Close call

Last Thursday evening when Ans Oppermann's medical aid came to her home to remove her elastic stockings she noticed that Ans was not feeling well and advised her to call her doctor.  She said she would but decided to wait.  The next morning the aid again returned to help her with her stockings but did not get an answer after ringing the doorbell.  She tried calling on the phone but still no answer.  She then realized that something was not right.  This trusty aid borrowed a tall ladder from a neighbor and climbed into the bedroom window on the second floor to find Ans on the verge of  death.  The doctor was called and after examining her sent for an ambulance. I don't know how in the world they got her downstairs and Ans was not with it enough to remember.  The home has a very narrow winding stairway that has a rail along one side to accommodate the chair lift, so it must have been a sight to get her down those stairs.  Most homes here are built the same way so they probably have a formula for the procedure.

To make a long story short, Ans spent three days in the ICU and an additional two in a regular room when we got the call to bring her home.  She had received a blessing shortly after arriving in the hospital and  was convinced that she would recover quickly.  She was correct because she is now home and feeling much stronger.  It was determined that she had an infection throughout her entire body as well as blood poisoning.  After being pumped full of antibiotics her body was able to fight off that evil infection.

Ans mentioned that her room-mate was in the hospital to receive a Chemo treatment for breast cancer. When the nurse came and asked the room-mate if she wanted a priest or clergy of some kind she just scoffed at the idea and said she had no use for religion.  This brought Ans to tears.  Imagine not wanting God in your life, who else could help you the way he does and how sad that she did not have the Holy Ghost to be a comforter to her in this difficult time.  I will always be grateful for the gospel in my life and the knowledge that God loves us,  watches over us, and sends the comforter to ease the pain when we need it most.