Oh, the Places You Can Go...

Ever heard of Muskogee, Oklahoma?  We were just there yesterday! How did we get there?  Jessica had a diabetic seizure and went into keto-acidosis while visiting Joy Britt in Eufaula, Oklahoma.  On Thursday evening she was fine.  She woke up with hypo-glycemia (low sugar) on Friday, corrected it, we thought, and went back to sleep.  Joy was calling and keeping me updated throughout the morning, so I believed all was well and I went about my business...
...stop by Mimi's alterations and deliver Sunni's "welcome home" doggie treats...
...stop by bank...
...take Alyssa candy selling, sell one case, get a Sonic lemonade....
...text Scott and keep him updated on our progress for the day...
...get a call from Joy, Jessica is unconscious, called 9-1-1, no response...
What do I do now?  I looked at Alyssa, who had a case of candy on her lap counting dollar bills, and told her that we had to stop and pray.  We put the dollars away, pulled into the parking lot of the industrial rental center, and prayed for Jessica.  I looked up at Alyssa and tears were shooting out of her eyes.  In the ten years that we've dealt with diabetes we've never had to call 9-1-1.  We've been able to "manage" the crises as they came to us.  This was totally out of our hands and five hours away.  I texted my husband, my daughter, my family, and my pastor and his wife.  I knew those next moments were so critical to her health and future.  I tried to concentrate on driving and decided to take my time and be as calm as possible for Alyssa's sake.
The small hospital in Eufaula was not equipped to handle Jessica in her condition.  They stabelized her as best as they could but could not restrain her.  He blood glucose level was 39 when they arrived.  We learned that she had to be transported to Muskogee, Oklahoma - wow! what a big town - 38,000 population, but we were grateful that the hospital had a great reputation.  When she arrived there her blood glucose level was over 2,000 and she was uncontrollable.
Scott and I called back and forth and decided to go as soon as he left work at 5:00 p.m.  The Big Five tire shop kindly put a rush on my car to service it for the trip and sent their best wishes for Jessica.  Victoria ran errands, packed, and planned for our needs.  Alyssa started drawing a picture and writing a note for her sister.  Bachi went to prayer and I planned by prayer/panic-attack.  You know, the one where you pray, fall out, cry, pray, argue with God, cry some more...
As I started getting ready and planning my attack, I decided that I was just going to pray and trust.  Something refreshing and different...I cried as the vision of my daughter ending up in a nursing home or cemetery came into my head, but thought - "You're borrowing trouble, take one step at a time, just pray."  Then I just kept singing "Just Pray" in my mind.  Jeremiah 33:3 wouldn't leave me either.  I kept thinking that we'll get through no matter what and "Even in the Valley God is Good."  I'm thinking like a musician...
Scott finally got home and we were on our way.  We made the best of the trip, talking and praying, and having a good visit with Victoria.  Scott looked at me and said, "This is your vacation, so enjoy it."  So, I took advantage of him, while my hands and heart were trembling with fear.  I thought about my sister and brother-in-law, and how they came through the death of Candace and I knew that if we had to, we would by God's grace and we'd be thankful for the twenty-three years we had with Jessica.  Yes, their example comforted me.
When we arrived at the ICU the doctor and nurses were concerned and let us know that she had to be sedated.  She was flailing and hitting and biting anything in her reach.  She was restrained with elastic bands on her limbs and shoulders and had a tape on her forehead that read "patient bites!"  I had to chuckle when I saw this because I new they had to "call it as they sees it!"
I remembered God's "Amazing Grace" and started thinking about how God has brought us this far without our help - I'm just along for the ride.
God helped us stay calm and cheerful and hopeful throughout the three long days.  I have to say that when she finally became alert and her blood glucose numbers were fine, I was feeling "Pentecostal".  God didn't have to come through the way He did, but He did and He has perfect timing.  We thought the hospital would move her to a regular room and observe her for day or so, but the doctor decided to release her on Sunday afternoon, to our surprise!
We gladly brought our daughter home and I praised the Lord all the way home.  Oh, the places you can go - up, down, around, even Muskogee, Oklahoma - and God is there.

Psalm 84:5 - Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; 
in whose heart are the ways of them.

⁶ Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; 

therain also filleth the pools.

⁷ They go from strength to strength, every one of them 

in Zion appeareth before God.

⁸ O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: 

give ear, O God of Jacob.  Selah

⁹ Behold, O God our shield, 

and look upon the face of thine anointed.

¹⁰ For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. 

I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, 

than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

¹¹ For the LORD God is a sun and shield: 

the LORD will give grace and glory: 

no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

¹² O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.