Heaven

I have permission to tell this story from one of my patients and I give it to you with great blessings. Dorothy has been a patient for about 8 years. I became acquainted with her after she lost her young daughter Brandy in a childbirth on a Christmas Eve. Brandy left behind a child and her devastated mom. I can't imagine a worse heartbreak or nightmare for any mother but Dorothy despite our encouragement could not let Brandy go and mourned her daily to the detriment of her own health. She frequently came in for increasing abdominal pain and vomiting. She lost weight and the pain never seemed far away. We were treating her with narcotics and other medication so that she could go from day to day. Every time she came in the pain was etched on her face from her abdominal area and from her personal loss. She saw many specialists and never really had a diagnosis. Our hearts would break when we would ask her how she was really doing....not wanting to mention her daughter's name. Dorothy knew what we were asking and the tears would flow. Tonight she brought in a member of her family suffering from cancer and she looked wonderful. It dawned on us that we hadn't seen her in a while. She had gained weight and brought out of her pocket a piece of paper that contained the diagnosis of the problem that had plagued her for years. She had to have a mesenteric- aortic bypass. Her mesenteric artery was blocked and she was slowly starving to death. (I will bypass the reasons why this happens... it just does) They were successful in the surgery but during that time she went into a cardiac arrest(she died) and they were obviously able to bring her back. I asked her if she had seen anything and she answered "oh, yes. I saw a beautiful area with pink and white and soft blue flowers...it was all bright. There were three people. Brandy was in the middle. She was moving her hands outward like 'go back.' She was beautiful." Dorothy awoke in the ICU where she stayed for 2 months and has been home now for months. She is pain free and has a peaceful look about her face. She was able to talk about Brandy without crying. " I can let her go now" I am a witness to her difference to those who scoff. Do I believe her? Oh yes. From her own brief death she awoke with the surety that Brandy is in a beautiful place and that she will see her again. Blessing to you Dorothy and to Brandy's child and to all your family. Thank you for allowing me to share.