We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.
Proverbs 16:9
I am a person of routine. While I enjoy a little spontaneity in life, I also like the predictable routine that says, “At 5 o’clock I always do this. At 10 o’clock I do this.”
Jay and I have developed a comfortable daily routine in retirement. We now have more options to make our own schedule than we did when we were working. We enjoy planning our week.
However, sometimes there are surprises and not all of them pleasant. Yesterday afternoon, Jay spontaneously developed a severe nosebleed.
We were puzzled since this had not happened before, but we are both nurses. So we knew how to treat a nosebleed. We tried every trick we knew to no avail. Blood continued to gush from his nose. Our house was rapidly beginning to look like a crime scene.
His body did what it could to save him. His blood vessels except in his nose clamped down tight, trying to keep what blood he had. This raised his blood pressure.
By the time we admitted defeat and called 911, his blood pressure had risen to very scary levels.
The emergency squad and the hospital staff were all wonderful.
Our daughter was amazing. Since she was a child, she has never liked being around blood. She was very definite she would not follow her parents’ footsteps into nursing. And yet, in the middle of the crisis, she was calmly wiping blood off Jay’s mustache and doing many other nurse type things. We are so thankful for her.
It took a long time and many different approaches to control the bleeding and lower Jay’s blood pressure.
But finally late last night, we were able to come home. We sat in our usual chairs and watched a familiar tv show. And once again, we thanked God for the blessings of this day. It was certainly not the day we planned, but God was in every moment, providing, guiding, guarding, protecting and healing.
In doing some further research last night, I discovered a possible link between two medications Jay takes, both of which can have side effects of elevated blood pressure and severe nose bleeds.
Prayers appreciated for continued healing for Jay. As nice as everyone was, we put in our time in hospitals when we were working as nurses. We would like to stay out of them now!
