Hi
Friends,
Thank you so much for the many prayers that
have been offered up on my behalf.
As many of you know I have rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia
and was due to have hand surgery before a tendon ruptured
in September. Instead, in late September, I ended up with
a bad case of cellulites on my ankle that abscessed to a
staph infection, surgery was postponed. And due to all of
this, I've been off my main arthritis drug, Humera, since
August (it's one of those where the commercials say, "fatalities
have occurred.")
I'd been going to wound care weekly and any further infection
was ruled out with MRIs and x-rays, but the hole in my ankle
still wouldn't heal. They basically said it would be VERY
slow since I was on steroids. But then last week, a day
after my regular appointment at wound care, it started itching
and getting red. I knew by that night it was infected again,
spent most of the night up and then called wound care first
thing in the morning. By the time I got to my 1 pm appointment,
the redness had swelled almost to my knee and around my
whole ankle. It was completely infected again and they put
me in the hospital Wednesday.
I had another MRI, another x-ray, etc. and by Friday my
night they got the culture back just before my third antibiotic
was started and the wound was diagnosed as being Strep A.
- a.k.a. the "flesh-eating-virus." SCARY!
I have to say I am grateful now I did not have internet
access because what I've read about this toxic infection
and how easy it is to lose a limb over it, I'm glad I didn't
know that at the time.
After 7 days, I came home Tuesday, Nov. 11th and have 3
weeks of IV antibiotics. I carry my pack around which is
kind of a pain since the arthritis is flaring so badly and
now I have 3 more pounds to lug around and sleep with at
night, but whatever it takes to get better! The "PICC"
line isn't really fun (as many of you know!) and my "computer"
unit that runs the IV has had multiple errors each day.
We've spent 2-3 hours per day with Home Health helping us
try to figure out what it wrong with it. My husband has
been a lifesaver doing it all for me, but he's feeling a
bit stressed.
I've basically been fielding calls from doctors, home health,
pharmacies, and a few friends since I got home. "Wound
care" at home fell through the cracks so it took a
lot of calls to remind them I needed a basic lesson in treating
it correctly. Don't you love all that red tape? We just
hold the phone and it rings…
If you have emailed me and I've not responded, know that
I've read just about all the emails and how much I appreciate
the encouragement. If you emailed about a more pertinent
matter, I am answering them ASAP.
I knew God was going to work on me and the issue of control/surrender
this autumn when my much-needed surgery was put off, but
I am beginning to realize He had a bigger project in mind
than I knew!
My mom is here now, dad drives down from Oregon next week
to join her and "stay until I am well." and through
the holidays. My son, Josh, 5, is handling it all pretty
well, but made his 2nd trip to the principle's office last
week for "hitting." It was the 2nd time, and both
times were directly following my infections and all the
ER visits/hospital trips, so please keep my family in your
prayers too. As a mom it's an area I don't have control
over and it makes me sad I can't completely assure him.
Frankly, we have all felt like hitting something or kicking
the last few days, so who can blame a 5-year-old who decided
to follow up on his instincts?
This was my first visit overnight in a hospital (we adopted
our son, so I didn't even have maternity ward experience),
so I guess in a weird way I made the most of it. I've learned
a lot from all of you. I got to wear my own jimmies, I had
my own pillows! And I tried to spread a bit of cheer into
the lives of all the nurses and doctors who came to my room.
I shared some copies of my book "Beyond Casseroles,"
magazines, etc. and told everyone my strength came from
the prayers that were being offered up on my behalf. I ask
that you pray that those who do not know Christ will somehow
remember the gal in room 414 who tried to keep a smile on
her face despite wherever they stuck her or the news they
gave her. We never know what is going on in someone's life
and I hope I encouraged someone. I say that not to brag
about myself, but because I only recognized how important
that was based on all the stories you have shared with me
over the years about how you have done that very thing.
I tried to live up to the standards you have set to gracefully
say, "Thy will be done."
I don't know what the coming weeks hold. Orders placed
at Rest Ministries are still being shipped. My whole family
is either taking care of me (or my arm with the medication)
or my ministry. I have my first visit back at wound care
Monday. I pray 3 weeks of medications will clear this up,
but I anticipate the wound likely won't heal for 2-3 months
based on what they told me.
I'm a bit scared and having no clue about when I will really
be "out of the woods" but I know God is in control
and for some reason, this is the current journey he's taken
me on.
I know this was a lot of personal information, when I typically
send out the ezine HopeNotes. I will try to get it back
next week. Thanks for being with me on this journey!
Much love and thanksgiving,
Lisa Copen
www.restministries.org
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Did
you know we really need your prayers?
In the last few months we've had volunteers who have
suffered heart attacks, lost their home, lost a loved one,
had additional illnesses diagnosed and more.