Yesterday, I was in pulmonary clinic... dealing with the usual there- lungs. I was about to leave for the day, when the attending physician asked me if I had ever seen discoid lupus. I had heard of it before and I knew it was an autoimmune process, but I didn't know how it was different from normal lupus. With normal lupus, you may or may not get a rash on your face that looks like a bad sunburn. With discoid, that rash flakes and scales and after it heals as well as its going to heal, it looks like someone burned the skin with acid. It is disfiguring. Google it. I was not prepared for what I was about to see.
This lady was a young african american woman, not much older than me. Her face was scarred up. Her cheeks were varying colors of brown, pink, with the occassional white spot. The skin was leathery and not smooth. She had wrinkles, but not like the wrinkles old people get. She had the tight wrinkles. The wrinkles scars and burns make. She had ulcers and sores hiding under her bangs. You could see the white scar tissue forming around the pink open sore. It looked painful. I imagined that it would sting to get it wet, like a strawberry from sliding on the basketball court or in the infield. I imagine that her sweat on these hot summer days stung so bad and that it hurt to wash her face.
I didn't say much. The doctor just took me in and introduced me and asked if he could teach me about her history and her disease. She smiled and enthusiastically agreed. He explained her disease to me. She had been in and out of the hospital many times. She had been in ICU once for lung complications. She was on several immunosuppresant drugs that keep her prone to infection. She had to take a large amount of pills ever morning and night and she came in every six months to get an iv infusion of a drug that is similar to chemo. After he explained things to me, the doctor thanked her for the learning opportunity she gave me and we left.
I learned a lot about discoid lupus. But what got me was her attitude and sweet spirit. I was not even in there five minutes with her, but I could tell a lot from her smile and her eyes. Her eyes were SO FULL of life. They had the twinkle in them that let you know she had plans. She has a terrible disfiguring diesease that will keep her in and out of hospitals for the rest of her life, and might possibly be the end of her life one day, but she didn't let that phase her. Her bright green eyes were determined and motivated. Her sweet spirit let me know that she had made peace with the cards she was dealt. I felt so sorry for her but she did not feel sorry for herself.
As I thanked her and walked out of that small clinic room, tears began to well up in my eyes. I don't know Ms. Bright Eyes... but she touched me yesterday. She was a living version of James 1.
James 1:2-4
"Consider it a great joy, my brothers, when you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance mst do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.
It Is Well With My Soul
Lyrics: Horatio G. Spafford
Music: Philip P. Bliss
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
It is well with my soul,
it is well, it is well with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
let this blest assurance control,
that Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
and hath shed his own blood for my soul.
It is well with my soul,
it is well, it is well with my soul.
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
It is well with my soul,
it is well, it is well with my soul.
And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
the clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
the trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
even so, it is well with my soul.
It is well with my soul,
it is well, it is well with my soul.
My Bachelorette Party
The bridesmaids and Huck!
