Three months ago, I began feeling like I was coming down with a cold. I had a runny nose and a cough. Over the course of two months, I felt the "cold" settle in my chest, causing cough attacks in the morning and throughout the day, chest pain, and shortness of breath. I decided to make an appointment to see my doctor. He confidently said I have asthma and prescribed me a steroid and a rescue inhaler. He also ordered bloodwork. He called to tell me my Eosinophils were high, but probably due to the asthma. A few nights later, the inhaler wasn't enough to help me breathe, and I ended up in the emergency department.
A chest x-ray indicated opacities in the right lung, and I was treated for pneumonia. They prescribed me antibiotics, and my doctor ordered a daily inhaler. After a week, I was feeling worse. I went back to my doctor, who sent me back to the emergency department for a CT scan.
The CT scan picked up opacities common with pneumonia, yet the E.R. doctor told me I had bronchitis, and that this would go away on its own. If I had listened to that doctor, I would be dead, because the next day, my regular doctor called and said the CT scan showed severe pneumonia, and he wanted me to take another round of a different antibiotic. I took the entire bottle as directed, but I still didn't feel better.
I called my doctor again to tell him the antibiotics didn't work, and he told me to go to urgent care. Urgent care sent me back to the E.R. Tired of seeing me, they rudely told me this is viral and there's nothing they can do for me, BUT they'll check me over and refer me to someone who can help.
Another chest x-ray showed inflammation, but the pneumonia was gone. Bloodwork showed high Eosinophils and Basophils, all indicating an issue in the lungs. So they referred me to a pulmonologist, but I have not been able to make the appointment yet.
ANYWAYS... A couple friends from my prayer group have been checking in on me and asking how they can help. I always decline help, because I hate putting people out or being a burden. However, I remembered my first prayer group with them. The topic was "Let go, and let God." I remembered how stressed we've been with me being sick and my husband working hard, while taking care of the kids AND me, and my teens helping with babysitting and cooking meals. My husband and I both decided to give our problems to God. We had to put our trust in Him, that he would provide for us.
Shortly later, I received a text from my prayer group friend saying her and a few others wanted to make my family dinners for the entire week! At first, I wanted to say no. It really took everything I had to let them do this for us, but as I read the text over and over, I realized something. This was God answering our prayers. We asked for help, and God sent it. We have to let them help us. They have no idea how much stress dinner time causes us each night. To not have to worry about who's cooking or what to make or buy for one week, relieves so much stress for us. Now I can spend the week resting, and my husband can get a little break from all the driving around.
They brought over pasta and salad tonight, (which was AMAZING, btw), and as they were leaving I mentioned I would return their bowls as soon as we were done with them. They told us not to worry about it because they bought them just for us. I felt bad that they spent so much money on us, but I felt better by telling them I would use the bowls for the same purpose, to make a meal for someone in their time of need.
If you're going through something tough and someone offers to help, let them. True friends help each other out in a time of need. I've been helped, I've helped. I've been helped again, and I will help again. Keep repeating the cycle. Keep kindness going. That's the best repayment you can give them.
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