Three Things I Know for Sure

This morning I survived another bronchoscopy. That’s the one where they stick a garden hose down your throat into your bronchial tubes and take a look around with a teensy-weensy camera. While they’re in the neighbourhood, they flush sterile water around and suck it back up so they can figure out what kind of bugs might be lurking. I figure it’s not unlike our city’s watermain flushing program— just good maintenance. It’s every bit as fun as it sounds, too. You even get to watch the live video on the computer monitor in living colour—provided you’re not too looped on the lovely dope they give you.

Recently, someone asked if my health issues are behind me now so I figured it was time I wrote about it again. It’s complicated.

I could reply “yes,” because I feel better and cough less than I did when my lung problems first surfaced in 2011.

Or I could say “no,” because the Bronchiectasis is considered a permanent condition, barring a supernatural miracle (which I’ll never rule out). 

Or I could say, “yes” because the Micobacterium Avium Complex is now being treated with  three heavy-duty drugs I tried hard to avoid but agreed to try because the infection remained in spite of all my efforts with more natural means. We hope this week’s bronchoscopy will tell us whether the drugs are working…in another month, after the bugs have had enough time to culture. 

Or, I could reply “no” because I still cough too much and require too much sleep.

Then again, I could say “yes” because the suspected Interstitial Cystitis that was never conclusively diagnosed settled down after 18 months of pain and I feel relieved beyond words to say I am now free of that! 

So, the short answer is: overall, much better. Our bodies are far more complex than any of us can grasp. I can function, enjoy life, and contribute a little to the world around me—which is a lot more than some can say. And for that, I feel truly grateful.

Here are three things I believe with all my heart:

First, the power that made the body heals the body. There will almost always be myriads of contributing factors like doctors, prayer, drugs, food, love, fresh air, exercise, change of attitude or altitude, vocation or location. But it boils down to one thing: all healing, when it comes, originates with God.

Second, God uses people. Over the last four years, I have been x-rayed, C-scanned, ultrasounded, acupunctured, catheterized, and prayed over. I’ve had enough blood drawn from my arm to make another person. I’ve made multiple visits to my family doctor, two lung specialists, an allergy specialist, a naturopath, two chiropractors, a gynecologist, two oncologists, a physical therapist, a urologist, a masseuse, and an ophthalmologist. While not one of these good people possesses the power to heal me, all contributed what they could.

Third, the day is coming when none of it will matter. Even Job, with all his troubles, figured that out. He said, “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that he will stand upon the earth at last. And I know that after this body has decayed, this body shall see God! Then he will be on my side! Yes, I shall see him, not as a stranger, but as a friend! What a glorious hope!” (Job 19:25-27, The Living Bible)

Glorious indeed. Appreciate your health, whatever state it’s in!