Seven years ago I contracted sepsis. Sepsis is an infection of the immune system. In most cases people do not live through it …
I was in a coma for several weeks in intensive care. Consequently, I do not remember ANYTHING of this ordeal because of the coma. And Praise God! I was healed. Because of a wonderful team of doctors (I call them The Young Guns), the incredible support of the Body of Christ, and the fervent prayers of healing from all over the world, God’s healing hand held my body and the deadly infection.
In fact, I am a miracle! And we are looking for another miracle.
NOTE: For those who may not know, Sepsis is caused by the immune system’s response to a serious infection, most commonly bacteria, but also fungi, viruses, and parasites in the blood, urinary tract, lungs, skin, or other tissues. Sepsis can be thought of as falling within a continuum from infection to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. Common symptoms of sepsis include those related to a specific infection, but usually accompanied by high fevers, hot, flushed skin, elevated heart rate, hyperventilation, altered mental status, swelling, and low blood pressure. Sepsis causes millions of deaths globally each year. It is usually treated with intravenous fluids and antibiotics. If fluid replacement isn’t sufficient to maintain blood pressure, vasopressors can be used. Mechanical ventilation and dialysis may be needed to support the function of the lungs and kidneys, respectively.
Every morning during the coma my wife, Bonita, would leave her marked Bible on the kitchen table after her time with the Lord. When my adult children woke each day they would look to see what their “verse for the day” was. This would be the verse Bonita had chosen or a verse or verses that dear friends had given us to claim that day. Plus, this was the verse they would pray over me that day. I obviously had no idea this was going on.
A few days after “the healing” I was home reading from my Bible in the morning. When I would read some verses I would begin to cry aloud (Warning: I am a crybaby–even on McDonald’s commercials). Bonita would come in the room where I was wailing and reading. When I would show her the verse that brought so much emotion she would say, “Come here big guy. I want to show you something.” We would go to that breakfast table altar. She would then point to that verse in her Bible. And it would always have a notation next to the verse. Some of the notes by many of the verses said things like: “Steve ate ice today,” “Amy submitted this verse,” “Tom Clanton,” “Kids prayed this today,” “January 21,” “Mom & Dad” (my mom & dad). Unknown to me, these verses were the verses prayed over me while in a coma. God’s Word pierced through my spirit each time; and to this day those verses automatically create a tearful and powerful surge in my spirit.
On one occasion, I recall for a very short and lucid moment Ben Young reading scripture over me. I thought it might be my last rites over me. I’m not sure this Baptist boy knows much about last rites, but that’s what I thought. Sobering.
I received an iPod for Christmas. For some unknown reason (hello!) I downloaded a large amount of songs onto that device. This current playlist included songs from Choice Ministries (Louie, Shelley, Sam, Dave, & Schelly), Point of Grace, many, many worship songs, Metro Live, and others. One day while I lay in a coma John Mark went to the house and got the iPod. I had received speakers for it on my birthday. So JM set it up in my intensive care room to play continuously. It was a tremendous blessing to the doctors and nurses and it helped to create a worshipful atmosphere in the room that was noticed by everyone who entered. I was told that my toe would move to the beat as I slept. Remember! I didn’t have a clue that was going on . . . at least that’s what we thought.
Hang with me … it gets better!
When we headed home from the hospital, and Bo was playing these in the car, Mr. Crybaby (Me!) started again just hearing these songs. There is not a time now when my family or I hears any of these songs that tears don’t well up inside our hearts and on our faces. Thank you dear, dear friends that wrote, sang, and produced these songs that ministered to me and so many others.
NOTE: You can listen to these “Songs of My Healing” on the blog but you CANNOT download them. If you try your computer will disintegrate. I’m not kidding … and my friends will disown me.
Want to know about my journey through cancer? Click HERE.
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