Health Update 3

After my appointment with my pulmonologist, I was still very sick. I needed urgent medical attention. My doctor made it very clear I should never return back to the hospital where I have been receiving almost all my care for the last two and a half years.

So, I sought out a different hospital. At the emergency department (ED), I again had an elevated white blood cell count. The ED doctor stated my lungs sounded horrible. A CT scan revealed diffuse infection in my lungs and two holes in my lungs. I had double pneumonia. I was started on IV antibiotics and admitted to the hospital.

I was hospitalized for five days. During this time, I met some great doctors. Two of which were pulmonologists. I was given their contact information and was told I could follow up with either doctor. I was discharged home with IV antibiotics.

Due to the complexity of my infection and the need for IV antibiotics, I was told I needed to see an infectious disease (ID) doctor. I did not ask for a referral to see an ID doctor because I already had an ID doctor. Moreover, I had an appointment scheduled to see him two weeks from the date of my hospital discharge, which was exactly when I was supposed to follow up after my hospitalization.

Three days before my ID appointment, I called and left a message with my doctor's office to inquire if he was still doing in-person appointments or if he was now doing telemedicine appointments due to the coronavirus. The physician’s nurse returned my call. She informed me my ID doctor no longer wanted to see me. My appointment was canceled. I was shocked by this news. How can a doctor abruptly abandon a patient with no advanced notice? I told the nurse I had been very sick with pneumonia. I needed to see the doctor as a follow up from my recent hospitalization. She said she would forward this information to the physician and let me know what he said. She never called back. When I did not hear back from doctor’s nurse, I sent an email to my physician explaining I had been very sick and I needed follow up treatment from my recent hospitalization. I asked for his help, but he never responded.

Again, I was left frantic and in tears. I was in urgent need for an infectious disease doctor, and now another doctor was abandoning me. The timing of all this was incredibly inconvenient. Coronavirus was exploding on the national stage.

Thankfully, God does not abandon us. One of the pulmonologists from the new hospital provided follow-up care. I am still in need of an ID doctor. But as with all things, God will provide.

This year has been a roller coaster ride. I am grateful God continues to guide me every step of the way. When everything was crumbling around me, I constantly reminded myself of Scripture: "And we know that God works all things for good to those who love God, to them who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28) and "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).

As these words swirled in my head, I kept my eyes wide open to watch God provide everything I needed. Better than anything I could have arranged on my own, piece after piece fell in together to create a beautiful masterpiece of God's love. I know God's love is infinite, but to receive even a tiny fraction of God's endless love is enough to last a person a lifetime.

(Link to Part One click here)


(Link to Part Two click here)