Back to the Fields

“Spencer,” I called to my son to see if he would answer. It is a ritual at my house. About every 10 minutes I call out and he answers. Usually he replies “Yeah.” I always reply “just checking.” I know if he answers, everything is OK.

“Spencer,” I called again. No answer. Panic rose in my throat. Sometimes when he doesn’t answer, it is because he is too engrossed in whatever TV program he is watching or whatever book he is reading. Maybe that’s why he isn’t answering, I thought.

When I checked on him earlier, he was sitting in a chair in the living room watching TV, but now he wasn’t there. I was working on the computer, not completely aware of how much time had actually passed. The office in our home is located near the front door, so I knew he couldn’t have passed by to go outside without my noticing. I knew if he wasn’t outside and he wasn’t answering, something was wrong. I was afraid to walk over beyond the couch to my blind spot for fear I would find him lying there.

“Spencer,” I called a third time, a little louder with more fear and urgency in my voice. I heard stumbling around upstairs. I made my way to the bottom of the stairs and saw him standing at the top. He was trying to speak but was unable to make any noise come out.

He started to take a step towards me and I rushed up the stairs, unsure of how my feet were moving so fast. I caught him just as he began to stumble, which would have surely led to a fall. A surge of adrenaline helped me to carry him to the bottom of the stairs where I laid him on the floor.

He was seizing. The right side of his face and right arm were jerking. He could not respond when I talked to him. I knew he had probably somehow made it up the stairs looking for me since he could not call out for help, a fact he later confirmed. Mary Lyndsey quickly said, “I can help Mommy. I’ll get a pillow and a cloth.” And she raced off. She’s been through this many times and is old enough now to respond by offering help.

I wasn’t sure how long he had been seizing prior to me finding him, so I grabbed my phone and started the timer. At the four and a half minute mark, I grabbed the rescue medication and prepared to use it.

I began to pray out loud. I’m sure you’ve heard the saying a picture is worth a thousand words. Well, a thousand words went through my mind in the time it would take to snap a picture. Those few minutes seemed like an eternity. I wondered, should I use this rescue medication? Is my faith not strong enough? Will the seizure stop? Surely God would not allow anything to happen to hurt my child in a test of my faith? Then I remembered Abraham and Isaac. I was so confused. Then the incontinence happened. I cleaned up as best I could and administered the medication.

Normally a seizure will stop within a couple of minutes after giving the medication. As the timer kept running approaching 12 minutes, his breathing became a little labored. The seizure was not stopping. I picked up the phone and called emergency services for the second time in about a week. We just experienced a 17 minute seizure not many days ago.

Finally the seizure stopped. Normally he is responsive for at least a few moments before the medication takes full effect and he goes to sleep. This time he was not.

As EMS arrived, my neighbor came over and offered to take Mary Lyndsey. I climbed into the back of the ambulance with my son and headed to the hospital. He finally began to try to talk, but his speech was so slurred the emergency worker asked if he was deaf.

We arrived at the hospital where we spent the entire day waiting for the medication to wear off so we could make sure everything was OK. He’s fine now, just very tired from the seizure, the rescue medication, and an increase in dosage of his regular meds.

What a welcome home from She Speaks. I have often heard it said that our enemy comes at us the hardest when we finally figure out what God is calling us to do. And usually he strikes at our greatest point of weakness.

I must tell you this past weekend at the conference was huge for me. I experienced a fresh word from God, a clear direction. A path I feel includes not only me, but my son. Clearly, we are under attack.

At the conference this past weekend, Lysa shared from stage about how after David was anointed as King by Samuel, he didn't immediately go to the throne. He first had to go back to the fields to prepare for what God was calling him to do. Carol posted today on what Lysa shared from stage. I can't help but feel like God is preparing us.

Last year, 3 days after returning from She Speaks, Spencer had a 4 hour status seizure. We were airlifted from one hospital to another and spent 4 days in the Intensive Care Unit. I lost focus and became distracted.

This year, I am resolved to move forward, even more so after a conversation with Spencer on the way home from the hospital. A conversation I will share tomorrow.

Please continue to be in prayer for Spencer and for our entire family. And thanks to those of you who have already emailed me and prayed.

Blessings to you,
Amy