Moving up in life and in death

I moved up in life, literally.  The Greer family left for furlough Sunday and left me with their home.  It’s on the hill overlooking GSF so everyone refers to it as “up”.  Teammate Sarah was going to wake up Monday morning and take care of rounds and let me sleep in a little.  I had a leisure morning until I received a call from Sarah at 8:30.  “Meredith it’s an emergency.  I can’t find a pulse on Gloria”.  My heart raced and instantly ran out the front door forgetting to even put on shoes.  In no time I was at 4B, Gloria’s home.  Gloria lay lifeless.  Sarah had just done abdominal thrusts with no success of clearing the airway, CPR was started.  This is one of those things I was taught that I hoped I would never have to do, especially on someone I knew.  We checked periodically for a pulse, but she was silent when we put the stethoscope to her chest.  At 8:50 we listened for a full minute and at 8:51 Gloria was pronounced dead. 

    We all knew Gloria did not have much time.  Gloria was one of our special needs kids.  She was mentally disabled as well as physically suffering from cerebral palsy.  In the year 2010, Gloria was in and out of the hospital for weeks at a time suffering from Typhoid, chicken pox, and pneumonia 5 times.  She had become very weak and fragile weighing only 19 kg.  There were multiple times a large group of people were brought to the hospital to pray over Gloria as we thought her life was coming to an end.  Surprisingly, Gloria continued to fight for life. 

    This time was much different.  Gloria was not in the hospital suffering.  Gloria was in her home, with her friends, and with her house mom.  Gloria just a couple days prior got to go swimming for the first time in her life.  She loved it.  All of a sudden Gloria spiked a fever Monday morning.  After given medicine, Gloria was bathed and then was fed breakfast.  That was when the house mom called Sarah and said “Come, just come.”  Upon arrival, Gloria was not breathing and was pulseless.  We tried everything we could, but God called Gloria home that day.  Gloria moved up to heaven. 

    Amidst the sorrow of losing one of our children, God’s grace was evident through it all.  Gloria did not suffer, Gloria was not alone, Gloria’s housemates all were so caring and sweet to her that morning, Gloria was able to die at home, Gloria went quickly.  The timing was also perfect.  All the other kids were in school and didn’t have to see Sarah and I work on her. 

    Just last week I came across Zeph. 3:19 “Behold, at that time I will deal with all your oppressors.  And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth.”  What a perfect verse to have in my head for what was to come.  On March 14^th, God dealt with all Gloria’s mental and physical oppressors.  He took what was shameful and lame and rejoiced over it with praise.  I talked to Esther, the girl who cared most for Gloria and asked, “What do you think Gloria is doing right now?”  There was no hesitation in her response.  “Dancing, and talking, and running”.  Gloria no longer feels the effects of the fall.  God has glorified Gloria.