My 2 daughters are 29 and 25. Both are teachers. They have given me 3 grandchildren: Alex, Alyssa and baby Kate. Needless to say, God knew what I needed. My love for them is unbelievable. I have a wonderful supportive husband. He has seen me through so much and never faltered in his care and love.
I will start with just 10 years ago. To start from the beginning would be a small book. I had a father die and a brother end up in a mental institution. After the burial of my dad and trying to cope with my brother, I found one day I couldn't breathe very well. I went to the hospital and the diagnosis was anxiety. That diagnosis was correct but they also found idiopathic cardiomyopathy and hypothyroidism. It was either a virus or thyroid that caused my heart trouble. My EF is 30% and has held there for 10 years. I have severe nerve damage in my spine and after 7 years of unbelievable pain, I was implanted with a morphine pump.
I didn't cope at all the first year. I just waited to die or be set up for a heart transplant, expecting to get worse. It never came. I didn't really know God in my heart, just my head. Back then "love God," what a joke?! How could you love someone you didn't know? Well, He was introduced to my heart on a retreat called "The Walk to Emmaus." This is an inter-denominational retreat run by the Methodist Church. I am a Catholic, and not only that, I have been secretary for my Catholic church for 13 years. Going on a Methodist retreat weekend was not the norm. I will finish by saying that since becoming a believer, I have worked at a homeless shelter, retreats in prison and adopted an older woman with no one on this earth but her. Please understand that I am not bragging, I am thanking God for opportunities to thank Him. I hope all of us can feel the peace and love I do. Every day is an opportunity to make a difference.
Kathleen -- April 1, 1999
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