It's Laura again. JMak is still in the hospital but he is doing better today—out walking some laps in the halls tonight!
He has one of his best friends by his side today and that is a huge gift to both JMak and I. He is one of my best friends too.
Jason Armstrong is the guy you want by your side for so many things. He loves life, he loves good food, he is a former ER nurse and he loves fighting for people. We have needed a good advocate today because the system doesn't make it easy for patients or families on many levels. It is a huge help to have someone who can ask questions and really push to keep things moving. I wish everyone could have Jason A with them in the hospital!
Thank you all for the messages, thoughts and prayers. JMak told me he is reading them and know he is going to be eager to share more himself about all that God is doing with him. We are learning more each day that we don't know what to do, but God does and his plans are good.
Hey everyone, it's Laura here, writing on Jason's behalf.
He wanted me to write and share about the past 24 hours which has included 3 trips to the hospital. We know that this journey will have ups and downs and we are committed to sharing them all.
Jason had a liver biopsy yesterday, and felt God close during it. On the way home he started to get sick and by the time we got home he had a high fever. The fever sent us to the ER for most of the night where they ran more tests and scans. This morning the hospital called and they want Jason to come back because he has another infection in his bloodstream.
Jason and I had to take a moment this morning to stop and refocus our thoughts on God. It is a fight to do that! We are both ready to start chemo and could feel the wave of discouragement come when we found out there was another blood infection. It was at that moment that we had to remind each other that we are going to trust God in every moment and with every day. We can’t plan out today, or tomorrow, or any part of this journey. But we can make a choice to trust God right now at this moment. We don’t have to understand everything to trust. That isn’t always easy when I feel my “doctor mind” wanting to kick in and try to figure out what is going on or what is causing the infection. My doctor's mind doesn’t bring peace—it is only when we trust that God is in control that we are settled and at peace.
We are fighting today to trust God! He is good and He has a good plan.
Please keep us in your prayers. We will update as we find out more about Jason’s next steps and the medical course of action.
If you’ve been following my story, you might remember that I once fainted in a doctor’s office with absolutely no provocation whatsoever. There were no needles or anything traumatic happening. It couldn’t have been a more routine visit. In fact, I had just finished telling the doctor about this fainting habit of mine and next thing I know, I’m laying on the exam table looking up at the ceiling with a nurse asking if I know where I am.
Well that doctor was Dr. Rahimi—Ali Rahimi—a former colleague and a good friend.
Yesterday, he and I sat down to lunch. We’ve always connected but one of the blessings of a diagnosis like mine is that it helps you cut past all the surface stuff and get right to what matters. I was totally lit up and inspired by our time together.
He talked about how you can’t have true health without health in the spirit, too.
Ali shared with me that his purpose in becoming a physician was so that he could help both the body and soul. He also acknowledged that there are many times where he can’t explain why one person gets well and another doesn’t. It’s not only about numbers and statistics. There is a spiritual component too!
For Ali, it goes beyond the boxes and religions that people often get put into. He said he just believes that if a person has godly attributes in their life, they have God with them. Simple. He said, “I don’t think God sees things the way we do.” I agree with him. I think God is for all people and that He does not exclude Himself from anyone.
Of all the things we talked about, one thing he said keeps coming back to me. He said, “You don’t RESIGN yourself to God’s will. You SUBMIT yourself to God’s will because He is good.” This connected with me deeply. There is a difference between being resigned to something and willfully submitting to something. Which one depends on the perspective you are coming from.
He talked about all the ways his life experiences contributed to who he is now. I was looking across the table at someone from a totally different background but with a similar heart for God and a love for people. And while some of the details of our faith may differ, we are united by that one foundational belief: God is good.
Dr. Rahimi is my kind of person and the kind of person I want in my corner—and not just on my medical team. So I said, “Do you want to be a part of my dream team?”
He said, “Count this Muslim brother as a member of your team.”
Welcome to the team, my brother! We’ve come a long way from that day I fainted in your office. Instead of me looking up at you from the exam table, we're both looking up. Together.
I can’t wait to see how God uses this team to bring people together!
