MRSA Isolation

While in rehab in Shepherd Center after my spinal cord injury, a culture of my trach grew out MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), (pronounced mer-sa), the very contagious, hard to kill superbug. My lungs had filled with infected mucus and I wasn’t able cough.

The nurses moved me into an isolation room. Every staff member donned yellow paper gowns, blue masks, latex gloves and safety glasses before entering my room.

The nurses began to “cough” me. Think one hard CPR compression only below my diaphragm along with my weak attempt to cough. It worked so we “repeated until clear”. The first thing anyone said on entering my room was, “Let’s cough.”

Every assisted cough shot searing pain to both of my shoulders, and it took a month of coughing to clear my lungs. Though still in isolation, but not coughing, my nurses came in without isolation garb. I knew who each one was by her voice.

I knew each woman’s story of life. Their loves, their hopes, their dreams and their desires. I knew who they were and that I would remember many.

Earl and I returned to Shepherd nine years later. I asked about several but only found two. One woman had cleaned my room five days a week and had achieved her desires. She had married her boyfriend and was working in the finance office at Shepherd.

The second woman, a new registered nurse, had a passion for working with persons with spinal cord injuries. She had advanced to the role of clinical coordinator for Shepherd, married and had two sons.

I remembered a few names. Jesus never forgets one.

Our Shepherd calls us His sheep and we know His voice. He knows our stories from the beginning. Our loves, hopes, dreams and desires.

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me” (John 10:14 NIV).

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27 NIV).

In Christ,

Berta

Photo Courtesy of Free Flickr Images

Attempt New Skills

For the first three months after my injury, I had no control over any part of my body. In rehabilitation, my upper arms were the first to recover. The muscle spasms usually drew my forearms up, effectively causing severe cramping.

My occupational therapist told me my biceps and deltoids were the only two muscle groups in my arms that still received signals from my brain. My triceps, the groups that assist in straightening the arms and pushing forward, had none.

In therapy, we focused on strengthening those muscles that worked. As I grew in basic strength, my therapist encouraged me to attempt new skills.

Since I was right handed, we worked on fine motor skills of feeding myself, brushing my teeth, and handwriting using splints. My left arm developed more gross motor skills: pushing, lifting and carrying items I needed during each day.

In God’s providence, my muscles adapted to my different abilities. Next, I had to accept my new life as a quad. Just as God causes new blood vessels to grow around a clogged coronary artery, God allowed new skills to develop around my paralyzed body.

Sunday school, Bible study, sermons, and talking with other Christians all taught me about God. The more I learned of His desire for His people, the more I knew His desire for me—for my life. He called me to make a difference for Him.

Through leading and teaching small groups, counseling, listening to the one who was hurting and telling people what God has done for me I have, and will continue to make a difference.

We may be weak, worn and weary yet God still calls us. He may seem distant but He’s right here. He has provided all you need to fulfill His call in your life. No matter what you have to offer, God will use it.

Be strong and attempt new skills in your daily life for Christ.

“For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” Philippians 2:13 NIV).

In Christ,

Berta

Friends, Remember to share with your friends. People are being blessed around the world for God. I am so thankful to be a broken vessel in the hands of a loving God.

A Most Magnificent Messenger

One morning as I read my Sunday school lesson, it referred to Joni Eareckson Tada calling her accident and subsequent spinal cord injury “A Glorious Intruder.”

I thought, “What would I call my accident and subsequent injury? 

After a few moments of thought, I knew. “My Magnificent Messenger.” The message it brought was a reminder of an unaccepted promise of God.

God would forgive my sins and use me for His glory if I'd only let Him. I confessed sins of my past I’d been too embarrassed to speak about and God began using me to plant seeds of faith in strangers and to encourage faith in believers.

I began this month in tears over unrelenting pain from an infection in a pressure wound. Earl has often taken my hand and encouraged me to pray.

Father God, I ask for strength for us this day. I pray healing from pain and infection, and that we will lean on you as we have in days past. Lord, give us your peace that passes all understanding to sustain us in these days. In Jesus Name, Amen.

For Earl and me, this month has continued as it began, with physical pain and emotional trials.

What would I call my injury today?  “A Most Magnificent Messenger!”

In our Father’s mercy, Earl and I've had a month to pray together in each other’s daily strengths and weaknesses. Answered daily prayers for God’s strength and peace, and our love for each other have held us firm in our faith.

We’ve had many opportunities to share our faith with friends and strangers. We've been blessed through frequent Facebook posts of love, encouragement and prayers. Friends have sent me cards and emails filled with these same sentiments.

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace” (Ephesians 1:7 NIV).

In Christ.

Berta

Friends, Remember to share with your friends. People are being blessed around the world for God. I am so thankful to be a broken vessel in the hands of a loving God.

A Plan I Didn’t Want

Many people have told me, “I don’t think I could ever live like you.” What they mean is live paralyzed, in a wheelchair.

I’d heard it said, “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.” 

As I began my spiritual journey, I had no thought that God’s plan for me would include a wheelchair.

I had eight awesome months of spiritual growth between my acceptance of Jesus and the automobile accident that injured my spinal cord. My life was full. I was happy. Not every day was great, but every day was good – because I loved Jesus.

After my injury, I recovered.

I recovered physically through surgery and rehabilitation. I recovered after years of depression that delayed my spiritual recovery because God loved me in my self-hatred and questions of why. I recovered spiritually because God had a unique and special purpose for me.

I began to share Jesus in small steps seven years after my injury. I testified by handing out a piece of paper with two-hundred and fifty words printed on it. I only taught Sunday school once a month for fear I would teach something wrong.

My first try at leading a Bible study failed. My first prayer group went from eleven women and Jesus to me and Jesus in just five weeks. My amplified voice could barely be heard at my first conference.

God has a plan for me and He has one for you. Thankfully, most people won’t have to live paralyzed – but some will. For those who do, and for all, I pray they know the joy and the love of their Lord and savior, Jesus.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV).

God has a wonderful plan for your life.

In Christ,

Berta

Friends, Remember to share with your friends. People are being blessed around the world for God. I am so thankful to be a broken vessel in the hands of a loving God. May He bless you as well.

The Living Tree

Courtesy of Flickr

After my accident, I developed pneumonia and the doctor put me on a ventilator. He told Earl if I lived, I’d be brain damaged, ventilator dependent and bedridden for life, and he was too young to be stuck with an invalid wife. Then, the doctor offered to let me die - comfortably.

Earl remembered his wedding vows, chose life for me, and had me transferred to a rehabilitation hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. As soon as I arrived, they cultured my trach. It grew MRSA—that hard to kill staph infection. The staff moved me into a lonely isolation room.

Spring had always been my favorite season, and I had a birds-eye view of the treetops outside my second floor window. I watched tender red shoots and delicate buds appear on tiny limbs, followed by the smallest pairs of green leaves. Those signs of new life brought me comfort.

One sunny morning, I noticed a tree that hadn’t grown new branches or buds. Each day it remained the same ash gray color, and I decided it was dead. I told everyone who came into my room that I wished someone would cut it down so I wouldn’t have to look at it.

After ranting about that dead tree for a week, I looked out my window and saw tiny pairs of leaves on that living tree. I began to weep as I realized that what I’d said about that tree was what the doctor had said about me. Ugly. Useless. Not worth keeping alive.

I knew then that God was with me, telling me my life wasn’t over. After all, by then I was ventilator free, in my right mind, and mobile in my power wheelchair. My attitude changed and I looked forward to visitors. I told each one about God’s grace, the living tree, and the new life he offered.

“Then he told this parable, ‘A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, “For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?” ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down” (Luke 13:6-9 NIV).

“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV).

In Christ,

Berta

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Thank you,

Berta