It happened again...
Another medical complication and another trip to the hospital. I began to notice an odd feeling on my left side. This was late in the evening on February 28. Then, shortly after midnight on March 1st, I developed a heavy nosebleed. At the time, and even now, I’m on heavy doses of blood thinners. So having a sudden nosebleed is not unusual.
But around 2 A.M. I began to develop a severe pain on my left side from my waist to my shoulder. Then the swelling began. Within a short time, a huge lump appeared just below my left shoulder and going down my back. The pain became unbearable. The lump grew to the size of half a cantaloupe. All I could do was sit in my cell in the dark and wait until 7 A.M. when I go to the Infirmary for my daily medication pickup.
Once at the pickup window, however, I showed my condition to the nurse. She immediately ordered me to go to the doctor’s office. He took one look at me and told the nurse to call for an ambulance. I thought to myself, “Oh, no! Here we go again.”
Several hours later, I was back in the hospital. Tests showed that I began to bleed from the area around my lower left kidney. The swelling made me look hideous. The pain was intense. I had no idea as to what the outcome would be.
The head doctor ordered that the blood thinners be discontinued to see if that would stop the bleeding. Within two days the bleeding stopped, but by now I was the color of purple. I looked like a ripe plum. Hematoma! My insides had filled with blood. I was actually bleeding to death, or at least this could have been the case if the bleeding could not be staunched. Afterwards I was given
a transfusion of fresh blood to replace what was lost.
I was in the hospital for eight days. But now I’m back at the prison’s Infirmary, where I will probably be kept for a few days for overall observation. Once given the okay, I’ll be allowed to return to my cell.
My body is black and blue. I look like the victim of a severe beating. I’ll be fine, however. Amazingly, my body will slowly rid itself of the unwanted fluid now inside its cavity. For me, this is more evidence for the existence of an awesome Creator. That my body knows how to do this, on its own, is mind-boggling.
By the grace of God, I once again cheated death.
D.B.
But around 2 A.M. I began to develop a severe pain on my left side from my waist to my shoulder. Then the swelling began. Within a short time, a huge lump appeared just below my left shoulder and going down my back. The pain became unbearable. The lump grew to the size of half a cantaloupe. All I could do was sit in my cell in the dark and wait until 7 A.M. when I go to the Infirmary for my daily medication pickup.
Once at the pickup window, however, I showed my condition to the nurse. She immediately ordered me to go to the doctor’s office. He took one look at me and told the nurse to call for an ambulance. I thought to myself, “Oh, no! Here we go again.”
Several hours later, I was back in the hospital. Tests showed that I began to bleed from the area around my lower left kidney. The swelling made me look hideous. The pain was intense. I had no idea as to what the outcome would be.
The head doctor ordered that the blood thinners be discontinued to see if that would stop the bleeding. Within two days the bleeding stopped, but by now I was the color of purple. I looked like a ripe plum. Hematoma! My insides had filled with blood. I was actually bleeding to death, or at least this could have been the case if the bleeding could not be staunched. Afterwards I was given
a transfusion of fresh blood to replace what was lost.
I was in the hospital for eight days. But now I’m back at the prison’s Infirmary, where I will probably be kept for a few days for overall observation. Once given the okay, I’ll be allowed to return to my cell.
My body is black and blue. I look like the victim of a severe beating. I’ll be fine, however. Amazingly, my body will slowly rid itself of the unwanted fluid now inside its cavity. For me, this is more evidence for the existence of an awesome Creator. That my body knows how to do this, on its own, is mind-boggling.
By the grace of God, I once again cheated death.
D.B.
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