How can we make joy our natural state? This was the maturity deficient—and infant deficit—I chose to work on last year. I failed utterly, but renewed my determinization to peruse it again this year despite the hardships we are enduring at home.

Today I want to share with you what this looks like, the daily practice of living in joy. Since your brain’s dendrites only grow 1 millimeter a year, making joy your natural state should be practiced every day. Here is how I did it on May 9th. The day I had to call 911 to take dear Sam to the hospital.

I awoke the morning of May 9th full of questions. The night before my daughter and I had tried to talk Sam into letting us take him to the Emergency Department, but he was unwilling. I had been sensing God saying, Do not violate his will. So even though I thought he should go, I let him close his eyes and go to sleep.

Now it was morning. I tiptoed downstairs and felt relief flood my body when I saw him sleeping peacefully on the BiPAP, an external ventilation machine that he wears every night to keep dangerous levels of CO2 from building up in his lungs.

I made breakfast for me and Olivia, then took her on a walk. When I got home, I saw Sunny’s bike in driveway and smiled. But when I stepped into the house, I found Sam breathing fast and shallow. Sunny was attending to him. Jeremy, our nephew who had spent the night, was nearby. We gave Sam a breathing treatment.

I looked at Sam and said, “You’ve been saying you don’t want to go to the hospital, so am I right in thinking that you don’t want me to call 911?” And he shocked me by saying, “No, I want you to call them.” My phone was in my hand and immediately punched in the digits.

I am grateful Sam asked me to call 911. I am grateful I did not have to violate his will to keep him alive.

Within seconds I heard sirens.

I am grateful that they were in the area and able to respond swiftly.

Sara O., our newest HCI employee, had stepped into the house when I was on the phone with 911. She stood at the door and handed each of the seven paramedics a mask as they entered the house.

I am grateful she was with us and thought to hand out masks.

The paramedics were all very nice, very professional. They did not argue with me when they asked, “What hospital?” And I said, “Virginia Hospital Center.” One of them simply asked why, and I said, “His case is complicated. All his scans are at VHC. The doctors there are familiar with his case.”

I am grateful that I did not have to convince them, they simply said “Okay.”

I am grateful that I knew I should go with Sam in the Ambulance.

I grabbed the calendar which lists Sam’s medications and orders. A female paramedic reminded me to take his ID. I went out and got in the Ambulance. As I sat in the shotgun seat waiting for us to leave my driveway, I thought to text my children. I thought Sammy was in Atlanta, Sarah was at work in Reston, and Anna in Asheville. But as it turned out Sammy’s flight was delayed, and he was still at DCA. When he saw the text, he came right to the hospital.

I am grateful that Sammy was still in the DC metro area and not in Atlanta.

I looked out the window and saw Sunny holding Olivia by the leash. I texted my neighbors to see if they could take Olivia. They said they were out but could pick her up in 30 minutes. Sunny called out, “I’ll stay here until they come!”

I am grateful that Sunny and my neighbors, Amy and Brian, could take care of my puppy.

Sara O. asked, “What do you want me to do?”. Impulsively I called out, “Please come to the hospital.” Then I thought of something I should have her bring and she brought it.

I was grateful to have Sara with me.

After a few minutes we were underway. The ambulance was incredibly bouncy. The driver had never been to Virginia Hospital Center, so he asked for help getting there. I knew where to go because when Sam was hospitalized in March, one of the three rooms he occupied was over the ambulance bay. I had noticed them going in and out.

It felt good to be able to help the driver.

As we entered the Emergency Department, everyone stepped aside clearing the corridor. People lined the corridor on both sides, waving us in, then saying “Room Five.” The doctor was there. They were ready! They had a room set aside and they all worked together to get Sam transferred from the ambulance’s life support to the hospital’s.

I am grateful they were prepared for us, and so incredibly efficient.

They asked me to take a seat, outside the room and across the corridor, and I did. But I could still see him, and he could see me.

I saw Emma Dodd, a nurse at VHC and our next-door neighbor, standing at a terminal about 20 feet away. I called her name and she came over and greeted me and Sam briefly. She then came back about an hour and a half later to say hi.

In that movement I was so grateful for a familiar face!

The lead paramedic told me, “You were really lucky! There are only two ambulances in all of Fairfax County that have a BiPAP machines on board and mine is one of the two.”

I was amazed and grateful at God’s provision for Sam!

I could have focused on the overwhelm of what was happening. Yes, I shed a few tears here and there . . . but I chose to focus on God’s provision for us and the many gifts he provided. To savory the gifts and cultivate a heart of gratitude.

Sam is still in the hospital. We covet your prayers. We are trusting the Lord for clear leading and his presence, always with us.

Love,
Betsy

Where Healing Flows