Remembering with Gratitude – God-sightings in the early days of Keith’s meningitis

A continuation of “But God” (Which you can read here https://gardenlessonsbook.com/but_god/

Psalm 107: 1 – 2a “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.  Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story-…”

Reflecting on this chapter in God’s Word makes my heart well up with gratitude for the many ways we saw Him on the move in those early days of Keith’s battle with meningitis and sepsis. While the days were difficult and the struggle was real, the assurance that we were not fighting alone gave us hope…strength…even joy… knowing the LORD was on our side.

The week building up to the onset of meningitis had been a challenge in itself.  Both of us felt as if we were fighting the flu.   I’d had chest congestion, while Keith was horribly achy, fatigued, and by Friday had an ear infection.  While we were sick, my dad slipped in his bathroom and hit his head, causing a brain bleed.  He was in ICU at the hospital near his home in San Diego being monitored and cared for.  I wanted to drive down to be with him but couldn’t take a chance on exposing him to something that might make his situation even worse.  Gratefully, he was discharged on Friday (day of Keith’s ear infection) and, with the help of my wonderful stepmom, was able to return to normal life at home…the day before Keith was rushed to the hospital.

Psalm 107:8 “Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds…”

On Saturday, the timing of getting medical care for Keith was perfect. If I had taken him to Urgent Care (we weren’t even thinking about the ER) before I left with my girlfriends for the weekend, things might have taken a different turn. When he finally went to Urgent Care, Keith had horrible head pain but was speaking clearly; when the doctor saw him he could only talk gibberish. Because of that the doctor had him rushed by ambulance to the hospital, which was right across the street. Had Keith gone for help any earlier, he might have been sent home with oral antibiotics, possibly with a much different outcome.   We later heard of two others with meningitis who had been sent home with oral antibiotics: one died; the other has brain damage.

That same day after getting the call to come home, as my dear friend, Debi drove me from Pasadena to St Jude Medical Center, freeways opened up in front of us and we arrived safely and in good time.

Psalm 107:6 “Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble and he delivered them from their distress.  He led them by a straight way…” (Emphasis mine).

Our dear friend, Colleen and our son, Kole, were with Keith when I arrived.  A CT scan had just allowed doctors to rule out stroke. Within minutes lab workups showed his blood stream was filled with bacteria: sepsis.  A few minutes more brought results from the spinal tap: meningitis!  Immediately everyone scrambled to don masks and gloves, protecting themselves from air droplets coming from Keith’s mouth and nose, which could spread the deadly disease.  He was moved to quarantine, with strict adherence to hand washing protocol, and later gloves and gowns were required, in addition to masks.  No one mentioned what might happen to those of us exposed to his air droplets prior to quarantine.

Psalm 107:13 “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble and he saved them from their distress.” (Emphasis mine).

As day one came to a close, the prayers of so many family and friends from Fullerton, across the country, even around the world, began to be offered on Keith’s behalf and the real, touchable, tangible presence of God was felt.

Before I fell asleep that first night I recorded all of this…and so much more…in my Gratitude Journal. In the days ahead, when times were most challenging I would read back over every recorded event, which brought encouragement and consolation to my heart.  (Those of you who maintain such a journal understand what I mean.  If you don’t yet have a way of recording God-sightings and things for which you are thankful, let me encourage you to start today. You will be truly blessed!)

Psalm 107:21-22 “Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men.  Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy.”