The Appointment

I had an appointment at Jules Stein Eye Institute with the ophthalmologist to measure my visual acuity. Traffic was light so we arrived early and it was nice to have a little extra time to gather my thoughts. And, gather my thoughts I did as to what should come next on my journey in restorative medicine. While we waited for the ophthalmologist appointment, Jim went over to the doctors office to see if he could talk to anybody about possibly getting an appointment the same day for excising a small piece of my forearm to begin the stem cell process. In a brief time, he was back with a woman who is quite knowledgeable about the laboratory and the stem cell process; she began to explain to both Jim and I what lay ahead. She began her explanation with the laboratory and it’s available space serving all of the UCLA medical facilities. This really turned out to be the crux of this conversation. While I had thought it was about me being proactive, it was about the availability of space. She explained, they could excise a small piece of my forearm, but there wouldn’t be space to supervise it in the lab. However, my name is on the list and they know who I am and they will call me. She confirmed that I am still on the grant so, it is just a matter of time. 

I felt that I stood there, in front of her, definitely in a stupor. All my plans played out in front of me. My thoughts were akin to, what is next? What should I do now? How should I take this? I looked at Jim and asked him, what does this mean? He assured me and said let’s pray… We prayed for divine intervention. I almost laughed when we said amen because instantaneously I sensed the peace that passes understanding. I really do not feel discouraged and I certainly don’t feel disappointed… because I am very grateful for this gift that landed in my lap. I am only happy and since this is real life I must meet this in real time. God’s peace is relevant and reassuring and restful. Any and all anxieties I put to rest. God’s peace keeps me calm in a blind storm.

A Brave New Decade

Long have I waited for a brave new decade which brings with it regenerative medicine...

This is epic!! We are here!!

As a culture we are awakening every morning in the Creche of scientific success called restorative medicine. This is now the reality of stem cells taken from our own bodies. These are referred to as adult stem cells.

For the last 20 years my eyesight has declined rapidly from 20/20 overnight to 20/250 . This is a measurement to express my visual clarity.

As I mentioned in my first post (See my other blog: JoiurneyInBlindFaith.blogspot,com), "God kissed me with joy", I wish to make it clear that it is a very dreadful event and illness to lose one’s eyesight but, I only thank God that it did not destroy me. Preferably, when I got knocked down, I just stood up. When I was overcome with sadness, I just tried to look at it objectively as to what I could do now….

This post is not about me entering into a brave new world through stem cells but rather an acknowledgment for what now lies ahead for all of us. I believe, as in creation, when we see the ability of the lizards to regrow their tails, maybe this something of a blueprint from God through our DNA? I have lived a lifetime in the last 20 years with all that I have learned about human nature and the human spirit to overcome. Not really only for myself but for so many of those beautiful people I have met in the disabled community. I only hope I have become humbled and able to transliterate their difficulties in my response. There will be so many opportunity open and available to me now, I will embrace them with great thanksgiving and gratitude, mindful of the riches I have been fortunate to acquire along this way.

Please enjoy this scientific YouTube video I have included here. It will be quite helpful in describing the miraculous work of stem cells and you will discover God‘s handiwork they’re in. Indeed we are fearfully and wonderfully made!

March 9, 2020 I have an appointment in Los Angeles with the doctor who will do my stem cell therapy.

Vision for the Future: Stem Cell Therapy for Eye Disease

https://youtu.be/OaTWoeALu2w

Joyful

The picture here is our youngest granddaughter, who was very stealth like in quietly playing with mamas make-up. She blissfully adorned herself like mama and then was found by mama and to her surprise there was only sweet words. What a joy this is for me, as her grandmother, and recognizing this important role in her life.

The beginning of this year I began college and today, I just enrolled for my second semester. I have heard from my teacher that my grades are very good and while it does take work and planning ahead, I am ready to take on my next new adventure. The work has been challenging which I think is good because I have to stretch, but stress in getting outside one’s comfort zone is a good thing.

I will be going overseas with Jim this time and teaching in the marriage and family seminar. That is definitely one of my favorites, and I regularly teach the differences of communication between men and women. There is a lot of laughter and the class always seems to have a great time.

January 2019

In January, I had several opportunities presented; time that I could spend with our family and be around family for the birth of our great grand child. This was a very happy event to be with everyone. However, my beloved Jim would be overseas teaching the seminars. It would be a six weeks absence from each other. This was a season of beautiful opportunity for me, however, in considering this I was very much aware that I would not be going with Jim on this trip. Singularly, it was a tough decision to make. 

Another opportunity that presented itself to me was to begin college for my General Ed. Technology has made it much more accommodating for me, being legally blind with a visual acuity of 20/250. So, I am an online student, and I love to learn. My major is psychology and while I find this a very complex subject, (as is our minds, right?) I tremendously enjoy the learning process. It has been 47 years since I was a student and studying so, this is an enormous change in my lifestyle. Because I am taking classes online I have tremendous freedom. I can take my textbook with me and I will still be able to teach overseas when we have our seminars .

I have sought the advice and conferred with many, as it says in Proverbs 11:14 … In the multitude of counselors there is safety.

Our family is supportive of me in this and Jim is very pleased that I am undertaking my formal education. Lord willing my plans are to go on to a four year college after this. Ever since I was young I have always had a curious mind, wanting to know about everything. The time presented itself to me with a golden opportunity, and I said yes.

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted. A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up"

          Ecclesiastes 3:1-3  

Defense Attorney - Credibility & Objective Truth Proverbs 14:10

A few days ago my husband and I were singing the song, "How Deep the Father‘s Love", when my imagination began to weave a web. And, one of the verses in the song was, “it was my sin that held Him there until it was accomplished”… And then, I begin to think, as a young teenager I was trained in the word of God so I had learned about the deceitfulness of sin, and I thought I had regarded the instruction of the Word as a safeguard against sin. As the gears in my mind worked, a Bible truth came to memory to be reckoned with. Proverbs 14:10 "The heart knows it’s own bitterness."
So case in point, the heart is deceitfully wicked, who can know it? Simply implicating ourselves.

As human nature is, we put ourselves in the best light, we look out for number one, because as
the expression goes, “You have to take care of number one.” And in that regard we defend ourselves, we often interpret the motive and intentions of our heart as good and not evil, and basically, all together without blame. We advocate for ourselves and this makes true, “for the heart is deceitfully wicked and who can know it?” We become our own defense attorney. Defending ourselves against the criticism of others, and my personal favorite, the one that says you are being too hard on yourself. It seems that the apex of light in our critical thinking, our defense attorney, speaks up for us and says we are not to blame. God’s Word says clearly, “if I regard sin in my heart, Thou oh God will not hear me.” Cleanse me from my presumptuous sin. Presuming I have no part in the outcome.

So, in the last analysis, it is true that it was my sin that held Him there until it was accomplished for me. Christ died on the cross for me.Though I prefer it were not so, He bled and died for us. The web of personal deception is destroyed with the grace of God and true repentance on my part.

Village Seminars - India

India Seminars:

The Indian ladies were cloistered upon one another, having been wound tightly into their cultural Sari (soft flowing, colorful fabric which consists of 6 yards plus). During this monsoon season, 85% high humidity, and the ill tempered sun burning down upon the earth, I thought surely as I watched, one among them would swoon. We were very thankful for ceiling fans that swirled above our heads with great efficiency, then without warning everything stopped. It was a black out and no power at all. These women sat quietly, note taking and with writers license I would like to suggest, pupating in their cocoons. 

 
The Seminar delegates, were tea plantation workers and arrived mid day after working in the field. By mid evening the day had cooled off and electricity had returned to our venue. The lovely Indian women became as animated among each other as flitting social butterflies. They swarmed with excitement, talking among themselves in sweet enthusiasm concerning the value of what they were learning. Dinner of Farm fresh chicken, yet to be plucked and prepared with the bounty of beautiful vegetables was served to all the delegates by 10:30 in the evening. It was such a Sweet company together for the Lord‘s purpose, that memories remain forever.

My hope was to share with the children about the names of God…

India:

My hope was to share with the children about the names of God and His attributes, however a female translator was not available and so, I changed my plans, spending my time further developing my training material. While teaching our Marriage & Family Seminar, with a session I committed to memory on love and respect, having made an outline on the whiteboard an elephant walked by the Church!  Love and respect are pivotal for a strong and happy marriage, as they expose skills needed in communicating. I feel very passionate about contributing to the seminar on the issue of communication, because there in lies many unresolved conflicts. By nature, I am a pragmatic person and I love to #1 identify the issue or problem, #2 gather information that facilitates greater understanding of the issue, and #3 move towards resolution. This is second nature to me and suitable for teaching in our Marriage & Family Seminar in any culture.

M