The Outpatient Surgery That Almost Killed Me – Twice, Part 2

On the evening of January 30, 2009 something I ate for dinner didn’t agree with me and I vomited, which ruptured the site of the previous tear in my esophagus. The cardio-thoracic surgeon that saved my life on November 10, 2006 was called in for another emergency surgery. After the surgery he told my husband and son that he did all that he could for me, but there was really very little he could do. He said, “She’s in God’s hands.” My husband replied, “She always has been.”

Two days later I developed A.R.D.S. – Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome. My husband and son were told that 99.5% of people with that condition don’t survive. But, I was in such bad shape there was really no chance at all of my survival. I was definitely not going to make it. It might be two or three days, or two or three weeks but my major organs would all begin shutting down, and at some point in that process I would die. Again, they were advised to call the rest of the family and begin making arrangements.

I remained in ICU on a ventilator for two weeks; then a tracheotomy was performed, and the ventilator was attached to the trach. I developed bacterial infections, pneumonia, fungal blood infections due to central lines, and a blood clot in my left leg.

On Friday, February 27, my husband and son were informed that the only thing keeping me alive was the ventilator. My lungs had not functioned since the surgery, and they would never function again. I would never be able to live apart from the ventilator. On Monday morning there was going to be a meeting to review my case. Unless something changed over the weekend, the doctors’ recommendation was going to be to take me off life support. Nothing changed over the weekend.

Early on Monday morning, March 2, my husband was in the room when a nurse came in to check my vitals. When she began listening to my chest her expression suddenly changed; she began rapidly moving the stethoscope around, listening. Then she suddenly dashed out of the room. She had heard movement in my lungs; they were beginning to function.

I don’t know why God waited until the 11th hour, but He was right on time!

I remained in ICU until weaned from the ventilator and the trach was removed. I was transferred to a room on March 20 and went home on April 7. By the end of 2010 I was fully recovered.

The doctor told me that when he performed that emergency surgery, he did all that he could for me, but nothing he did would have been lifesaving. Again, he said that the only reason I survived was Divine intervention.

From the moment I woke up in ICU after the initial surgery in 2006 until I went home the last time on April 7, 2009, I was at peace because of the time that God held me. However, it’s often hard to see how God is working when you’re in the middle of a situation. It’s only later, looking back, that it becomes clear. That’s why it’s important to reflect on the past. Seeing how God was working during that time, gives you greater peace and faith that God is working during your next difficulty.

Why was it so important to God for me to live and make a full recovery? At the time I had no idea. Now, it makes sense. It wasn’t really about me so much as it was about my son. By the time my husband died in 2011 my son had become totally disabled. If I had not been here, and able to provide for him, it would have changed the course of his life. He would have been left homeless and destitute.

God hasn’t shared with me His plans for my son. However, my son has made it known that God has called him to the ministry.

Why did God allow that to even happen? What happened to me was the result of the doctor’s free-will choice not to take the training, which God had to allow. So, God intervened to bring me through the consequences of the doctor’s decision, fully restored.

Even though God had to allow the Dr. to make his own free-will choice, why didn’t He intervene to prevent the tears to my esophagus and stomach? I can speculate, but only God knows.