Win Some, Lose Some, Ever Forward

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Psalm 138:7

New Living Translation (NLT)

⁷ Though I am surrounded by troubles,
    you will protect me from the anger of my enemies.
You reach out your hand,
    and the power of your right hand saves me.

For four months now I have been suffering with a headache when I’m not lying down. This appears to be the result of my bout with West Nile Virus (WNV). The hospital did several lumbar punctures to diagnose the disease. After seeing numerous doctors who were simply clueless as to how to solve the issue, I was finally referred to Dr Olivo, a neurologist.

When I described my symptoms to him, his eyes lit up, and he said, “It’s undoubtedly a cerebrospinal fluid leak (CSF) at a lumbar puncture site.” I had come to the same conclusion after reading the Internet. Apparently the fact that the headache and other symptoms disappear when I lie down is characteristic of a CSF leak.

Dr Olivo went right to work to get the various preliminary tests done and then get me into the hospital to have the patch done. Results are supposed to be immediate, so the patch is an outpatient procedure. The radiologist who administered the patch had me lie down for a half hour afterwards and then had me get up and dress. Of course he inquired if I felt better.

I walked around a bit, somewhat bewildered. The room swayed from left to right as I turned my head. I needed to hold onto something in order to walk straight. My entire head ached from my shoulders on up. Not only was I not better, I was also a lot worse.

There was the hope that it would clear up over time. That hope never materialized. I was sorely disappointed but not discouraged or depressed. By chance I had read the promise in the verse above the very morning of the procedure. I sensed as I read the promise that I might need its comfort that very day, though I certainly hoped not.

God has brought me through alive from the very deadly WNV after 9 weeks in hospital and rehab. There are some lingering areas where I haven’t fully recovered besides the CSF leak. The literature suggests that healing from the WNV usually takes at least a year. So I have a while to go yet.

Thank You, Lord, for the promise that Your mighty right hand will save me in the very midst of my troubles.

#CALIFORNIA, #IE, #PSALMS, #BIBLEPROMISE, #WESTNILEVIRUS, #HEADACHE, #NEUROLOGY, #LUMBARPATCH, #DEPRESSION, #CEREBROSPINALFLUID, #CSFLEAK, #MEDICALFAILURE, #HEALING

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