Elizabeth Evans - 30 Days of Hope for Strength in Chronic Illness

GIFTS OF HOPE SERIES

30 DAYS OF HOPE

FOR STRENGTH IN CHRONIC ILLNESS

ELIZABETH EVANS

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30 DAYS OF HOPE

FOR STRENGTH IN CHRONIC ILLNESS

ELIZABETH EVANS

New Hope Publishers

PO Box 12065

Birmingham, AL 35202-2065

NewHopePublishers.com

New Hope Publishers is a division of WMU.

2016 by G. Elizabeth Evans

All rights reserved. First printing 2016.

Printed in the United States of America.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwisewithout the prior written permission of the publisher.

New Hope Publishers serves its authors as they express their views, which may not express the views of the publisher.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:

Names: Evans, G. Elizabeth, 1966

Title: 30 days of hope for strength in chronic illness / G. Elizabeth Evans.

Other titles: Thirty days of hope for strength in chronic illness

Description: Birmingham, AL : New Hope Publishers, 2016.

Identifiers: LCCN 2015039903 | ISBN 9781596694651 (sc)

Subjects: LCSH: Chronically illReligious life. | Chronic diseasesReligious aspectsChristianity. | Cystic fibrosisPatientsReligious life.

Classification: LCC BV4910 .E93 2016 | DDC 248.8/61dc23 LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015039903

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

Scripture quotations marked (NKJV) are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Lyrics from Grace Greater than Our Sin (1910) by Julia Harriet Johnston on page 41.

ISBN-10: 1-59669-465-3

ISBN-13: 978-1-59669-465-1

N164105 0216 1M1

I DEDICATE THIS WORK IN MEMORY OF

KYMBERLY JOYCE TASCOTT,

MY MOST BELOVED FRIEND AND SISTER IN CHRIST.

Kym and I were best friends and roomies in our early twenties. She, as well as I, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis in early childhood. At the age of 23, Kym lost her life to CF. From her, I learned so much about living, laughing, and loving amid the daily struggles that are encountered when living with chronic and eventual terminal illness. My life is forever changed and my heart will forever ache this side of heaven. Until we meet again, Kym, this is for you.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I WANT TO THANK MY HUSBAND, DAVID, for being my greatest fan and cheerleader. When I have gotten off course and felt as though writing may not be my calling, he always encourages me. He has stood by me in this journey of life and chronic illness. He always is refreshed and ready to cheer me on, whether in my battle with cystic fibrosis (CF), my writing, or my relationship with the Lord. I am truly blessed.

Thank you, David. I love you.

I ALSO WANT TO HONOR MY MOTHER and her fight for and with me in life. Her unwillingness to hear what the doctors told her about life expectancy, quality of life, and what the eventual outcome would be. For all the tears she shed over me, for me, and with me. For her unceasing prayers. For the strength she has always shown in the midst of constant illness and complications in the lives of her children due to CF. For her trust in and dependence on God for our every need and how she taught me, by example, in Him alone is my hope. For her love that has always been constant and unconditional.

Thank you, Mommy, I love you so much.

Her children arise and call her blessed.
PROVERBS 31:28

PREFACE

A T THE age of 18 months, I was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. CF, as it is referred to, is a genetic disease affecting about 30,000 children and adults in the United States and 15,000 in the United Kingdom. CF causes an over-production of thick and sticky mucus throughout the entire body. The lungs are the most affected, but other parts of the body the disease attacks include the endocrine system, the digestive system, the sweat glands, the sinuses, and the liver.

A normal day, when I am well enough to be at home rather than in the hospital, consists of three 45-minute chest physical therapies, 11 to 12 aerosol medications, and anywhere from 25 to 30 oral medications.

The chest physical therapy is done in two ways. In one I am connected to a machine that literally shakes me to try to dislodge the thick, sticky mucus from my lungs. Sometimes my husband becomes the therapy machine, pounding on my back, sides and chest for the same purpose. The aerosol medications are taken throughout the day, usually with five in the morning, one or two in the afternoon, and five in the evening. These medications include a bron-chodilator, a long-acting steroid, a medication made just for CF patients that thins the mucus, and an inhaled antibiotic. The oral medications have various purposes, helping my body do what it doesnt seem to want to do on its own: control asthma and reflux, help digest foods, and fight infection.

When I become ill enough to be hospitalized, I receive more physical therapies, additional aerosols, plus high-powered IV antibiotics. These hospitalizations last a minimum of 14 days and usually, for me, 21 to 30 days. As I have become older, my hospitalizations have increased in both frequency and length.

At the time I was diagnosed, average life expectancy for CF patients was only ten years. However, my parents were told that I would not live to be three. By the grace of God, I am now 48. Even though Ive had a very blessed and full life, I am now facing a double lung transplant to prolong my life. The road has not always been easy, but I love adventure. Growing up, I faced dying at a young age. This caused me to learn very young that life was not to be taken for granted. Life is meant to be savored and lived to the fullestno matter your circumstances.