Angel Armies: Update on Mom

Social support is part of what makes us human. COVID-19 strikes at the heart of our humanity because it compels us to social distance and bans family visits to hospitals and nursing homes. Were it not for technology, Mom would be utterly alone for the last 13 days. It’s hard to believe she’s been in the hospital that long.

Mom made improvements yesterday. Her FiO2 or oxygen support went as low at 40% which is good news. She is currently at 60% which is better than her previous 80%. Mom seems to be a little more awake and opens her eyes when someone talks to her. She sometimes will nod or shake her head in response to a question. All these are signs that she is heading in the right direction.

I also learned that the medical team has been trying different therapies. They increased her dose of Bactrim to treat Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia. They switched from gangcylovir to foscavir to treat her CMV. She got a dose of IVIG. We’re hopeful these new therapies will aid in her turnaround.

When God Dispatches an Army

Today I heard a song entitled Rescue by Lauren Daigle. It led me to a passage in Scripture found in 2 Kings 6. In this chapter the King of Aram is at war with the King of Israel. Every time King Aram makes plans to ambush Israel, the prophet Elisha informs the King of Israel ruining any element of surprise. The King of Aram is livid and accuses the officers of his army, “Will you not tell me which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?” The officers tell him the truth, “None of us, my lord…but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel, the very words you speak in your bedroom.”

At these words, King of Aram discharges an army to capture Elisha in Dothan. The army surrounds the city by night. Elisha’s servant begins to panic but he is reassured by his master. “Don’t be afraid…Those who are with us are more than this who are with them.” Elisha prays that the eyes of his servant are opened and he sees the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around them.

Elisha prays the army is struck with blindness and they lose their sight. The army is then lead to a room and their blindness is lifted. Instead of executing the army, they are fed a feast and leave content. The battle is over without blood spilled. 

It’s an incredible thought to know that when we are at a point of desperation, the armies of the Most High dispatches an entire army to our rescue. We may not see it. We only see Mom on a vent fighting for her life. But as the story illustrates, there’s more going on than we can perceive at the moment. In fact, we know that with every prayer, God sends an army full of angels to our side who excel in healing and strength. Consider the lyrics to Rescue by  Lauren Daigle: 

 

I hear you whisper underneath your breath. 

I hear your SOS, your SOS. 

I will send out an army 

To find you in the middle of the darkest night

It’s true

I will rescue you

I will never stop marching 

To reach you in the middle of the hardest fight. 

It’s true

I will rescue you. 

So let’s keep praying.

Let’s pray the Most High will send an army to rescue Mom from infection.

Let’s pray El Shaddai will send an army to rescue Mom from respiratory distress.

Let’s pray the Almighty will send arm army to rescue her from difficulty breathing.

To rescue her from any pain or discomfort or fatigue.

Let’s pray he will rescue Mom.