I want to say THANK YOU TO EVERYONE today who has supported and encouraged Rick and I since last year. As you know, I caught a virus (coxsackie) and a bacteria (meningococcal meningitis) last year that destroyed my heart. That was June 2013. Every organ in my body, except for my heart and my brain shut down - leaving me in ICU for 42 days as my body fought to come back. The doctors expected me to have brain damage when they tried to wake me up after being out for 7 days. Everyone was very surprised that I didnt have any mental damage at all. I had to learn to do everything again - with the help of physical/occupational therapy - from eating;bathing;walking. I remember they wouldnt let me eat solid food for a week until I could swallow without choking after they took the breathing and feeding tubes out. That was a goal, let me tell you. I remember another goal was to have the strength in my fingers to type a text on my phone, as I had difficulty pushing the numbers. The YOUTUBE video is me the first time I walked after this happened. When I got out of the hospital August 15, 2013 my heart was at 19%. I was bedridden; using a walker to go short distances around the apartment in Washington and my husband would use a wheelchair to take me out of the house. My Mother-in-Law, Roma, came up for a month and took care of me when Rick had to be gone to Alaska for work. She was always patient with me and never once got frustrated. I appreciated her immensely. James, came up from Oklahoma and watched the house for a month, took care of the critters, and brought me things as I needed them even though he has a very bad hip and has to use a walker every day. Thank You Jamie. Cindy and John ( Anthony Sandoval ) sisters-in-law, Della and Linda, helped out quite a bit as well, until our move from Washington. The cards and gifts I received from friends and family helped me to get through everything and THANK YOU to everyone on here for that. Christmas Eve last year in Seattle, I was given a year to live. This was echoed 2 months later in Salt Lake City. Both hospitals were convinced (and still are) that I need a Mechanical Heart as a Bridge to Heart Transplant. I have decided to wait on this and see how long I can make it. As it would be 2 open heart surgeries and the medical bills will be outrageous. Our medical bills for last year were over $800,000 last year. I have just finished paying all but 2 small ones off, I am trying to take very good care of myself so that I dont make any more for a awhile. Grin. I am going to boast now- I got out of the wheelchair; slowly started walking without the walker (Feb). I have finished (as of 2 days ago) my 3rd book to be published this year. Available at Barnes & Noble and Amazon. My heart is now at 25% - and every day is a blessing that I have time. Everyone says how good I look and you almost cant tell, except for the getting tired quick and having to focus when I walk. There have been TRIALS & GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. Total Strangers who have assisted us Tremendously while asking nothing in return. And those I have known for 25 years (since I was 15) who took advantage of my illness and manipulated me (in one of those manipulations they convinced me to put land I bought at the county tax sale for my Godbabies to have a future into their name so that my Godbabies will never see it, (it is assessed at $12,000) ( Skips Performance Corner) I was too trusting) and added stress and hardship in my life while saying that they Loved Me. I HAVE SEEN GOOD AND I HAVE SEEN EVIL this year; COMPASSION & CARING & then SELFISH MOTIVATION. But Mostly - because I have relied on FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST- every step of the way - I have seen at times - the MOST GENIUNE OF LOVE, GREATEST OF FRIENDS, ACQUAINTANCES AND FAMILY. My WISH FOR EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU this Thanksgiving and all the year to come is: TRUE LOVE; TRUE FRIENDSHIP; & ABSOLUTELY TRUE FAITH as you each continue your journey. With LOTSA LOVE; APPRECIATION; AND HUGS this Holiday Season. THANK YOU from Rick and Raven Deel.
Posted on: Thu, 27 Nov 2014 10:27:57 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015