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The Battle is Already Won 6/22/11 10:15 PM
My friend, Victoria (AKA:Yonanny)told me last night that as long as there is life, there is hope. Sometimes my faith waivers and I lose hope, but God has a remarkable way of proving His love for me through other believers who love Him. Victoria and I are online friends and have become very close over the past several months. She has been praying for me and Ron along with all of you and she has been such a source of encouragement. I learned a lot from her just last night. Mainly that if I lose hope, Ron will lose hope right along with me. She gave me a new attitude to take with me to the hospital today. And it helped so very much. Ron had a good day in spite of the paralysis and the ventilator. He was sad when I first got there, but we talked a lot about his strengths, his incredible ability to rise above the hardships and adapt to whatever life throws at him. We agreed that quitting is not an option for either one of us. As the day went on and his frowns turned to smiles, his breathing became better. He began doing a lot of the work of the ventilator on his own again. When his Dr came in he talked about maybe as soon as tomorrow taking Ron off the ventilator. I believe that his anxiety over the paralysis was causing him to have problems with breathing. But after dealing with that issue and accepting what ever the outcome may be and knowing that God will get him through it, he started breathing better again. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!
So back to Victoria...hers is an incredible story of love and faith and miracles. I knew this about her: she had cancer and lost her voice to it. Through all my whining about Ron not being able to talk (temporarily) she never once told me to get over it. She just continued to pray faithfully for him and encourage me. Now what I did NOT know about my friend Victoria (because she doesn't dwell on it) is that she is paralyzed. She's an amazing woman and God put her in my life for a reason. I'd like to share some of her words of wisdom with you, because she has had such a huge impact on how I will deal with setbacks and disappointments from now on. The following are some exerpts from her letters to me last night:
" A sweet friend of mine said to me;--"When bad things happen to good people - it is what we do with it that matters the most." I have been stomping around in my brain--begging--pleading--fighting and praying sis and talking to Jesus and was reminded of when I was where Ron is an all I wanted to do was give up--because it was easier--because I wouldn't have to hurt anymore--because my family could go on with their lifes--and all this would be over--and that's when Lee got so mad at me and balled me out and said ." Vicky--damn it . I haven't went thru all of this right here with you all the way for you to just take the COWARD'S way out"--and that made me mad and being mad gives you back that fighjting spirit that wins battles--- and Ron HAS GOT TO FIGHT AND YOU HAVE TO FIGHT FOR HIS LIFE--these things like paralasis can be lived with--I'm doing it every day from my waist down --I sit in a net with a hole cut out for my forever naked butt to be in and lifted by a hoyer lift takes me from my recliner to a portable potty chair and have to have my butt wiped and then put back in my chair that I sleep eat and live in because I can't lay flat in a bed and for years Lee has slept on the couch right bside me so---- he can hear me clap my hand if i need something--so paralasis can be lived with--it's not fun--sometimes I get deeply depressed that I need friends to help get me thru and that's where ron is now--he's deeply depressed and we got to get him past what may or not be because the surgury is too soon to tell if permanent but that's not gonna make you love him any less and it's not going to make him any less of a man--in fact the fighting this thru would make him more of a man--and the fluid can be drained and you make them do it today because he doesn't need the stress on his heart or emotions and Kath do what you have to do to make him mad enough to fight--put every guilt trip in the book on him and I don't know your denomination--you are but there is a preacher in the town a'll are in of that faith and call him and get him over there with the oil---i know you need to rest but print this out and read it to him but don't tell other's about me- I ony tell a select few-i'm praying."
I asked for her permission to share some of her words and this is what she wrote:
"okay but I don't tell it for sympathy---I tell it to encoirage and to show how God has saved my life many many times when I should have died and how He can help me overcome and conquer thru Christ who sthrenthens me daily and blesses me daily with friends.
KATHLEN its okay to use it like I said just give God the glory and I believe He puts people together for that reason too and I'm so very glad you are my sissy--ILU2"
And so my friends and family, Ron is fighting a battle and I am fighting it right along with him. And so are all of you. You are the warriors who have prayed faithfully and encouraged us through everything. Thank you all so much. Love, Kathleen
So back to Victoria...hers is an incredible story of love and faith and miracles. I knew this about her: she had cancer and lost her voice to it. Through all my whining about Ron not being able to talk (temporarily) she never once told me to get over it. She just continued to pray faithfully for him and encourage me. Now what I did NOT know about my friend Victoria (because she doesn't dwell on it) is that she is paralyzed. She's an amazing woman and God put her in my life for a reason. I'd like to share some of her words of wisdom with you, because she has had such a huge impact on how I will deal with setbacks and disappointments from now on. The following are some exerpts from her letters to me last night:
" A sweet friend of mine said to me;--"When bad things happen to good people - it is what we do with it that matters the most." I have been stomping around in my brain--begging--pleading--fighting and praying sis and talking to Jesus and was reminded of when I was where Ron is an all I wanted to do was give up--because it was easier--because I wouldn't have to hurt anymore--because my family could go on with their lifes--and all this would be over--and that's when Lee got so mad at me and balled me out and said ." Vicky--damn it . I haven't went thru all of this right here with you all the way for you to just take the COWARD'S way out"--and that made me mad and being mad gives you back that fighjting spirit that wins battles--- and Ron HAS GOT TO FIGHT AND YOU HAVE TO FIGHT FOR HIS LIFE--these things like paralasis can be lived with--I'm doing it every day from my waist down --I sit in a net with a hole cut out for my forever naked butt to be in and lifted by a hoyer lift takes me from my recliner to a portable potty chair and have to have my butt wiped and then put back in my chair that I sleep eat and live in because I can't lay flat in a bed and for years Lee has slept on the couch right bside me so---- he can hear me clap my hand if i need something--so paralasis can be lived with--it's not fun--sometimes I get deeply depressed that I need friends to help get me thru and that's where ron is now--he's deeply depressed and we got to get him past what may or not be because the surgury is too soon to tell if permanent but that's not gonna make you love him any less and it's not going to make him any less of a man--in fact the fighting this thru would make him more of a man--and the fluid can be drained and you make them do it today because he doesn't need the stress on his heart or emotions and Kath do what you have to do to make him mad enough to fight--put every guilt trip in the book on him and I don't know your denomination--you are but there is a preacher in the town a'll are in of that faith and call him and get him over there with the oil---i know you need to rest but print this out and read it to him but don't tell other's about me- I ony tell a select few-i'm praying."
I asked for her permission to share some of her words and this is what she wrote:
"okay but I don't tell it for sympathy---I tell it to encoirage and to show how God has saved my life many many times when I should have died and how He can help me overcome and conquer thru Christ who sthrenthens me daily and blesses me daily with friends.
KATHLEN its okay to use it like I said just give God the glory and I believe He puts people together for that reason too and I'm so very glad you are my sissy--ILU2"
And so my friends and family, Ron is fighting a battle and I am fighting it right along with him. And so are all of you. You are the warriors who have prayed faithfully and encouraged us through everything. Thank you all so much. Love, Kathleen
You and Vicky are really something. I've have pleasure of knowing Vicky for some time. She is the most positive person I know. Kathleen, you and Ron are "special" too. Just keep up the good work and in time all will fall into place. I continue to pray like crazy.Love ya both. Hugs, Bobby:) xxoo
God does put people in our lives for reasons and Victoria is proof of that. She is living proof that love can conquer all and give your inner strength. Let us pray that Ron will be able to cope with the changes his body is going through and that it will heal. Your friend, Patty
Lord, our Father, hear our prayers as they continue and continue to give Kathleen and Ron the strength to make it through this as you have been doing. Thank you for our answered prayers Amen Suzi