Taking a Break – Husband in ICU

Taking a Break – Husband in ICU

A few weeks ago, my husband, Ken, got a strange flu-like illness for a week. He partially recovered and went back to living life. A week after recovering, he took his blood pressure and found that his heart rate was only 40 beats per minute. This went on for a few days and he began to become light-headed and short winded.

We decided to take him to the ER and the EKG showed he had a heart block. Due to what we told the doctor about the strange illness and a bulls-eye sore on his arm, they quickly determined that it was Lyme’s disease and put him into the ICU when his heart rate went down to the low 20s. A blood test soon confirmed that he did indeed have Lyme’s.

Ten percent of people who contract Lyme’s disease have this problem with the heart. It’s called Lyme’s Carditis where Lyme bacteria enters the heart tissue and the electrical signals have trouble traveling from the heart’s upper chambers to the lower chambers.

They began an IV course of antibiotics and are hoping this will resolve it by killing the pesky critters. We were told it would take two to seven days. His heart did get worse at the beginning of treatment which was to be expected, but it was very bad, even going down to 13. His heart would stop at times and it’s still not good.

Today, he’s on day four of treatment and we’re hoping for a breakthrough soon. I am taking a break from all social media until he is better (which we’re hoping is any time now). I have no ability to create and write since my mind is on him and his health. When he is better, I am better. When he is worse, I am worse. He may have to get a pacemaker, if it doesn’t resolve itself soon.

I can tell you that I am very thankful that I no longer nit-pick at him, nag, or quarrel with him. What a waste of time and energy this is, dear women, and how much I would be regretting this behavior if I was still doing it. I miss his habits that used to annoy me. I want him home so he can live his life as he pleases with me. I have learned to accept him just the way that he is and enjoy him. In return, he enjoys me. Yes, this took a long time to learn but practice makes perfect.

We are trusting the Lord in these tumultuous times but know without a doubt that “ALL things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). What this means for us will soon be clear. Thank you for your prayers.

It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22

75 thoughts on “Taking a Break – Husband in ICU

  1. Sending healing prayers towards you two! What a wonderful example of Godly living you two are. I hope you are both able to rest and come back refreshed and healthy.

  2. I will be praying for your Husband and his healing. Prayers also for you and your family during this time.

  3. I will pray for Ken, you, and your family during this time. Before reading this post today, I was praying, and I thanked God for your blog and teaching which points us to His Word and the direction we’re given as women on how we live and care for our families. While I wait with your many faithful readers, I can take this opportunity to read old posts written before I started reading your blog daily.

    Thank you for updating us, and know that you will remain in our prayers.

  4. Dear sister, we will be praying for your husband’s quick recovery. We are praying for you, too, for strength and perseverance during your husband’s illness. God bless.

  5. Praying for your husband and for you. Thank you for your faith and your beautiful witness!

  6. Praying for your husband, Lori. You are such a good wife to him and he is such a good husband to you. I enjoy your blog so much. It is full of God’s wisdom. Know that we will be praying for your husband’s health.
    God bless, Kathy in Illinois

  7. Oh Lori,
    I am so sorry to hear about all that you both are going through right now. Please know that prayers are being sent for a full recovery with no complications and peace and strength for both of you.

  8. Holding you and Ken in prayer. God bless you. You are a great example of a loving wife. May His grace equip you with all you need to care for your husband during this time of illness.

  9. Praying for both of you.
    God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in times of trouble. Psalm 46:1

  10. Lori, praying for Ken’s recovery and your strength in the Lord. Even, while you are going through this with Ken, you still provide us with wisdom in marriage and Biblical womanhood! I thank God for your example. God bless you and your family!

  11. Lori, we are praying for Ken’s quick recovery. May he know God’s nearness during this time. May you be strengthened as you lovingly care for him.

  12. Praying for you all. And thank you again for the reminder to love our husbands the way they are!

  13. Praying for Ken’s full recovery and your peace. Also, that Alyssa has a quick labor and she and the baby thrive.

  14. Thank you for all of your godly encouragement Lori! You have blessed my life in many ways. I will be praying for a full recovery for Ken and strength and endurance for you as well.

  15. I have never commented before, but I felt compelled today. Your ministry has been a tremendous blessing to me, my marriage and my family. Thank you for speaking the truth and blessing the body of Christ with your obedience. You, Ken and your family will be in my prayers. May the Lord, our Healer, restore Ken to full health and may God bring you through this fiery trial for His glory. May He strengthen you, sustain you, comfort you, guide you and provide for you daily. I pray that this illness would draw you closer to Him and each other. I pray that Ken’s hospital room would be a sanctuary of peace and communion with Jehovah. And that all who enter that room and all who you interact with will know that you serve the One True God, that they would be drawn to the Light, and that many would come to saving grace. I look forward to learning of all the good that the Lord will do in this difficult time, because we know that what Satan intended for evil, the Almighty will use for good.

  16. P.S. Right after posting my comment, I told my husband what is happening, he knows your blog has helped me tremendously, and though he was on his way to work, he insisted that we stop and pray for you. He will be keeping you in his daily prayers too.

  17. Praying for you all! My husband also has Lyme’s but it wasn’t caught right away. He is doing so much better now but there were times when we didn’t know if he would make it.

    It never affected his heart but he was very sick for several years ( largely due to the fact that it was not correctly diagnosed at the beginning).

    Praying and also looking forward to more of your posts in the future. They have been a blessing to me many, many times.?

  18. Will be praying for you both. Thank you for sharing your Godly woman example to help us. I do hope he recovers fast. May God surely be with y’all.

    Love your sister in Christ!

  19. I’ve been praying for y’all since your daughter’s post yesterday. Thank you for the update. May God bless and keep you both. As TH said above, I also will be going back to the archives and read some of your earlier posts on Always Learning. Can’t do without your daily wisdom!

  20. My husband and I are praying for you and Ken.

    “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”
    ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:5-6‬

    Love and blessings,
    Chuck and Tina

  21. I’m praying Ken recovers soon and the Lord will give you the strength to help take care of him in the mean time.

  22. Dear Lori, Praying that God’s will would be Ken’s complete recovery.
    May God’s grace,mercy,protection and healing be to you both.
    “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.” Prov 3:5+6

  23. I’m sorry to hear this Lori. Praying the Lord guides the doctor’s hands (and all who is caring for him) to help your husband get better. May he get to come home soon and have a full recovery. May the peace of God continually comfort you as well in Jesus name. Amen

  24. May God bless you both through this trial. Thank you for being a source of encouragement to me. Your wisdom has challenged my thinking.

  25. OH Lori, I just brought this up. I will be praying for a complete recovery for Ken and ongoing peace for you. I have learned so much from this blog, I truly appreciate all the work you put into it. I see all the other prayers on this comment section, you are truly loved by your readers dear sister in the Lord.

  26. Praying for both of you. I remember feeling the same way about having a clear conscience having repented of nagging and scolding but pure acceptance.

  27. Lori, I’ve been reading your blog for many years now but have very rarely commented. Your blog is on the of the few blogs I continue to read as it still gives me meaningful instruction. I am so pleased to read your instruction still in this difficult time. “I miss his habits that used to annoy me.” How much time is wasted when we nitpick over silly things?! I pray for peace, healing and joy for your family.
    Much love from Florida.

  28. Praying that Papa’s Will be done. Love and blessings to you always, Lori ?
    Lil (Australia) xxx

  29. Praying for the Lord’s divine intervention, comfort, strength and healing. We know He is well able! Please keep us posted as you are able.

  30. Praying for you and your Husband Lori.
    May God give you both strength during this time. God bless!
    Love in Christ.

  31. Praying God’s mercy and healing upon your husband and praying for your strength in our LORD. Your family’s ministry is such a blessing.

    Your brother in Christ,
    Carlton

  32. I will be praying for Ken!! May God give full recovery!! I know so well what you mean about ‘no regrets’ vs ‘many regrets’, having been on both sides of that, too (and still struggling sometimes). God be with you both and give you peace and strength through this.

  33. I’m praying for a quick and full recovery for your husband. Praying God will give you strength for this hard trial. I am so sorry you guys are going through this.

  34. Praying for you and Ken. May God’s strength, peace and patience sustain you through this troubling time.

    Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. (Rom. 12:12)

  35. Praying, praying for your husband and family. My daughter has Lymes since she was 10 years old, she’s now 26. Misdiagnosed for years (almost died) although we suspected Lymes from the beginning. Were told repeatedly that “Lymes doesn’t exist in Michigan”. Finally found a Lymes literate doctor, things turned around. She now works in the medical field herself and has helped so many other Lymes victims and others get proper treatment. We say she was given this disease in order to help the chronically ill who “don’t look sick”.

  36. Echoing others here in my prayers for Ken’s speedy recovery and for strength for both of you in the days and weeks ahead.

  37. Lori, your ministry has been an absolute blessing to me and my family. I pray for your husband Ken. I pray for peace, strength, and courage for you and your family.

    I used to work as an ER nurse. This is a scary situation. Especially for you, to see your beloved husband in that condition. But God is on the throne. I pray that the peace that surpasses all understanding will surround you.
    When you expressed how the years of nagging and complaining were a waste, it struck something in me. Many times I’ve felt like that. But even through all this, you’re speaking truth and life. Thank you. I will be praying for you and yours daily, and wait for a good report.

  38. Lori, I am just seeing this, and have prayed for Ken’s healing and the comfort of both of you!

  39. In the short time I’ve known this blog it has been a tremendous source of positivity in my life. Take all the time you need but I do hope you continue posting at some point. You and your husband will be in my prayers.

  40. Your statement is 100% true… but not in the disrespectful way that you meant it.

    Bobilly, below is my prayer for you. ‘my words’ added for clarification.

    Acts 26:18 – ‘May GOD’ open ‘your’ eyes so that ‘you’ may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that ‘you’ may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in ‘Jesus Christ’.

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