Today I finished a book called Suffering and the Sovereignty of God. It's Published by Crossway and edited by John Piper and Justin Taylor. I thought it was a very meaningful book about dealing with suffering, whether it be applied to a personal experience, or gaining a better understanding of suffering. It goes a long way to give a clear picture of how to deal with suffering and view it. I would greatly recommend it to anyone who wants help dealing with the issues of suffering and pain. Two of the writers are quadriplegics.
In Gods providence, I'm thankful for the wife and family He's put in my life and giving me care and support in this ever deepening valley. At this point of my ALS, everything from my neck down is affected. I'm on a bi-pap machine most of the time. A bi-pap is a non-invasive air pump. I wear it in my nose during the day and a face mask at night. Fortunately, when I'm on it I can talk and communicate well. I enjoy visits from friends and talking on the phone with my headset on.
To give a short history: four years ago, March 2003, was my first sign that I had some trouble. I had weakness and some muscle pain in both my left leg and right arm. It came on quite suddenly and up until that time I had 58 years of wonderful health. It took 9 months of doctors visits to finally come to a diagnosis of ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). As a 58 year old I was a rather typical ALS patient as 2/3 of patients are men usually in their 50's.
A year ago, January, we moved into a home that we share with our oldest daughter and her family. My wife and I live on the terrace level and we had it designed for complete wheel chair accessibility and a ceramic roll-in shower, which, has proven to be of great help and benefit. I really like the shower which, has two shower-heads. One is an overhead rain shower and the other is a wall-mounted shower head that can be hand-held. My shower is a welcome end to the day. The first of next week, I'll be getting a handicapped Chrysler, Town and Country. I will be able to drive my wheelchair right into it and we can get away from the house, periodically. I have a motorized wheelchair which, until now, I have not been able to ride for long periods of time because it could not hold my bi-pap machine. However, last week our friends Milton and Sue came and he rigged a platform to hold my bi-pap and we ordered a battery so that I can now be much more mobile.
Each new weakness brings new challenges to cope with and overcome. Life is, for sure, a moving target. But, with God all things are possible!
Until next time...
In Gods providence, I'm thankful for the wife and family He's put in my life and giving me care and support in this ever deepening valley. At this point of my ALS, everything from my neck down is affected. I'm on a bi-pap machine most of the time. A bi-pap is a non-invasive air pump. I wear it in my nose during the day and a face mask at night. Fortunately, when I'm on it I can talk and communicate well. I enjoy visits from friends and talking on the phone with my headset on.
To give a short history: four years ago, March 2003, was my first sign that I had some trouble. I had weakness and some muscle pain in both my left leg and right arm. It came on quite suddenly and up until that time I had 58 years of wonderful health. It took 9 months of doctors visits to finally come to a diagnosis of ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). As a 58 year old I was a rather typical ALS patient as 2/3 of patients are men usually in their 50's.
A year ago, January, we moved into a home that we share with our oldest daughter and her family. My wife and I live on the terrace level and we had it designed for complete wheel chair accessibility and a ceramic roll-in shower, which, has proven to be of great help and benefit. I really like the shower which, has two shower-heads. One is an overhead rain shower and the other is a wall-mounted shower head that can be hand-held. My shower is a welcome end to the day. The first of next week, I'll be getting a handicapped Chrysler, Town and Country. I will be able to drive my wheelchair right into it and we can get away from the house, periodically. I have a motorized wheelchair which, until now, I have not been able to ride for long periods of time because it could not hold my bi-pap machine. However, last week our friends Milton and Sue came and he rigged a platform to hold my bi-pap and we ordered a battery so that I can now be much more mobile.
Each new weakness brings new challenges to cope with and overcome. Life is, for sure, a moving target. But, with God all things are possible!
Until next time...
3 comments:
I have read your article the great journey and will take your advice and read the "Suffering and the Soverignity of God. I too have gone through the caregiver side with my wife who had ALS. Every book and article on ALS has something that no one else has experienced. Many Loudoun County,Virginia and Washington County, Maryland residents, hospitals, doctors and nurses have
my book and they feel our missions will be helpful to ALS patients and caregivers.
Please look at our website and call me if necessary.
The following is a synopsis of the book and our mission:
“Down the Yellow Brick Road”
An ALS victims Quest for Oz. by Joseph Conte and Constance J. Schneider Conte
Connie and Joe, her husband and aregiver,through their fifty years of marriage travel down a road with many twists and turns that include births, trauma, love and
happiness. The final stretch in the road ends in tragedy as Connie survives cancer, and contracts ALS, Lou Gehrig’s disease.
In an effort to obtain a cure for her ALS,she and Joe travel “Down the Yellow Brick Road” to China, to meet this Wizard of Oz.
All book sales/donations are available from Connie’s ALS Group Fund to pay for non-professionals to relieve ALS caregivers for 1-2
hours/week, for doctor visits to homebound ALS patients, and for research into a cure for ALS.
Constance Joan Schneider Conte ALS Group Inc. 44469 Maltese Falcon Square, Ashburn, VA 20147
Joseph.Conte@alsgroup.org
Phone Number 703-724-1992
What a wonderful thing to have your chair made "Rob accessible"! - and having a van that goes with it. I keep praying for strength to match the opportunities awaiting you!
Suffering is quite a bugger to get our hearts and minds around. When we aren't overtly suffering, we think that suffering must be something great, like being ostracized or tortured for our faith. But when we are faced with challenges that are larger than our immediate resources to meet them, and our ideas and ideals of what "life" should look like are un-attainable, then our souls suffer. Suffer, meaning, longing for something that we can't have, or longing for a Kingdom that is yet out of reach (even though we are already citizens thereof). My heart is sad because of what God has allowed to come upon you. Am I too suffering??? Is this also one of these: 33 "Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
(John 16)
And so we wait for the "already, not yet". Waiting for the "fullness of the Gentiles." Waiting for the Father to release Jesus to say for the last time "It is Finished." Maranatha, Come, Lord Jesus.
Uncle Rob,
Thanks so much for the wisdom you are sharing and legacy of faith you are creating.
May the Lord give you and each member of your family the strength and grace you need to meet each new day.
We love you dearly -
Kirsten
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