As I sat with friends at lunch a couple of Sundays ago, I was picking at my food because of not feeling very well. Suddenly I got a stomach cramp and had to excuse myself and quickly head to the bathroom. It took a while before my gastro symptoms were eliminated. In fact, one of my friends came to check on me because I had been gone about 10 minutes. Feeling OK, I returned to my table to pay the bill. Then I got in my car to drive the 15 minutes to my home.
About halfway there, suddenly another cramping episode began. There were no businesses anywhere on the two-lane road where I could stop and not even a shoulder where I could pull off. “It’s not very much farther – I can make it to my house,” I assured myself because there was not really any choice.
But the cramps kept coming and my eyesight suddenly turned dark with just some tunnel vision intact. I took off my sunglasses thinking that would help, but then everything was shockingly bright – so I quickly put them back on. By then I was feeling extremely anxious and remember clutching the steering wheel with all my might.
I have no recollection of what occurred for the next four or five miles. During that time, I somehow went through two major intersections and can only assume the lights had been green. Suddenly the road became very bumpy, and the jarring made me aware of what was happening. I realized I was no longer on smooth pavement. The road was narrow and I had to pull over so a pickup truck coming toward me could pass. Only half conscious and still unable to see much, I started moving again but soon crashed into a boat trailer holding a large blue pleasure craft.
I sat stunned and immobile, leaning over the steering wheel. Suddenly a man appeared and asked, “Are you all right? Should I call an ambulance?”
“I need my son!” was my response. Locating my phone somehow, I tapped his picture on the screen and the call went through immediately. He answered quickly and I told him, “Please come help me! I need you.” But I had no idea where I was.
The kind man took my phone, explained the situation, and gave instructions on how to get where we were. While waiting, he brought me a bottle of water as well as some old T-shirts to mop up my lunch that had come up (I was unaware this had happened.) The man said his name was Angel (no other name could have been so appropriate!) and that I was in his boat repair yard. Miraculously he was there on a Sunday -- which hardly ever happened, he said.
“I couldn’t see! I couldn’t see!” I kept repeating … over and over. My son was at a grocery store not far away and arrived quickly. Taking one look at me, he called 911 to send an ambulance and the police.
The EMT’s took my blood pressure and hooked me up for an EKG. “Do you have afib?” they asked – but I do not. One of them commented: “It’s a good thing we are taking you to the hospital!”
“This could be serious,” the ER doctor told my family upon learning what happened -- and ordered blood tests and CT scans. An IV was immediately started because I was dehydrated. Blankets were piled on me to stop my shaking. And suddenly, once again, I had an attack of both types of gastro problems.
Medications were administered and after that, no more gastro episodes occurred. I stayed overnight and my son spent the night in the ER room with me. Results of all tests and scans were normal. Feeling fine once again, I was released the next afternoon.
The doctors conjectured that the anxiety of trying to get home while enduring severe cramping combined with dehydration could have caused low blood pressure and going in and out of consciousness. They used the term Syncope -- which is temporarily losing consciousness when blood flow to the brain gets reduced. Often it is preceded by dizziness, nausea, and vision changes. Recovery is always quick and complete. I also wonder if the problem could have been norovirus, which is now rampant in the Houston area – or some other virus!
I give all glory to the Lord for keeping me or anyone else in my path that day from being injured, despite totaling my car. The airbags did not even go off! “Jesus was at the wheel,” my sister declares. He gets all credit for saving me.
Never before have I appreciated the privilege of sharing the joys and wonder of Christmas with my family as I do this year! Not only did Jesus come to save us spiritually, He also surrounds us with His angels and pours out grace and mercy upon us every day that we live.
But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in his unfailing love.
Psalm 33:18
