The last several months, I have been on a marathon. It has been one health complication after another, and it has been a struggle to produce YouTube videos. Any spare time I have, I am creating new YouTube content. As one year has come and gone for my YouTube channel, I have been fixated on one number, the number of subscribers. The number is edging toward 500. I am thrilled my channel is growing…and yet, I feel as though I have lost my vision for being on YouTube. My brain is getting wrapped up in numbers instead of people.
From time to time, people contact me on YouTube. It is often an urgent request. Someone is having a tracheostomy procedure and guidance or encouragement is desired. I do my best to do what I can and very soon the person moves on. I never hear from the person again.
Last week, a woman contacted me. From the start, she was a spitting image of myself in so many ways. I smiled reading her message. I laughed as she told me about her stubbornness. Yes, we are the same in many ways.
She told me she needs to get a tracheostomy soon. She has been fighting the decision for a while, but my YouTube channel gave her the encouragement to go ahead with the procedure. Reading her words brought tears to my eyes and made me stop to thank God.
I started creating YouTube videos to raise awareness about tracheostomy tubes and ventilators. I wanted to let the world know having a piece of plastic in your throat and having a machine push air in and out of your airways is no different than using a wheelchair for one’s mobility needs. It is just another medical device helping people live their best lives.
Suddenly, everything about my YouTube channel fades into the distance. The only thing which matters is helping this person as she prepares for her upcoming procedure and assisting her in any way I can.
As much as I do not like my health and wish I could do something more with my life, I pause and thank God for creating me at this time in history. YouTube allows me to connect with others and enables me to do what I love: helping others through their own trials. What a blessing that is.
God bless you my sweet new friend. Are you still in the hospital as we write???? Oh my goodness I did not know. I am in prayer for you as I type this and please let me know how you are feeling and doing. I am so honored by you and your journey, your transparency to share, and your love of Jesus and others.
ReplyDeleteHello. Thank you so much for your sweet words. May you find strength, courage and energy to keep on glorifying our Mighty Creator.
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