2/27/12

A sweet lady in desperate need of prayer....



Ms. Norma has been a very dear sweet friend of mine for years. We go to church together and her granddaughter and my son-in-law have been friends since kindergarten. This family is very special to me.

Ms. Norma needs are prayers. I wrote a blog about miracles and faith last April. The blog was all about Ms. Norma and her powerful faith and the miracle God has performed with her life.

In 1994, she had a transtracheal system installed to take oxygen directly to her lung and in 1995 had to undergo lung reduction surgery. They told her at that time, the surgery would probably only buy her another 5 years of living. But she beat the odds and lived 8 more years.

In October 2002 she started deteriorating again, Norma was evaluated at Vanderbilt Transplant Clinic in Nashville, TN to see if the rest of her organs could withstand the necessary lung transplant that was needed to save her life. On November 12, 2002 she was listed on the national registry for one lung transplant. In December 2002 and February 2003, she had two dry runs for transplant, but neither lung was viable. But on April 26, 2003, Ms. Norma received her new lung.

She was again told that the surgery could buy her about 5 more years at the most. Here we are almost 9 years after the surgery and she is still going strong. She still lives by herself, drives herself to the store and to church and lives a very full life. She goes for regular check ups back to Vanderbilt, about a 3 1/2 hour drive several times a year. On a visit last week, she had been having some minor problems. They have diagnosed that her body is rejecting the lung after 9 years and taking  handfuls of anti-rejection drugs daily. She needs are prayers desperately.

She asked me to share this on my blog as she strongly believes in the power of prayer. She has already seen a miracle in her life and knows God can perform another one. She is leaving this morning to go back to Nashville to Vanderbilt. They are going to do a procedure that they hope will keep the lung from being rejected. The procedure is 3-4 hours long and she will have to undergo it on a regular basis. It will be six months before they know if the procedure works. If it does work, and the rejection is stopped, she will have to have this treatment for the rest of her life and the closest place she can have it done is 3-4 hours away in Nashville so she will have regular trips. I can't recall if they are going to be weekly or monthly, but either way, it will become part of her life if the procedure works.

She is asking that each of you remember her in your prayers. If you can, put her on the prayer list at your church. Blog about her and link back to her story at http://mamawsplace4.blogspot.com/2011/04/does-god-still-perform-miracles.html if you want. Twitter a prayer request, Facebook your friends asking them to pray. We definitely believe in miracles and she is walking talking proof that God can do anything.

She reads my blog everyday and I know she would love to read your comments letting her know you are praying for her. Thank you for keeping her in your prayers.

7 comments:

Unknown said...

Lifting Norma in prayer now.

God Bless you both - Nita

Unknown said...

You will be in my thought and prayers!
God Bless You Norma!

Beth said...

Prayer said for Ms Norma. May God truly bless her and keep her safe in His care.

Linda said...

Praying for Norma and wishing her well. My sister needed a lung transplant but was never well enough to get one. I hope Norma comes through this and surprises us all by living many more years.

Maybe she will have to move closer to where her treatments are. But one thing is for sure...God will never leave her or forsake her.

He is so faithful!

Creations By Cindy said...

Praying for Norma and that God's ultimate Will will be accomplished in her life for her good and His Glory! Hugs and blessings, Cindy

Rachel said...

Praying for Norma. May God bless and heal her.

Norma said...

Thank you all for the prayers. They are much appreciated.

Had the first set of treatments. After 5 more sets, we will know if I am responding.