How do YOU get restored?

Hobbies?
Exercise?
Reading?
A good nap?

I have found that, as beneficial as hobbies, exercise, reading or a nap may be, and I do participate in all of them for the obvious benefits and enjoyment, I have also discovered over the years that restoration isn’t found in an activity but rather in a Person.

He restores my soul. Psalm 23:3
© Hosanna Loh

Irene had a rough morning at dialysis with her blood pressure dropping to 70/45 with the accompanying lightheadedness and vomiting.  The dialysis team was attentive and stabilized her but it wasn’t a pleasant excursion ….

Speaking of dialysis, during treatments Irene has been reading the book dedicated to her, Irene’s Journey of Faith. Sounds funny, doesn’t it?  Here is the noteworthy point …. she gets very emotional during the reading …. and even afterward, upon reflection, because she is actually seeing for the first time what she went through …. especially at UCSF.  In fact, the hospital stay was such a blur that she feels like she is experiencing the journey for the first time as she reads about her trek.  She doesn’t even remember many of the days or some of the detail referenced in the blog.  She’s overwhelmed with emotion as she reads the journal entries by Jocelyn and JoAnna.  It seems strange that in many ways she is experiencing the journey for the first time ,,,, except, this time as the object of affection and as the reader.  Perhaps what we might refer to as a surreal experience.

This evening we ate a light dinner at Carpo’s Restaurant and enjoyed running into Fred and Marilyn Miller …. and part of their Mount Hermon clan!!!  They always lift our spirits.

Restoration is an integral part of a healthy and balanced well being.  Restoration breathes new life into us and ignites the fire within.  I don’t know how YOU get restored, but I am grateful that He takes such a personal interest in us that we can completely depend upon him to restore our soul.

Caminando con Fé

Dave

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REFLECTIONS ….

It’s hard to imagine that it’s been almost ONE YEAR since embarking on Irene’s Journey of Faith.

The genesis was on February 12, 2007 when Irene’s routine physical examination revealed that her cholesterol had jumped from 200 to 400.  We perceived her to be in excellent health prior to this date.  Over the next several weeks her cholesterol jumped to over 500, she experienced two blood clots (one pulmonary and one in her left calf), an extreme case of edema and was losing protein in the urinary tract; classic symptoms of nephrotic syndrome …. or kidney failure …. even though it seemed to take forever for that diagnosis.

But as we subsequently learned, this was just the beginning.  The ultimate diagnosis of Primary Amyloidosis at UCSF didn’t come until the middle of May and the kidneys were merely victims within the context of the disease itself.

There’s much more to the story …. including how our primary care physician and the treating nephrologist at the local hospital told us that it was entirely up to us to get Irene admitted to Stanford Hospital or UCSF because their collective attempts failed.  It was only after Dr. Alan Buchwald and another good friend, Don Thomas, advocated for Irene that she was ultimately accepted and transferred to UCSF for treatment.  Dr. Alan Buchwald made direct contact with Dr. Stephen Gluck, the Professor of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, at UCSF, and Don Thomas paved the way through his personal friend, Mark Laret, the CEO of UCSF.  We are forever grateful.

We firmly believe that had it not been for Dr. Buchwald and Don Thomas advocating the way that they did, Irene would already be in Heaven today.  Anecdotally, when Dr. Buchwald called UCSF he did not have any existing relationships to lean upon.  He simply made the call to UCSF.  Dr. Stephen Gluck picked up the telephone number dialed by Dr. Buchwald.  What are the odds that would happen?

Irene now has a NEW primary care physician and a NEW local nephrologist.  As I said, there was much more to the story.

Irene stayed home today and carefully worked

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“LIFE IS IN THE BLOOD”

So goes the popular mantra at the UCSF Blood Center.

And scripture validates the assertion ….

For the forgiveness of sins:

This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Matthew 26:28

…. and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
Hebrews 9:22b

For reconciliation, peace and fellowship with God:

…. and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Colossians 1:20b

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
1 John 1:7

Neutrophil (yellow) granulocytes, generally referred to as neutrophils, are the most abundant type of white blood cells in humans and form an integral part of the immune system.

Irene drove herself to and from dialysis today, continuing to be challenged with severe fatigue and unrelenting nausea.  She rested for the balance of the day, moving deliberately through several household chores.

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.
1 Peter 1:18-20

It is His blood, shed on the cross that redeems life now and forevermore.  We don’t claim to understand the chemistry of neutrophils, but it is absolutely true …. as the popular mantra at the UCSF Blood Center asserts …. that LIFE IS IN THE BLOOD.

Caminando con Fé

Dave

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