Faithful Endurance: An update on Jeri
Last month, this blog featured an update on Faith, one of the individuals who shares her story in my book, On Borrowed Time. Faith is in the midst of another serious health battle, but is continuing to trust the Lord with all her heart (literally and figuratively!). She knows she is in his hands! Keep her in prayer as she recuperates from heart surgery. This month, I would like to update you on another individual who shared her story in On Borrowed Time: Jeri. Jeri has faced so many debilitating health challenges, and they continue. Since the book came out in 2016, Jeri has undergone multiple, complex surgeries and faced complications from those as well as frightening battles with COVID.
Whether you are facing health challenges, or other kinds of challenges, I encourage you to read on. Jeri understands, and her experience and her faith might just be what you need to hear.
In the book, Jeri shares various struggles she has faced in her life. Health scares have played no small part. At 29 years old, thirteen tumors were found stretching from her stomach to her left knee. Radiation therapy damaged her colon, so she eventually agreed to have a colostomy in 2007. After the procedure, however, the wrong medication was given to her and nearly took her life. But by God’s grace, they were able to bring her back. Since then, however, the road has been far from easy. She continues to face regular crippling pain that doctors eventually diagnosed as a chronic “superbug” called C. diff.
In the fall of 2017, Jeri faced more surgeries necessary to save her body from the radiation damage she had experienced. The main surgery was losing her bladder. While in recovery, she said blood infections and a blood clot were found in her left leg, require her to receive round-the-clock care in a nursing home for a month. In 2018, due to ongoing kidney infections, a result of losing her bladder, she lost her left kidney. The intense infection, which traveled to her right kidney, has led to recurring sepsis beginning in 2020.
“The infectious disease team of doctors say it’s only a matter of time before the right kidney fails and then dialysis begins,” she said. She is not a candidate for a kidney transplant because of a delicate conduit that surgeons are afraid to disturb. She is currently receiving palliative care for pain management.
On top of it all, Jeri was hit with COVID – first in the spring of 2020. She spent a day on the brand new COVID floor of the hospital before being moved to another floor to manage her pneumonia. And then in the fall of 2021 she was struck with COVID again. This time, the experience was much worse. Complications led to her being placed on a ventilator, and she spent a month in the hospital. She was admitted the day she was scheduled to fly to Wisconsin to visit family.
“That was heartbreaking to postpone the flight, not knowing when I would see them again,” she said.
Her condition was very touch-and-go for some time.
“I felt like I was in and out of consciousness fighting to live, which terrified my husband, family and friends,” she said. During video calls with her husband, Barry, she said she could hear the worry in his voice and see it on his face, even though he didn’t say it. But she finally turned a corner, was removed from oxygen, and shortly after was able to come home. She was able to fly to Wisconsin this summer to see her family and hopes to attend her daughter’s wedding in the fall.
As for right now, Jeri said she lives with an “it is what it is” diagnosis from doctors. She takes narcotics for her abdomen pain caused by frequent painful bowel obstructions. C. diff flares up unexpectedly, which she admits has been exhausting. On top of that, now doctors have found two new blood clots, two kidney stones, and a large hernia and mass near her cervix. She is being referred to specialists.
She can do little else but take things as they come. She and her husband Barry have taken Philippians 3:12-14 to heart. “Health wise and in my and Barry’s personal life our goals are to continue to support one another through it all,” Jeri said.
Together, they also deal with the heartache of broken family relationships that weigh heavily on them both. “We face these challenges knowing it’s all in [God’s] hands,” Jeri said.
Such belief is the ultimate peace in the midst of such raging storms.
“My faith is that I have God to see me through,” she said. “He has and He continues to prove He always will. To me, it’s not difficult because in the end, as it is inevitable, I know where I’m going.”
The pain she faces daily comes and goes, but her confidence in what lays ahead – an everlasting life free from pain and in the presence of God – remains constant.
“Overall, every day is a good day,” she said. “I have a husband who loves and protects me. I have two adult children who love my husband and me, and their growing families. I’m a Nonna. Barry’s a PapPap. It’s the best chapter of Barry’s and my life by far. The youngest grandchild even has my red hair! What an undeniable blessing grandchildren are to push forward in the days God gives us.”
By now, you may have gathered that if anyone might understand the pain you are dealing with, Jeri does. She offers these words of advice and encouragement:
“Understand, know, and tell yourself that you are loved by God and that He truly does know what you’re going through. Place your pains, aches, bruises, ups and downs in His hands so you are able to let Him be in control. Don’t allow yourself to be in control of the temporary or of the scars you see. Navigate a shift toward God-awareness in what you are going through.”
Jeri said she continues to press toward the goal of reaching what God desires for her.
“It’s always going to be about Him for me,” she said, “to include Him in my journey. There will be bad days, but there will be good ones too! Keep giving credit as it’s due Him.”
We’re praying for you Jeri! Thank you for your example of faithful endurance.