Rebecca Blizzard:  

UPDATE: This is going to be a long one. But this is my story about my jouney in the past 12 mths: Just one year ago today I was waking up in what became my second stop long a 5 month journey. Shipped off from over a months stay at MD Anderson to an LSAT in San Antionio, I had been told to get my affairs in order, that there was no hope. Hope—a word they were prominently sharing in a television commercial as they were telling me to give up. To come to terms with reality; I would not get better. But God told me not to worry; “I’ve got you.”, he said. So, I clung to those words in defiance of the doctors and refused to let go. My organs were failing. My body was no longer producing new blood. And, my lungs had been filled with the fluid trapped in my body by my failing kidneys. An ER lung puncture, as I sat up clingging to my room tray and 3 people held me still, was all that stood between me and the ability to take in a breathe of air. Or, so the doctors thought. As I clung to that table and an incision was made I also clung on to my faith. Again I heard the voice of God say, “Don’t worry. I’ve got you; breathe.” And, I took in a breathe. Now, once again here I layed in a dark room alone. My body still failing. The doctor telling me I was failing to thrive. My arms and legs were like lead. My feet had failed me and I struggled with every movement. Tossed from side to side like a rag doll whenever nurses came in to change sheets, clean me up, or perform a medical procdure. My mobility was gone. It was there in dark at my lowest point of humiliation from my treatment and surroundings I heard his voice again, “Don’t worry, I’ve got you; just move.” So, again, I clung to my bed and my faith as I fought to keep my body moving even without one ounce of PT help. When I complained I was scolded, ridiculed and told I was too unstable. For over a month and a half I continued endure the pain, every-other day kidney dialysis, and blood transfusions. I was told you are not getting better. I began to feel defeated and nervous with some of the actions around me. I felt unclean. It was now into November and everyone was preparing for Thanksgiving. People were in the holiday mode and I was beginning to feel the despair. But even at my lowest, I knew people were praying for me. And once again alone in the dark I clung to my faith and I heard, “Don’t worry I’ve got you; just heal.” The next morning my kidneys began to function. I finally began to feel some sense of normalcy. Like it was the beginning of the end of what had already been a long journey. I was moved into a room with a roommate since I no longer needed 1/2 a room for machines. Having been alone for so long it was tough that first night. The roomie made all kinds of noises and demands all night long. The next day I continued to improve but I was exhausted. As night fell and as I closed my eyes to sleep, a large golf ball-sized clot broke free from my sinus cavity and got stuck in my throat. As I laid there with blood flowing down my face and the back of my throat I literally began choke and drown at the same time. I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t scream, but as tears welled up in my eyes, I heard a voice in the next bed ask, “Are you ok? And then yell “Nurse! Help! Help! At the top of her lungs.” Even though it was not God’s voice, I knew he was with me. They all rushed in. I was covered in blood and the the nurses had a look of panic on their faces. They rushed out to get the charge nurse as I layed there and thought this is it. Next through the door was the Respiratory Therapist, it happened to be time for a breathing treatment. She saw my distress grabbed the suction apparatus turned it on high and began to suction my throat. She managed to partially clear the clot but it was just enough. As another nurse used towels to soak up the blood was flowing from my nose and stop the flow, the respiratory nurse held me up against her and continued to clear my throat so I could catch a breath here and there. Unable to speak I thought please lord don’t let me drown in my own blood. Then without skipping a beat the RT nurse said, “Don’t worry, I’ve got you; breathe through your mouth.” And I did. After what seemed hours but in reality was maybe a couse of minutes, EMTs arrived to take me to St. Lukes. By then I was exhausted, the RT had managed to clear enough of my airway, the blood had started slow and to re-clot, and I was wisked off for an overnight stay at the ER. The next morning I returned to the LSAT. Twice more the events decribed occurred, twice more I was transported to an ER. Both times God placed people in my path that I said, “Don’t worry, I’ve got you.” There were other incidences and examples all along the way that would make this long story even longer. Like when my fathers church in Honduras gathered in prayer ceremony at his home. They worshiped and prayed. My father sending me recordings along the way for me to hear. The next day, a CNA comes in and speaks in calming voice, instructing the nurses no do it this way it’s better for her. Telling me don’t worry, I’ve got you. I looked at her and said your Honduran, to which she replied yes, how did you know. And in those words I heard God say, “Don’t worry, I told you, I’ve got you.” Anyway, Thanksgving had come, Another nose bleed occurred, another fight with the LSAT who would not transport me even after 9-1-1 was called. EMTs and their on-call Doctors pleading to release me with the Charge nurse whose supervisor said kept saying No and then not without signing a Against Medical Advice exposing me to the possibility of insurance refusing coverage and a lot of other nasty drama. I was finally released and at Methodist where I spent my birthday and another week in and out of procedures trying to stabilize me from a laundry list of other complications that had occured do to the lack of care and PT I had not received. Finally, It was Dec 9th and I received the all clear to be transported back to a rehab facility in my hometown 2.5 hrs north of San Antonio. I was tired. My body was beaten. I still had no mobilit...Expand for more