen all of this before I went over, I would have been too fearful to say anything. It is amazing that he didn't react in anger to me.......I know it is because it wasn't from me but from Him.
I'm not sure why God had our paths cross. We are two people so very different.....but share the same disease. I think the differences in us is an important part of why we met. Maybe he could see that it wasn't just people like him that had this disease......maybe God somehow empowered him to take some steps to get the help he really needs, first. Maybe it was to teach me something. I don't know. I may never know. All I know, is that God presented an opportunity before me where I could show someone love and concern....and I am thankful that he gave me the courage to obey Him. They had asked for the name and number of my doctor. So, I wrote it down along with this verse:
" For I know the plans I have for you, 'declares the Lord', plans to prosper you, not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
When he left, I wasn't in the room with my mom and Melanie. But, they said he stopped in and said he wanted to thank me. I think that was confirmation that God was speaking to his heart. I continue to pray that he and his wife will find peace and comfort through Him. Could you say a prayer for him too? Thanks y'all. Much love!