In sickness and in health...
I do not want to make a big deal of it. Afterall, we've been praying unceasingly to God for healing. But it's still very disconcerting seeing Dee the way he is...
He's lost the ability to move the muscles on the right side of his face. His happy grin is now lopsided, his pout is a knotted mess, his right eye looks glazed all the time, and even his speech seems just a tad lispy.
And I'm just scratching the surface.
He can't tuck heartily into a burger, has to be careful not to let soup dribble out of his mouth, and his right eye is dry & crimson from the lack of blinking. We tried to put an eye patch on the 'bad' eye today but it ended up making him dizzy.
I worry. And yet I try to rein myself in from thinking abject thoughts. But I feel utterly helpless seeing him like this.
Still, I quietly thank God that Bell's Palsy is a temporary condition. At the very worst, he will take 6 months to recover from this fully. And I'm thankful despite his 'semi-paralyzed' state, his limbs are fully functional.
But even with his mobile limbs, I get a semblance of how it might feel living with a paraplegic.
And it scares me.
Isn't it true how we take the health and well-being of our loved ones for granted? We expect to see them today, tomorrow, the day after, & the day after that. We think of them forever ambulant, robust & in the pink of health.
But in reality, we can be able-bodied today, infirm tomorrow. Life hangs on a thin, fragile thread. And Life is transcient.
We may be architects of our own future, yet we do not hold our future in our hands.
It takes an incident like this to make me wonder how life would be like with a loved one ill. Will my love know no boundaries? In all honesty, I do not know.
Just like I do not know why Dee has been plagued by this sudden disorder. But I'm sure God has His reasons.
We'll just wait for Him to reveal His plans to us...
8 comments:
Hey dearie.. I can't say I 'understand' what you are going through (and I'm wary abt saying tt too, bearing in mind a similar conversation we had years ago... abt "understanding" fully what others are going thru').. but I do feel your anxiety and worry...
So I leave you with this verse from the book of Philippians 4:6-9. It was shared with me by a friend in my hour of despair recently & gave me continued strength to leave all my cares & woes to Him... I hope it will also edify you in the same way during this difficult time..
"Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you."
Dearest Qiubio,
I'm worried for you and Dennis. You all don't know how Dennis suddenly got Bell's Palsy? Something he ate, bacteria, the weather, stress?
We will be praying fervently for you and the family cos' I'm sure it's very stressful for all of you. I will be informing dad, mum, Ian and Geri too to keep Dennis, you and Nelle in prayer.
Will this affect your plans to come back in March? Dad and mum were saying that they are excited to see you all. The Tays too. If he isn't fully well by then, maybe he could get a second opinion in Singapore? But of course, I hope he'll recover soon.
I know both of you are staying as strong and brave as you can. Please let Dennis know that we care and are praying for him and all of you in London. We know that the Lord will surely see you both through all this. Is he on medical leave? If it assures you to know, Von's uncle got Bell's Palsy sometime ago. He recovered quite quickly after taking anti-biotics.
Please take care, and we love you all. God bless you and put His healing hands on Dennis.
Love,
Chi
Dearest Qiubio,
I'm worried for you and Dennis. You all don't know how Dennis suddenly got Bell's Palsy? Something he ate, bacteria, the weather, stress?
We will be praying fervently for you and the family cos' I'm sure it's very stressful for all of you. I will be informing dad, mum, Ian and Geri too to keep Dennis, you and Nelle in prayer.
Will this affect your plans to come back in March? Dad and mum were saying that they are excited to see you all. The Tays too. If he isn't fully well by then, maybe he could get a second opinion in Singapore? But of course, I hope he'll recover soon.
I know both of you are staying as strong and brave as you can. Please let Dennis know that we care and are praying for him and all of you in London. We know that the Lord will surely see you both through all this. Is he on medical leave? If it assures you to know, Von's uncle got Bell's Palsy sometime ago. He recovered quite quickly after taking anti-biotics.
Please take care, and we love you all. God bless you and put His healing hands on Dennis.
Love,
Chi
hi syl,
it must such a worrying time, i can't even imagine what it feels like ... however the reassuring thing is God is with you all ... He has His plans and He knows best ... we are keeping Dennis, you and Danni in our prayers ...
love u lots and hugs, mabes
Hi Syl, Be strong and don't worry too much.
I got a slight stroke on my left face a few years ago and Iw ent through the stage of water dribbled at the corner of my mouth.
Linda
Hey chans,
Just came back from a 1 week CNY break without any internet access, the updates on your blog is very sudden.
Googled bell palsy and it all says the chances are recovery are good and is not a permanent condition.
Dearest Syl, this must be very tiring times for you, i know you must be worried and i know how an incessant worrier you can get. As you say, do (try) rein your worries in, and stay positive ok.. Andrew and i will keep you in our prayers.
Pls keep us update ..
It's hard not to worry or to imagine the worst, especially when confronted with the unknown.
Just try not to let your imagination get the better of you, k?
All of us are here for you n dennis n danni!
:)
Dearest Chi Chi,
Hmm I left a msg here but I think when my com hung, it didn't save on to it.... =( So here goes a long long message for you.
First of all, Big Hugs from the 3 bears back here. We wish we could be there in person.
When I read your posting on Sunday, I whispered a prayer of thanks that it is a temporal illness as I had a granny who was half paralysed ever since she was in her early 30s. Watching her struggle, I will never wish for the same to happen to anyone. But she was incredibly resilient & fiercely independent, & that is something I have come to admire and appreciate as I grow older.
I am sure that this experience, though trying, will only make your love for each other stronger than before & that Dennis will come out of it to have greater empathy and understanding that might one day bless someone else who needs these gifts from Dennis. I am sure Dennis will be a great testimony of how God's gifts of faith and hope and love works continuously in his life.
Neither Ian nor I can claim to truly understand what you both are experiencing. but we trust that by the stripes of Jesus, Dennis will receive supernatural healing from our Daddy above. We pray he will recover faster than the usual duration of time bell palsey patients take to heal.
Sometimes worries are like light pollution that prevents us from seeing the stars (the hope & blessings) in the sky. When you use your hand to block off the light source, you see the beauty of the stars better. Similarly, do not let this situation frustrate you for that is what The Thief wants but keep finding reason to praise and rejoice in Christ, in God. =)
I am sure the very first blessing you can count on every day is Daddy's love that radiates out to U guys from Danielle who brightens both your days, despite whatever hardship there might be. And the second is each other- that despite everything, you guys have a love deeply centered in Christ that is unwavering and a great example to us all.
Finally, it is written that God will bless your going in and going out, your kneading bowl & bread basket. He will bless the fruit of your womb, the crops of your land and everything you put your hands on. He will bless you in the city and in the country. He will establish you as his holy people and grant you abundant prosperity that will also stretch down to your future generations. May you hope in the Lord who will renew your strength so that you soar on wings like eagles, run and not grow weary, walk and not be faint.
We love you, miss you and will pray unceasingly for you & your family.
Huggles,
Geri
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