Monday morning I headed for the clinic. My brain still felt half-asleep and wanted to be back in bed. However, as I turned the corner and headed towards the clinic a vehicle was just pulling up out front. “Must be one of our first appointments arriving early,” I thought. Since it was chilly that morning and I could hear the young child crying as I approached, I went through and unlocked the waiting room so that they could come sit down inside, then moved on through turning on lights. A minute later, when I went into the waiting room to turn on the light, the mother asked me if we had a nebulizer we could give her son. Looking down at him wrapped up in a blanket I realized that he wasn’t crying. That was his breathing I heard!
I quickly took them back to the treatment area and began assessing him. The first pulse-ox (oxygen level) reading I got I didn’t believe… “That can’t be right!” So I pulled his chart, saw that he has a history of asthma attacks, contacted the doctor, started the ordered nebulizer treatment and went rummaging around to find a pulse-ox sticky probe (like a Band-aid with a light in it) to fit his little finger. The other nurse came in about then and began collecting the things we would need to treat him. Finding a probe that would work, I had just gotten it on when the doctor walked in, asking, “Is that for real?!” Sure enough it was. This little boy was fighting hard to breathe and his little body seemed to be working at maximum capacity!
Over the next two hours or so, we treated, we prayed, and we watched. Twice we thought we would have to intubate. You see, when one part of the body is not working well the other parts begin to work overtime to help compensate for the loss. However, they can’t do that indefinitely. When they get tired and worn out they begin to slow and the system begins to fail. If they are left unsupported, it could result in total system shut down. When this is a vital, life-giving function, such as breathing, this failure could be life-threatening. But both times this little boy fought back and won. One more treatment. One more shot. A little more time. Lots more prayers! Finally, he was stable enough to transport to the local hospital.
Loading everybody up into the van, we headed off, monitoring and oxygen in place, supplies on hand for further intervention should we need them en-route, mom bravely looking on and family following in the car behind. Arriving at the hospital, the little boy seemed to be stabilizing. Through to the other side of the hospital we went. A bed was quickly provided. Another emergency required the pediatrician’s attention so we stayed and waited with the boy until the doctor was able to see him. It wasn’t long before we turned over his care to the doctor and her staff. I just heard yesterday that he is doing well and has been released from the hospital!
“For such a time as this” we have been placed exactly where we need to be at the time we need to be there! When the boy became sick the night before God was working. When we got up that morning God was working. When his family came to us God was working. When we were all scared and uncertain God was working. When we could do nothing but wait through the treatments God was working. When we were travelling God was working. When we were no longer treating him and could no longer see him God was working. And now that he is well again God is still working! Our great God is, was, and always has been working. What a God Who would deign to use us and our feeble knowledge in such a way! What a Mighty God we serve!!!
“Praise God from Whom all blessings flow! Praise Him all creatures here below! Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts! Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! Amen!”