Friday, April 20, 2007

Survival Story

or "How a friend and the election of the pope saved my life."

Well, today is an odd anniversary for me personally. Two years ago, I almost didn't make it to see the next day.

To make a long story short. There's a reason why they say on those heating pad warning labels not to fall asleep on them. Having had a pain in my back, I decided to sleep on my heating pad, this also caused me to sweat all night and become extremely dehydrated. When I got up, I felt horrible, so I didn't eat, which just made things worse. Eventually, I was rather disoriented and apparently fainted.

Thanks be to God a friend of mine came by to celebrate the new pope with a few beers. However, he found me in a stupor and pretty sick. He took me to the emergency room, and I really don't remember anything for the next two weeks.
Turns out I had gotten rhabdomyolysis to a very serious degreee that it caused sudden kidney failure. The doctors did not think I would make it through the night. So much so that my pastor came up and gave me last rites.

They transferred me to a bigger hospital and after two weeks I slowly came out of the fog I was in and after a few dialysis treatments, my kidneys "turned back on." Overall, I was in the hospital for a month.

I can't thank my friend enough. It's amazing how Divine Providence works. I do wonder if there was any connection to the devil being angry about having a new pope and I got hit with some "splashdamage" of his wrath.

Te Deum laudamus ...

RS

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I, unlike you, do remember that day all too well. The amazing thing to me is that, had this happened a few years before, I would have probably have been very frightened and been unable to control my emotions. But because of your counsel, dear son, I was at the best spiritual point in my life (up to that moment), and I remember being certain of your healing. That foreknowledge surprised me; I know it came from God. Your calling has greatly influenced Dad and me in our faith, and I believe that gave us the strength to go through that dark time with you. We are so thankful to God for you and thankful to Him for sparing you to continue your (His) good work. We love you and are grateful for your life.

Love, Mom

Anonymous said...

Me too! Love Dad

Diane Korzeniewski said...

Awesome story, RS!

Deo Gratias!