Miracles :: My Sister’s Life

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A month ago, my sister went into the hospital for what was supposed to be a very routine and minor surgery. Long story short, she almost died during surgery, but God had different plans. She wrote a note about everything that happened to her, and I want to share that note. It will touch your heart and hopefully inspire you to live life to the full everyday. Please take a moment to leave a comment below to encourage my sister Heather.

While I was back home in Michigan for the past week, I put together a blue themed, vintage style picnic photo shoot at one of my favorite childhood parks – Fallasburg. This is in celebration of Heather being alive!

Written by Heather:
It’s been one month since my surgery. Most of you probably have heard one form or another of the story by now–a routine outpatient surgery gone wrong. They hit my iliac artery and I ended up in the hospital for eight days. That’s not to mention a second surgery to put stents in my artery that was 90% blocked or the ungodly amount of pain I went through and am still going through. I’m still taking narcotic drugs for the pain that would knock most of you unconscious. As far as the pain and suffering goes, there is no end in sight.

Ok. That’s not true. I just want some sympathy now and then! But it will be at least a few more weeks until I feel a little better from what I am told. Encouraging and discouraging all at the same time.

There are really no words to describe the feelings that I had when I woke up in recovery that day, physically or emotionally. The physical pain was unlike anything I have ever experienced, and I’ve had my share of surgeries. Between my moaning and groaning and screaming and sobbing I heard them say that they had to “open me up” and that I “lost a lot of blood” and to “BREATH!! TAKE DEEP BREATHS!” and that I would be feeling better soon (that was a lie). I felt like I was in a living hell. I didn’t know what they were talking about or if I was ever going to be the same healthy 26-year-old that I had just been hours before.

And let me say, thank God for my doctor, an amazing and skilled surgeon and friend that just “happened” to be there at the hospital to take a look at my gallbladder. I had run into him a few weeks prior to surgery at church and he offered to look at it while I was in for my other surgery. I don’t think that was coincidence now.

I noticed that night after surgery that my left foot was cold. One doctor blew me off that night when I told him. The next morning I told one of his residents. They immediately told my doctor and he got in touch with his cardiovascular surgeon friend and they took action immediately. Turns out my artery going down into my left leg was 90% blocked from the trauma. I had stents put in within hours. Again, if it weren’t for him, who knows what would have happened. Scary to consider all the possibilities.

The other day I had to go to the cardiovascular surgeon for my post-op. It was a beautiful, warm, sunny day. It was my first day driving again. I had the windows down and the radio cranked. I was jammin’ away to Lady Gaga, feelin’ good like I was livin’ the life.

And then it hit me: I might not have lived to see that day. Life was going on all around me, the city and streets were hustling and bustling, but I might have never gotten to see that beautiful day had God not divinely intervened. I felt so sad. To think that I could have just been gone. Forever. Of course I wouldn’t know the difference, but to think that life would go on without me is weird to think about. And there would be so many things I would have missed out on.

And maybe I would have been fine even if my doctor hadn’t been there in the OR. Maybe someone else would have been able to stop all the bleeding and stitch my artery. Maybe another doctor would have listened to me eventually when my leg fell off or something. Or maybe not. But I guess I’ll never know.

But I do think that God intervened that day. Why? Because he loves me. Is there some purpose or task that I haven’t completed here yet? Heck yeah, my house is a huge mess and don’t get me started on the pile of laundry. Just kidding.

But that brings up some questions–like, why me and what now? To be honest I have no idea. What I do know is that God is good all the time, and all the time God is good. His plan is perfect and I don’t have to worry.

The book of James says we are “to consider it pure joy when we suffer and face trials because the testing of our faith produces perseverance…”

Wow.

Really? Consider this pure joy? I have a hard time considering all of this pure joy. That might take a little while or maybe a few decades. But what I do know is that God is at work in my life and healing my body and that gives me pure joy. Did I mention that at my post-op with the cardiovascular surgeon my blood flow was perfect?! I can almost feel the perseverance flowing through my arteries!

God is always at work in each of our lives. Whether you know about Him or not, have a relationship with Jesus or are just considering it, He loves you and is crazy about you. Take time in your day to reflect on what God is doing in your life. I bet he divinely intervenes more times a day than you might realize. Let that give you pure joy. And each day, be on the lookout for a “divine appointment” that God might have waiting for you–and by that I mean that he might be waiting to use you to be the hands and feet of Jesus to someone else–you might be their divine intervention the way Dan was for me. You might show them love and kindness when they need it most. My Dad once said that if you are paying attention, he thinks that God will set up at least “one divine appointment” everyday. I agree. Look for yours.

You are alive. You are here. Open your eyes and open your ears. What is Jesus showing or saying to you today in the midst of your journey or struggle or life-changing crisis? Look for how God is at work. Persevere and find joy in the pain and suffering. Recognize His interventions and look for your opportunities too. You will find them and see them. I promise.

Because God is good, all the time. And all the time, God is good.

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For brides planning Colorado weddings, please contact me to be your Colorado wedding photographer by emailing laura@lauragravelle.com. I am an award winning Denver wedding photographer and also do destination weddings in the mountains like Estes Park, Beaver Creek, Aspen, Vail, Keystone and Colorado Springs.