Revived and Alive

Thank you for stopping in at my blog! I am excited to share what has been happening in my life, behind the scenes, director's cut. All raw and laid open to share and give you a look behind the life of Evie. But more so, what God has been doing in my life after all this time of not writing, sharing and encouraging. I'm back though and have much to tell. It is just part of my story and I am ready to share about it!

These past couple years have been a disaster for me. It actually started in September or early October of 2014, when I started working as a costumer care rep. I had kidney stones and remember being in a lot of pain for that two weeks of training. Toward the end of that training period, I had to have the stones surgically broken down. I became well again, but it was still rather tough for quite some time afterwards. Unfortunately and rather quickly, I came down with an infection in my veins which was quite painful and took much time to get over. And then AGAIN, shortly after new years in 2015, about a week after as I remember, I discovered I had something more serious going on. It explained other symptoms that were happening that I had no idea of. I had a sore foot and was limping around. I was also coughing a lot (a dry but constant cough). From time to time, I would have to go spit whatever would come up and I noticed....blood. The doctors took x-rays on a couple of different occasions and said I had no breaks or injury in my foot or anything that they can tell it was from. They also said the coughing was just from dry air. I was relieved in a way because I know that coughing up blood can be very serious. A lot of these symptoms were happening in the Fall of 2014 and it just seemed like it was all going downhill from there. I was working part-time and was settling into this new job. All seemed really good otherwise.

Right after new years, it all took a turn for the worst. I woke up one morning, I think it was a Sunday but can't really remember. I woke up and my chest hurt. It felt heavy and it was really hard to breath. I was coughing terribly and I was noticing that my pulse and heart were beating oddly fast. I went to use the bathroom and then walked back to my couch and felt as though I ran a marathon. I was also freezing and shaking. Something wasn't right and I knew I had to get in touch with my doctor. I called the clinic that I have been going to for years. They had me go in to be checked out. It was extremely cold out and I was almost disoriented as I drove myself. When I got there and was in the room with the doctor, I explained all the symptoms and what I was experiencing up until then, thinking it was all somehow an underlying reason for this. To my surprise, they told me it was bronchitis. I didn't agree because I've had bronchitis before and this was not even remotely close to that. I even tried to explain that it wasn't. Instead of listening to me, they sent in an antibiotic for me to pick up from the pharmacy and instructed me to go home and rest. Well, I did just that. I stopped at the pharmacy and picked up the meds, went home and hooked up the heating blanket my sister gave me for Christmas. I took an antibiotic and proceeded to take a nap. I can't remember how long I slept for. But when I woke up, I was shaking even worse. I was coughing worse and even though I didn't get up to use the bathroom, I was gasping for air. I called my doctors office again, explaining that things have gotten worse. My pulse was racing unbelievably fast. That was then that they told me to go to the ER and that I should not drive myself. And as I would, I called my mom and asked her to take me in to the ER. The ride was such a blur. Before I knew it, I am at the ER and I don't recall the wait being very long. I remember the nurse hooking me up with an IV and taking blood. She also did an H1N1 swap and stuck this thing up far up my nose. I didn't want it done but she did it anyway. She's lucky I didn't backhand her for that. I was ready to run out of there, I was mad! After that, it was time for more x-rays. It would have been nice if they gave me a wheel chair when I went to have x-rays done. It is hard to remember the order that it all happened. Everything was happening so fast and my mom was there. But eventually, the doctor requested I had a c-scan done. It was a more in depth x-ray, unlike the others they took. When the doctor came and told the results and their findings, I was told I had multiple blood clots in my lungs. What was the cause? They said it was probably from the nuva ring I used. It is a form of birth control that I was using to treat my endometriosis. Don't even get me started on that. But in knowing this, I took the nuva ring out right away. I knew that was the end of birth control for me.

As the story continues, I found out that I had a pulmonary embolism that morning. I could have died. Many people die from PE. I hear they are very hard to detect ant it can be too late for most people. I had all the symptoms and it's almost unreal that my family doctor was not able to find out the cause. I am thankful that the ER doctor did. It saved my life! The pain in my foot was actually a blood clot that ended up going to my lungs and it just turned out I had multiple. That is why the doctors didn't see anything at the clinic when they did x-rays on my foot. Not only that but the blood I coughed up was a result of the clots that formed in my lungs and that caused the coughing and shortness of breath. I had to get on blood thinners after they detected what it was. My mom had to give me shots in my stomach twice a day for a week. The first one was given to me by the nurse in the ER. I think I only spent one night at the hospital. Actually, I cannot remember if it was one or two nights to be exact. But I remember the nurse showing my mom how to give me the shots. It was a horrible experience! But once the med kicked in, it was the start of my recovery. I had to have it done in order to heal and hopefully get well again. There were no guarantees and it was a risk I had to take.

God spared my life that day! It could have been the end of Evie. At least on this earth. But instead, the meds took action. I was getting my blood drawn several times for the weeks and months that followed. Eventually, I had to take blood thinners in pill form and had to watch my diet. I had to cut my pills at times to closely monitor my doses. I couldn't eat greens or have other certain things. I did anyway though and had to pay the piper when my levels were off.

Not long after that, I started with another team at work and also met a wonderful guy at who worked in the same building. I'm not going to get into all of that though. If I really allow myself to think about it, I still find that I hurt somewhere deep down. But anyway, it is a part of my journey now and a portion I felt was worth mentioning. It was hard to be at work at times, but I knew I had to be there. I really enjoyed the team I was on. Without them, I don't think I would have made it as far as I did. However, I let work take the place of all that was going on inside and out. Through my health and all the other things I was experiencing, I started to take my focus more and more off of God and put it more on myself and my job. So much, that it became my idol in a way. That is how it has been up until recently. Other things happened throughout that time as well that pulled me further and further away. And as I sit here right now, writing and thinking about all that happened, I realize that only one thing matters. I am alive and doing much better right now because God brought me back to this place before Him. A place where he has restored my life and the true purpose for my existence.

This is a lot to read, I know. It's becoming a book at this point. I have more to share and I am going to be adding a Part 2 which is going to pull it all into a spiritual perspective. As you know, there are things that I will not going into detail about. But this is where I am at now. I am happy to say that I am no longer on blood thinners and I can eat greens again! The clots are gone. Sadly, I still cough due to dead tissue in my lungs. It's not nearly as bad as it use to be though. For those that know me well, know that God is my life. I love and breathe because of God and He has delivered me from the grave. I have made mistakes. I have hurt others and myself in the process. I have felt awful. But that is not who I am. This is just an outline of that part of my life. God will help me fill in the rest!

I just want to end this part of this chapter but saying I am thankful for everyone in my life. The story is going to continue and that is what the next chapter is about. Our life is a story that just keeps on going. It is up to us to keep on telling. I have time right now to keep going with mine. I like to share my story! If you know me, you are part of my story somehow. Even if I don't get into detail about each one of you and how you are in it. Just know that you are. I am thankful for you.