You Never Know What A Day Will Bring.......

" All the days ordained for me where written in Your book before one of them came to be." (Psalm 139:16)

   Usually on Tuesday I start my day by taking Nathan, my 2 year old grandson to preschool, and then return to pick him up at noon. After feeding him lunch he spends time with me and his Papa and when Papa leaves to go back to work.  Nathan naps for about 2 to 3 hours.  Then we play until his mommy picks him up. But today, Nathan was ill, he woke up early this morning with 103 degree temperature. So, his daddy stayed home with him to take him to the doctor to find out what was causing the fever.

This meant that Nana had the day to do some things she had been meaning to do for awhile, like work in my yard.  I had planted hibiscus bushes last year around the pool and my husband wanted to know if I was going to plant more this year. I had planned to shop this afternoon for some plants and went out to get some bedding plants and the hibiscus. I needed to shop for groceries too, but since I had the car loaded down with plants, I decided to make a run home to unload the plants first.

That's when I saw him.  This man in his late sixties outside of his truck along side the road, leaning on his truck like he was very ill.  My first thought was that he needed to go to the business right behind him and get help, and I wondered why he didn't. Then I thought someone on that side of the road will stop and help him, but no one was stopping. Then I heard that still small voice say, "If not you, then who."  I knew I needed to stop and see if I could help.

I turned around and parked in front of the business that was close to where he had pulled off the road, that's when I realized that even though there was a truck in front of this place, there was no one inside, it was closed.  Gone out of Business. So, that's why there was no one for him to ask for help. By this time, the man was sitting or leaning over in the driver's side of the truck with his cell phone in his hand.  I walked to the passenger side of the truck and knocked on the window and asked if he needed help.  He nodded his head yes, I asked if he needed me to call 911, again he nodded his head and was finally able to unlock the door so that I could speak to him with out yelling through the window.

When I opened the door, I noticed that he was sweating even though he had the air-conditioning in his truck going wide open.  That's when he told me that he was a cardiac patient.  Having worked as a nursing assistant in the public schools of Richland county, I quickly recognized the symptoms of a heart attack, especially when he told me that he was having shortness of breath and holding his left arm.  I am certified in first-aide and CPR, but mind you, I really didn't want to have to perform CPR on this man, or even rescue breathing, I wanted an ambulance there, pronto, to help him and get him to a hospital.

I dialed 911 on my cell phone and gave the operator the information I had, and of course she ask me to stay on the line until help arrived.  She wanted to know where we were, what he was feeling and his name.  All of this I reported to her and as we were talking I could tell that he was feeling worse!!! I asked her to please hurry!! Help is on the way, she said, please stay calm and keep him calm.  He started coughing and I remembered that is one of the things you should tell someone to do if you think they may be having a heart attack, so I urged him to continue coughing. (Something about keeping the blood flowing) Then next thing I remembered was giving a heart patient an aspirin helps to thin the blood and is also recommended when you fear someone is having a heart attack.  Well, I had no aspirin in my purse.  I had some at home but not in my purse. (I do now!! I went straight to the CVS on the next corner and picked some up.) It's odd how it all comes back to you when you need it!! Oh is it????

In just a few minutes I saw the Firetruck coming our way.... the operator told me to flag him down... boy was that a pretty sight.  The firemen jumped out and began to place an oxygen mask on the patient, and take his vitals.  They still wouldn't let me leave until they had all the information I had, which was very little, since I had never met the man before.  I was relieved when the ambulance finally arrived and they loaded him into it.  I asked if his family had been notified and they told me that one of the firemen had spoken to his wife and she would meet them at the hospital.

I pray that Mr. Richardson is alright!!!  Will you join me in this prayer???

Just a few days ago, a friend that I just meet emailed me and asked about my family, only to find out that we have a huge family connection... She said," I know God was in my emailing you."  I know that God was in this today,too.  Otherwise, I would have been here at home with Nathan and not traveling down Two-Notch road at 3 in the afternoon on a Tuesday.

"My thoughts are completely different from yours" says the Lord, " and my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine."  (Isaiah 55:8)