The last 20 days

Sept 21, 2017

Wow!  God is so good!  I will summarize the last 19 days.  When you are i the midst of it, it seems like so much longer.  But now, I feel like I have been cleared for my next assignment!

Sept 4, Labor Day- Went to Urgent care, & Emergency room, So. MD Hosp.

          with a dull pain in my right side.

Sept 5, Admitted to So. MD Hosp. CAT scan found huge simple cyst in my liver, the size of a melon (8X7 inches)

Sept 5, Transferred by ambulance (first ride in ambulance) to Georgetown     University Hospital, Wash.DC,  Emergency room.

Sept 6, 2AM Admitted to Georgetown U. Hosp.

          They found I was in good health, no medication was given and they     decided to do surgery to take out the "water balloon" but I was too           healthy to keep at the hospital until they could schedule the surgery.

Sept 8, Discharged from the hospital with pending surgery scheduling.

Sept 9, Woke with nausea, in great pain all day, (thought it was gas).

Sept 9, My Step Daughter took me back to Georgetown Emergency room.    They did another CAT scan, my "water balloon" had ruptured and the       fluid spilled into my abdomen, causing the pain.  I agreed to two shots       of morphine, which helped the pain.  It was the first medication I had           taken for over a year.(I'm such a wimp, but I was glad it was      available.)

Sept 10, I was admitted to Georgetown hosp, pending working me into the    surgery schedule ASAP.

Sept. 11th- I was visited by a Minister and his wife from my church, they       prayed with me and as soon as they finished, transportation came to          take me to surgery, at 1 PM.   I returned to my room at 10:30 PM after    recovery.  They had made three incisions, removed the "balloon",           removed the fluid and took out my gall bladder because the cist had     attached itself to it.  They said I didn't need it anyway.

Sept 14th- Discharged from the hospital. On my 75th Birthday!  No pain,       only discomfort with the stitches and staples. A good friend and her        husband invited me to stay with them in their upstairs(17 steps) suite,   with all the recovering equipment I needed. Walked up the stairs with           little assistance. God is so Good!

Sept 18th (Mon) Visiting nurse came to evaluate my needs for Physical          Therapy etc...  Since I was in no pain, had gone up and down the stairs     5 times and taken a shower by myself, that day, she determined that I                 didn't need Physical Therapy or any other aides for recovery. Woopee!     Praise the Lord.

Sept 19th- My grandson brought my car, and we went grocery shopping, he helped get the groceries in the car and then we dropped him off and I     drove my friend and I, to get our nails done, about 20 miles away.

Sept. 20th- Dr. visit, stitches & staples removed.  Walked quite a way, in the hospital to get my medical records etc...(I got pictures!)

Sept, 21, Washed clothes, visited with my friend here and then I drove us to Walmart to get some things for her Grandsons.

Sept 22, It has only been 20 days.  It is amazing that our "suffering" seems like such a long time when we are in the midst of it, but, "It came to pass", and it did.  If we could only see things from God's perspective, our "little" events won't seem like such a big deal. I know I am blessed to come out of this KNOWING, God is Good, KNOWING, His grace is sufficient, KNOWING, He has a plan for my life (yours too!).  KNOWING I am in perfect health, (all the tests proved it).  KNOWING that at age 75, I am in NO PAIN, NO STRESS, NO ANXIETY, NO DEBT, NO MEDICATION.

KNOWING, I am in PERFECT PEACE, even though I don't know what is next for me, I know that God already has the plans in place and I just need to be willing and ready to fit into His plans for me.  I trust Him and ,I will know, when I need to know!  My only restrictions are, that I cannot lift anything over 10lbs. for 11 more weeks.

In these last 20 days I have adopted new Grandchildren, Furthered my mission, to reach 100 million people with a way to independence from this world's systems.  Flurished, by being an example and an influence to the next generation.  Planted lots of Shaklee seeds, and now on to the next amazing adventure!

Getting stronger!

Sept. 15, 2017

The Fist day out of the Hospital after surgery.  I was invited by a Minister friend and her husband, who is Chaplain of the jail here in the county, to stay at their house in their upstairs suite.  I have a bedroom, living room, private bathroom, refrigerator and microwave, and a toilet with bars on the side.  ALL I NEED!  God is so good.  When I got here last night I climbed the stairway by myself, the bed is the perfect height and all is well!  I rested today, answering emails and receiving phone calls.  I will be receiving Physical Therapy here that will start next week(I probably won't need it then). 

The whole time I was in the Hospital, I realized how much of a God thing this experience was.  From start to finish, I could see His hand at work.  It is so good to know when you are in His perfect will, it is safe and comforting.  Even the pain, which was the worst I had ever experienced, helped me to know what others experience.  I thought about how Jesus suffered on the cross for me and He suffered much more pain and for much longer (and He didn't have Morphine). He chose to go to the cross for my sins, so I didn't even have to.  Wow, what love!

I had such wonderful love and care, while in the Hospital, the Lord kept bringing me Children and Grandchildren to adopt and he allowed me to share Shaklee with lots of people. On two occasions I was the subject of an interview for one of their Communication classes.  I guess they are trained for bedside manners.  The interviewer asked questions like, "Where do you live?", and that started a whole line of questions that allowed me to tell them about my Rving, My age, Jesus, Grandma Swann, that I was on no medication,  Shaklee, and most importantly, the Cell presentation. 

There were between 7-12, Dr. Wannabees standing around my bed, I asked them if they agreed, that God made our bodies with trillions of cells?  That those cells only eat food, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates and fats?  That they reproduce after their kind, (healthy kind or unhealthy kind) depending on how healthy they are fed?  That cells can only react to non-foods like artificial stuff, synthetics, (like synthetic vitamins), and toxins, and prescription drugs,(which is why medicine works, if it does and why there are always side effects),  That the quality of the food we eat determines the quality of our cells and the health of our cells determine the health of our bodies?  I also talked about the "Drug system", drug lunches they would receive from drug reps, you get bold when you are old!

Since most Doctors are not taught nutrition in medical school, they heard some from me.  I asked them if they took vitamins.  A couple of Students gingerly raised their hand.  I suggested they be sure that they were food supplements not synthetic vitamins.   I had my Shaklee business cards with my blog at the bottom of it and any who wanted to, could take my card to check out Shaklee or follow my blog.  Several of them got my card.  Woopee. 

Sept 16, 2017

Day two of recovery.  I am feeling stronger; they said I could not lift anything heavier then 10 lbs for 12 weeks.  Wow!  I am getting company today, my adopted family will visit, it will be good to see them.

They came and brought my mail.  I use their address to get my mail.  They will even take pictures of it and text it to me wherever I am and so far they have not had to forward it.  I received a lovely gift of a fragrance infuser from my friend Pam and cards from my Sister with blessings. 

They brought Michael , their teenage son and his friend, William, another adopted grandson.  I have a pool table in the living room, and after a respectful time visiting with me, they played pool while the adults visited.  I was so impressed, that when it was time to go, they had put everything back, better than it was before.  Amazing Teenagers! an example and proof that teenagers can be righteous, responsible and an example to their peers.

We had a great visit, it was so good to see them.  I stayed with them 8 months while my house was being renovated and sold.

Later my host's came home and I was able to wash clothes.  Woopee!  I went down the stairs and visited while I washed and we listened to a CD of a Bible study I missed.  I came back up the steps with no problem.  I am getting stronger, Praise the Lord!  They gave me a "Life Application Study Bible", as a gift, exactly what I needed!

happy 75th Birthday to me, A discharge from the Hospital. Woopee!

September 7, 2017

"Wow"! That's what the Top, Liver transplant surgeon said.  He had never seen such a huge cyst in a Liver before.

I saw the pictures of the CAT scan, and the cyst (like a water balloon) is about 8x 7x 4 inches and it is so large that it has moved my intestines around to make room for it.

On Saturday, Sept Ist, I woke up with a dull pain in my abdomen.  Thinking it was a gas pain, I drove on to West Virginia to visit Shaklee friends, a Mother and daughter, I hadn't seen for about 20 years.  I had a wonderful trip up, even though it was the Friday before the Labor Day Holiday.  They fed me a delicious Vegan lunch and we had such a great visit.  The Mother is 97 years old, getting around real good with her walker and she is in her right mind and she is still beautiful.  She sold real estate until she was 83.  Way to go Flourishing!  Her daughter's husband was in College with me, and he passed away about a year ago, and I hadn't seen her since.   They live in a beautiful historic part of West Virginia in the town of Shepherdstown at the beginning of the C & O canal, near the Civil war battle of Antetiam, with country roads and quaint towns and villages.  My ancestors are buried very near there.  Beautiful!

 I had a good trip back with very little traffic.  When I returned I still had the pain and it hadn't moved.  I decided to rest on Sunday and about noon on Monday, I went to an Urgent Care facility to get it checked out.  They noticed a "mass" in my abdomen and sent me to Southern Maryland Hospital.  My Step Daughter took me and stayed until 2 AM. Her daughter came and I insisted that they go home, since they both had to work the next day.  I spent the night in the emergency room until they could find a bed and admit me.

They did a CAT scan and found the cyst in my Liver.  They said my liver function was PERFECT!  I had a great time there and adopted a daughter. 

I was transferred by ambulance to Georgetown Hospital ( A teaching hospital) in Washington DC.  On the way, I listened to the streaming live broadcast of out church Bible Study, te ambulance attendant listened too and was saying amen to key points,  she was a Christian and she said she enjoyed it.  I stayed in the emergency room there until 2AM and then was admitted.

 I got a wonderful corner room with a large bath and shower, a computer desk and recliner chair and of course, a bed.  The service was awesome!  Anything I needed was supplied even before I knew I needed it.  God is so awesome!  Everyone was so attentive, caring and wonderful!  I had a ball!

Personal:

My pain was only when getting in and out of bed and then it was minimal, and finally turned into just discomfort.

Because I was in a teaching hospital, Dr. "wannabees", were constantly coming to observe.   I don't think they had ever seen such a healthy person (except for the water balloon in my liver).

September 8, 2017

I was discharged yesterday after 2 days because they could not justify my staying.  I had no issues (except for the huge "water balloon" in  my liver. EVERYTHING ON MY BLOODWORK WAS NORMAL,NORMAL, NORMAL...  Chest XRay NORMAL, EKG, NORMALStress test NORMAL  I didn't have my Shaklee supplements for 5 days but I was OK.  They would have allowed me to take them but I didn't have them.  I took no medication the whole time and the only thing I allowed was the contrast for the CAT scan and Stress test.

My blood pressure went up one time to (175/111), because I was so excited, but Jesus and me brought it down within 2 minutes to 120/87! PRAISE THE LORD!  They had to prescribe blood pressure medicine (because that is the system, but when I said no, they couldn't argue).  My Potassium was slightly low one time, (I didn't have Alfalfa) and they wanted to give me a Potassium medicine and I said no, so then they offered me a banana and it came back up! Woopee!

I was on "nothing by mouth" from Monday to Wednesday evening , when I had my first meal (It was Vegan,) YAY.  I had Vegan the whole rest of the time. It was great! ( I have been doing Vegan meals, mostly for the last two months.)

My take on this: 

Our bodies will encapsulate foreign elements in the body to keep the body safe from foreign stuff.  I asked the Dr. about it, she thought it was a good theory. They don't think it is malignant because I am so healthy.

Friday, Sept. 8th

I was discharged today, my step daughter brought me back to Ronnie's son's house but because we would be sitting in traffic, we decided to go to her favorite   "office" at National Harbor. (A McDonalds restaurant that has an out door seating area, overlooking the Potomac River.)  It was a beautiful evening, so we fellowshipped and enjoyed the beautiful sunset on the water as we waited for traffic to die down.

Saturday, Sept 9th

I woke up nauseous, but couldn't bring anything up.  I had the first opportunity to take my Shaklee food supplements in 5 days, it was great.  I began to have severe pain, which I thought was gas pains.  They were so bad that I called my insurance nurse and she suggested we go back to Georgetown U. Hospital's Emergency room, which we did.

I was in such pain by then, that I actually agreed to two shots of Morphine, just to ease the pain.  It did help.  That was the last pain medicine I have had.

They admitted me after a CAT scan revealed that the "balloon" had ruptured and the contents spilled out into my abdominal cavity, causing the great pain.   They also noticed a hernia in my belly button area.  They said they would do surgery on Monday.  Dr. Fishbine, head of the Transplant surgery department would perform the surgery.

Monday, Sept 11, 2017

Just before the transporters came to take me down to surgery ( around 1 PM), a Minister from my church, and his wife came by to pray with me.  He prayed a beautiful prayer, and I was ready to go.

I returned to my room at around 10:30 PM, after a successful surgery,  They started out to do laposcopy surgery ( a tiny hole through my belly button) but had to make a bigger incision to do a "hand assist" to take out most of the "balloon" and remove the fluid from the liver and my abdomen.  Thy also removed my gallbladder (which they said I didn't need.)  The "balloon" was attached to it

After the surgery I have had no pain and only discomfort when I maneuver getting in and out of bed, walking etc..  It gets better every day.  I have been on no medication for pain since Saturday and going home with no medications.  This event has let me know how healthy I really am.  I trusted God through it all, I had no stress (except excitement) and no anxiety or even apprehension.  I knew He had me cared for and  I was looking forward to how He would work it out.

September 14, 2017

HAPPY 75TH BIRTHDAY TO ME!  I will be discharged today!

Back at the pool again! Woopee!

Sept 1, 2017

Wow, has it been since the 18th of August, since my last blog?  I have been negligent, let's call it a "Summer vacation" and I will feel better.

Currently I am staying at my friend, Ronnie's Son's house, in "my own" basement apartment in Waldorf, Maryland.

August 18, 2017

I left you in Fredericksburg, VA. about to visit a Shaklee friend I hadn't met yet.  She and her husband were wonderful, as I expected.  We visited for a while.  They have a beautiful house that they had built. 

I drove on up to Maryland after stopping to see my Vietnamese "Granddaughter" in Colonial Beach, VA.   I encouraged her to keep writing.  She is taking a road trip this fall and I suggested she write about that trip.

When I arrived in Waldorf, Maryland, I stayed n the same place I am now, for a couple of days and then I was invited to the Cheston's (also in Waldorf) to stay and help them with their Shaklee leadership goals.  They invited their friends and we watched a video documentary movie called "What The Health!"  They also had a "YOUTH" presentation where everyone who came could see how it felt on their hand, and see how it was applied, the response was great.

 It was a wonderful time and we went to the pool in their community, (with another Shaklee Distributor in their group), every day at 630 AM.  It is wonderful because, even though I am not staying with them now, I can still meet them at the pool.  It is only 5 minutes away. WOW, is God good or what?  The last day I was there, they took me out for dinner and blessed me with a beautiful card and with blessings inside!  They are awesome! 

I got my Shaklee "YOUTH" skin care products and started them the same day.  I am VERY pleased with the results so far, I will keep you informed.

Sallie used them about a week before I started and she has received dramatic results.  I will try to send you her before and after pictures.  They really do make you look years younger, (they are guaranteed too) with ingredients. good for your skin!  You can probably tell that I am excited!

It was good to get back to "My home church", (From The Heart Church of Maryland) again.  The messages are so life changing.  You can hear some of them on You Tube Official FTHCM channel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lF_fYPsHzJk

I am going tomorrow to West Virginia and back (about a 2 hour ride there) to see a long time Shaklee friend and her Mother.  It should be fun.

I am not sure how or when I am going back to Oregon.  The Lord knows and He will let me know in "due time".  What a wonderful life!