Speechless

During Sunday School this morning, Courtney collapsed.

Okay, that's a little dramatic - I think. I'll let you decide...

She and a friend were horsing around and the friend kicked her in the butt. Immediately, Courtney experienced severe abdominal pain and began vomiting. She made her way to the bathroom in the youth department where she continued to vomit and writhe in pain. She was found by hero number one and checked on by hero number two. While hero number one went to get me, hero number two stayed with her.

When I got to her, my heart fell to my feet. Shaking, vomiting, sweating, pale as a sheet, hurting more than she's ever hurt in her life, my precious daughter was sitting on the bathroom floor. One look and I knew - we were ER bound. While hero number two stayed with her, I went to get her father from our Sunday School class. We collected everyone together and rushed her to the ER. We (Todd and I), in our vast medical knowledge and education, were sure her appendix was rupturing. Okay...maybe not that (even though my own experience with appendicitis last November at least gave us some knowledge) but we knew something serious was happening.

Have I mentioned this child never gets sick and almost never cries?

Todd dropped us off at the ER door and while waiting the extremely long five minutes for them to call her back, my beloved child begged me to keep her from dying. She literally said, "Mom, please ask Jesus not to take me yet." Let me just tell you. Those are words you never hope your child even thinks, much less asks. All the strength in the world won't hold back tears on that one.

They took her back to a room immediately and, as the nurse took her vitals, Courtney's color began to improve. It was slight, and she was still writhing in pain, but I noticed. The nurse's eyes told me she believed the same as me...something serious seemed to be going on. We waited for some time for the doctor and as we waited, she seemed to become less irritable - she was pretty sharp-tongued early on. The doctor finally came and announced that they were going to run some tests (gasp!) and he'd make a diagnosis after those (I'd have never guessed). One funny thing...he did ask Courtney if church normally kicks her in the butt like that. Her answer: not usually enough to land me in the ER!

Both mine and Todd's phones were constantly buzzing with friends and family inquiring about Courtney and offering prayers. It was very comforting as we waited - and waited - and waited some more.

When the doctor finally came in with a diagnosis, Courtney was feeling much better. And by much better, I mean hardly any pain, no vomiting, no shaking, no sweating, normal color - and hungry. The diagnosis? A UTI. My jaw dropped. I've had UTI's before. I've never heard of, seen or experienced them doing what Courtney went through.

After getting her something to eat and taking her to (at her request) hero number two's house - Todd and I had time to debrief. He firmly believes - and my belief is growing - that something serious was going on with Courtney and the prayers of friends and family healed her.

I believe in prayer. Truly I do. But I can't tell you the transformation I saw before my eyes today. Can it really be explained as answered prayer? A miracle?

My brain wants to look at the evidence but my heart tells me it's true - prayer changed things.

And I'm speechless...