Monday, August 18, 2008

Little Known Facts

I am going to attempt to answer a few questions that I have had asked of me over the past couple of months. First off, I have had many questions on what the final diagnosis was for Eric. The death certificate states that Eric died of Bronchial Asthma. I still think there is a bit of a mystery in this. The autopsy showed that his lungs and heart were in pink condition leading us to the conclusion that his lungs were not in distress. But, his bronchial tubes and his esophagus were filled with mucous. I believe that he was having severe allergic reactions to something...I just do not know what. We were attempting to find that out in the
few months before he passed away into Glory.

Many of you have asked how I am doing financially. I have a financial adviser who happens to be a very successful business man and Lisa's dad. He has been treating me and my family as his own and I will never be able to thank him for his work on my behalf. He talked to one of his lawyers on my behalf and providentially his lawyer knew Eric and almost lost his adult son to asthma also. So, this gentleman is working on my behalf pro bono. Again, I can't thank him enough as he works on my will and trust for my kids and as he fights the insurance company that is not wanting to pay.

When it comes to making it every month I can only say thank you to so many of you who helped support us during this incredibly hard time. All of your gifts paid our bills from February to May. In May I started to get Social Security. This amount would not allow me to stay home but our church community has seen fit to make up the difference each month. They will continue to do this until the Lord provides me another husband. I am blessed!

Eric left me with quite a few insurance policies which will allow me to pay off the house and any other debt that we have. I am fully aware that most woman do not have all that I have. I am surrounded by incredible people and have been given great resources. I do not take this for granted and thank the Lord for giving me a husband that took care of me even after he has gone on to bigger and better things.

Spiritually I am seriously diving in the Word of God daily and depend on it to keep me going. My oversight elder, Fletch, has graciously taken on Goose for me. He is meeting with him weekly to go through Back to Basics and mentor Goose as he works with his own boys. I have friends who continuously call, ask, admonish, and encourage me through this time of sorrow. As often as we can the kids and I all sit down at night and read the Word of God, sing some songs, pray together and learn a Psalm from the Psalter. I cherish these times as they just develop our family unity all the more.

Keeping up with the house chores and schooling is quite enough for me but I am also going to start teaching piano again. I am also working on writing music again. I have quite a few old hymns that I am creating new melodies for to reintroduce these classics to the church. It is truly one of the sweet ways that the Lord has given me to worship Him and relieve stress.

Some of you know about my eyes but I rarely talk about it...not sure why. So, here goes... I have a genetic disorder that is causing damage to my retina. It is a complicated disorder and I have been given anywhere from five to fifteen years to be completely blind. I have been on this journey for five years now and I have lost some vision but happily see most everything. I have stopped driving at night because darkness is one of my enemies. The sun, or any light, is either my friend or enemy. I have to wear sunglasses to protect my eyes and because the sun is too bright but the light is really helpful in reading and such. I have lost my reading ability in one eye and my depth perception is a bit off. I just feel like I have such to be thankful for as I am still able to see and I now have a Doctor that is not all too sure about the gloomy prediction of the Stanford Doctors. His conclusion is that we do not know enough about genetic problems to say there is no hope or no cure. I agree. I am on some very powerful vitamins and usually keep to a healthy diet. I say usually because the past six months
I have just eaten whatever is being fed me.

Wow! What a lot of information! Is there anything else that you want to know about us? I will try my best to answer your questions.
~Lazyd

17 comments:

not2brightGRAM said...

Let me be the first to say, Oh My!

Our Lord has underlined, in your life, His habit of exercising His unsearchable ways. I cover my mouth with my hands, except to bless you.

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! Romans 11:33

Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him? With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding? Isaiah 40:13-14

It is the glory of God to conceal a thing... Proverbs 25:2

Jennie Lou said...

Heather I have been praying for you and following your story all along. These are some the questions I had as well. Thank you for sharing so much with us.

Jennie Lou in Sonora.

Crayl said...

Thank you so much for sharing this information. You obviously have a great church family to step in like that for your financial needs. I will be adding healing for you eyes into my prayers for your family. Sometimes lifting worship up to the Lord in song is the only way I feel whole, and not overwhelmed. I don't blog about everything, and my current journey isn't the same as yours, but this has been an immense year of growth for me as well.

godlover said...

Thanks, Heather, for answering my question about the cause of death for Eric. I used to be a paramedic and worked on ambulances here locally as well as Colorado and the East Bay so I was really curious. It sounds like an anaphylactic response to something but there's probably nothing else that can be done to pin it down a little tighter. I'm so grateful that your church family is able to pitch in and help out. And thank God for Fletch and all the others who have stepped to the front to make things happen successfully for you and your family. I will begin praying for your eyesight too. Take care and I hope to hear from you again soon. Right now it's past my bed time so I'm going to finish this up and get to bed. I'm very tired tonight after a houseful of people all weekend. Whew! They kept us busy but we were blessed to have them here. Thanks again, Heather, and know that I continue to pray for you daily in my prayer journal. Goodnight and God bless.

Marj
http://gdlvr.blogspot.com

Jonathan Hunt said...

It is wonderful to see the church doing what it should do when it can - true religion and undefiled is this...

Will pray about your eyes too.

joanne said...

Hello ~

I visited your blog today on a referral from a friend. She was telling me about the music on your site. My family is going through deep waters, and I can see that your family has gone through major, major heartache and is in the slow recovery zone.

Your honesty about your struggles has encouraged me greatly. Thank you for sharing them, and I will pray for you when I pray for my friend who sent me your way. I want more than anything to see the Lord even in the dark times, and you are showing me that here. Thank you.

It is a pleasure to meet you, and I look forward to checking in on you here in the future.

Warmly,
joanne

Feel Free to visit me at www.HomeschoolCoach.Wordpres.com

CristyLynn said...

I love that I can now hear your voice as I read your blog! I also have this feeling that I can't put into words because I have met you and your family and your church family; who all have been living the gospel so fervently. I praise God for you. I pray for you. I love you.
Cristy

Julie said...

Thank you for sharing that information. I had wondered about some of those questions and did not feel I had the right to ask. I will be praying for your eye sight. You have a beautiful spirit and Love for God that shows through on this site.

God Bless,
Julie

jodi said...

Heather,
I'm an east coast prayer warrior "friend" of Kendra (through TWTM board) that comes here regularly to listen to your music, and pray for you and your sweet family (usually as I'm folding laundry-like right now).

My sister has retinitis pigmentosa--is that similar to what you have? she's in about year 3, and has lost most of the vision in one eye, but the other is holding its own. every time I pray for her (often!) I'll remember you as well.

you are bringing JOY to the Lord through your example and your life, and that JOY will continue to give you STRENGTH.
be blessed,
Jodi-FL

p.s. if you have any advice for my sister, feel free to email me at ps1274ever AT gmail DOT com

godlover said...

Just checking in again today, Heather. I have wax on my kitchen and dining room floors so I can't really go anywhere in the house. The way that isn't blocked by the wet wax is blocked by all the dining room chairs. I've got a box fan blowing on it so hopefully I'll have that dry before too long. It drives me crazy to be restricted. It's not like I have anything else to do but sit here! HA!! While my company was here over the weekend going through old family photos (not my side) I took the time to make our a cleaning schedule for myself. Today was my day to mop and wax and vacuum. I used to use this system years ago and it worked beautifully for me then. I'm hoping it will keep me better at cleaning my house. You know when you get behind it can seem insurmountable to conquer. But little steps every day works wonders. I decided that if I was going to use this system, I would have to do it before I blogged or I'd never get around to it. But I don't think this counts because I've got to do something while the floor dries! Once the floor dries and I can put the chairs back I will be finished with today's cleaning. Yea! And I didn't even break a sweat! Take care, my friend, and I do so hope we get to meet in person in the future. You are such an encouragement to me, as you are to dozens of other people. Seek the Lord with all your heart and lean not upon your own understanding. I don't know why that Scripture just came to me. Maybe it's for you??? Thanks you for being faithful even in the tight corners and long, boring corridors. You've placed your life on display during this incredibly painful time and I thank God for you faithfulness to share it with us so we can all benefit.
Marj

Mama2fiveblessings said...

Thank you so much Heather for continuing to share your heart with all of us in blog land. You are a true inspiration and I think and pray for you so often. I will add your eye sight to my prayers and that things get worked out with your insurance company. What an awesome testimony that your church is taking care of you as the Bible mandates! You have helped me so much to remember to be thankful for every day and every moment that I have with my husband...thank you!
Many blessings and prayers for you and your family,
Tiffany

Mama2fiveblessings said...

Thank you so much Heather for continuing to share your heart with all of us in blog land. You are a true inspiration and I think and pray for you so often. I will add your eye sight to my prayers and that things get worked out with your insurance company. What an awesome testimony that your church is taking care of you as the Bible mandates! You have helped me so much to remember to be thankful for every day and every moment that I have with my husband...thank you!
Many blessings and prayers for you and your family,
Tiffany

Ingrid's Organic Body Care said...

thank you for answering many of the things we have been praying about. Praise God for His great provision through His body, His bride; the CHURCH! someday could you post your piano recital of the hymns you are redoing on your blog! :) that would be such an honor to hear. Praying for your family.
the felmley family

Katie said...

Oh my!! That IS certainly quite a thorough update!! Thank you!! ;(

I am so sorry to hear about your EYES, in addition to all the other stuff you already have to deal with! :( May God fully heal your eyes!!!!!

We're still praying dear Heather, & Family...

Anonymous said...

I have been browsing blogs today and came across yours. I am so sorry for your loss.

Something that made me think twice when I saw that your dh cleaned pools...two years ago, a friend of our family died while cleaning their pool--he had an allergic reaction to the chemicals...I don't know if that has been considered already...

not2brightGRAM said...

Oh my goodness, SK.

Oh, Heather, could this possibly be an answer?

Katie said...

SK & Heather,

Yeah, Rick S. said he experienced problems breathing around those pool chemicals too. I'd say those pool chemicals are quite dangerous then!! (Course we all already know that)... but it's even alot more dangerous than we had realized, hah? = (

We've gotta' spread the word!!

Think of all the other families out there that soon will likely also be affected by their pool cleaning business/ chemicals.... = (