Thursday, December 22, 2011

FROM ME TO YOU, THIS CHRISTMAS




The other day, I had the privilege of listening to a conversation, it was about Mary the mother of Jesus. Mary, a virgin, engaged to Joseph, was visited by an Angel, telling her that she would become pregnant and her fiancĂ©e Joseph would not be the father of the child she would soon carry. Mary was understandably frightened, “how could this be?” she exclaimed. After she learnt that she was chosen by God to carry his only son, the Saviour of the world, that fright turned into song. Luke 1 verse 48 – 55 carries this song, which in part reads, “My heart praises the Lord; ......for he has remembered me, his lowly servant! From now on all people will call me happy.” Mary embraced this divine favour that she was hand-picked by God for.

During my struggles with infertility, I never thought I would ever become a mother, and now here I am with two beautiful children. As this Christmas season approached, I found myself reflecting on God’s favour in my life. My situation can in no way be compared to those blessed events in Bethlehem so many years ago, as that would be presumptuous, Nevertheless, I too feel hand-picked by God, for certain struggles in my life, of which infertility is the main one, which led me to being a recipient of God’s divine favour, and this becomes even more real to me every day, when I look into the faces of my two precious gifts, my beautiful children.

May this Christmas for you, be filled with joy and my wish for you, for the New Year, is that you allow God to take the first place in your heart and allow him to order your steps, and even more, if you are one with challenges in your life, so that out of your challenges you will emerge victoriously on the other side, feeling highly favoured by God, because let’s face it, to have a testimony, you must take the test.

ALL THE BEST to you and yours.



Post image by: http://www.brutallyhonest.org/brutally_honest/images/salemchristmascard.jpg

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

“Laparoscopic Excision Surgery For Endometriosis Frees Patients From Chronic Pain And Complications.”






Women who are diagnosed with Endometriosis, sadly deals with a lot of pelvic pain and discomfort caused by gastrointestinal and urinary tract conditions. I totally understand this, because my Polycystic condition, causes similar discomfort as well.A Laparoscopic Excision surgery eliminates this pain and discomfort, according to an article in Medical News Today.

The article also advise that women who suspect they might have endometriosis, get an accurate diagnosis sooner than later, so that they can be accurately treated and in so doing, minimize the chance of infertility, when they are ready to have children.

For more on this subject, please visit the link below.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/236843.php

From the article:

“Keynote speaker and women's health advocate Padma Lakshmi, an international supermodel and TV show host, who co-founded the Endometriosis Foundation of America to encourage research to help other women to avoid her ordeal, declares: "Endometriosis is one of the most treatable, but least treated of women's health problems. Like me, many women suffer debilitating pain and other symptoms for as long as a decade before receiving an accurate diagnosis and proper treatment. 


Many women suffer silently or use painkillers, sometimes for years. Because pelvic pain can have many different causes, including appendicitis, bowel obstruction, ovarian cysts, pelvic inflammatory disease, diverticulitis, ectopic pregnancy, fibroids, IBS and many others, correct treatment can often be delayed further, as endometriosis is sometimes not immediately diagnosed. 


For example, in women with endometriosis on the intestines, symptoms may prompt a physician to suggest GI tests, which will not reveal the true problem. 


Lakshmi continues saying: "If a woman wants to have children, it's critical to get an accurate diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible. Endometriosis is one of the top three causes of infertility. Many women are delaying childbearing into their 30s and even 40s these days, but if you have had untreated endometriosis for many years, it may be too late. And that is a real tragedy." 


The currently most effective treatment is laparoscopic excision surgery as alternative medical therapies for endometriosis are extremely limited.”

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

“THE LORD GIVETH AND THE LORD TAKETH AWAY”





I did a post recently announcing that the Duggars of TLC’s 19 Kids and Counting, were expecting their 2oth child.

I just learnt that mom, Michelle Duggar, suffered a miscarriage.

My heart ached for them when I heard this, because having a miscarriage, given any set of circumstances, carries with it, a lot of emotional trauma and pain. I know of this first-hand.

Reports are that the other kids are very sad as they were looking forward, so much to a new sibling.

My prayers are with them at this difficult time.