ali's american adventures

and, from a completely selfish perspective, I wouldn't have met you and gained a portal into a whole other world that has awakened an urgency to give and give and give a little more myself.

and you, my dear, never would have had a portal into the future to see just how beautiful those children of yours may well look!

adding your health to my daily rundown of requests for you...

#1 Dina (Homepage) on 2010-05-26 19:08

I thought it would encourage you to know that I prayed for you regarding this.

God's got your TB under control - though we do not always know his purposes.

#2 Kathryn (Homepage) on 2010-05-27 03:07

Hi! Your blog was recommended to me by our daughter and I thoroughly enjoy reading it. It is so encouraging to read your words. This is a quote from Samuel Longfellow that I thought you might like -
"Into all lives, in many simple, familiar, homely ways, God infuses this element of joy from the surprises of life, which unexpectedly brighten our days and fill our eyes with light."

#3 Laurel Jamieson on 2010-05-27 06:55

Ali-
I work in a nice US hospital. Part of my job is to file the TB test in physicians files.

So many have tested positive at one time or the other and have noted they have been on meds.

I think it is a work hazard of the health care field where ever you work.

#4 M on 2010-05-27 10:02

why is it that sometimes our minds are the hardest to shut down?!

even when we can look all around us and see that there are others worse off than us, our minds wont let us rest!

i hope you can keep resting in knowing that God sees you and loves you and even though we cant see our future, he can! i hope you find comfort in knowing that you are in His hands and even if things don't work out exactly as they should know He will surprise you with something you never expected!! Easier said than done sometimes! i know

thanks for your honesty and know that we are praying for you here in NC!!!
lots of love to you!

#5 jenn grant (Homepage) on 2010-05-27 10:28

Praying for you! For healing, and for gloriously puzzling peace.

#6 Lis on 2010-05-27 10:39

I have followed your story for 2 years now and love your stories and dedication...just wanted to let you know that I tested positive way back in 2003 and took the medicine, I have 2 beautiful chldren 10 and 6, you will be just fine !

#7 Kate on 2010-05-27 20:38

It will all be okay! My PPD converted when I was a 4th yr med student. I was in my first trimester of pregnancy. I was terrified of taking INH and having a CXR while pregnant, but 3 second opinions later from Infectious Disease docs, I realized I had to (or risk widespread TB and even placental TB I was told). Started after the first trimester was over. And my beautiful, smart 9 yr old is fine. That was here in the US.

Hang in there! I know you've been thru a lot with the hepatitis and everything. Not only are you doing amazing work over there, you help some of us following you out here on the Internet to find faith again - your blog is very important! Thank you for sharing your life.

#8 Connie on 2010-05-27 21:16

Psalm 103: 2 Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits- 3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases...
...when you lie awake at night, thank Him for healing you of this TB and know that it is done.
I'm not being glib about your condition, I'm encouraging you and myself to believe His word. And the rest that will follow will be sweet and refreshing to your body and spirit. blessings

#9 deb on 2010-05-28 13:34

God bless you and keep you and make his face shine on you and give you peace!
Thanks for sharing.

#10 helen on 2010-05-28 15:53

I don't know what God has in store for you, however I know what God says about you, and your future children. As I prayed endlessly with my father and cared for him during his last two months of his life here on earth, Psalm 139 was of special help in getting through the nights...especially vs. 13-18.
"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the saum of them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you."

Please know that my prayers will include you and your children, and your husband tonight. Your anxieties are natural and God is so good that we can cast our cares on him and that His grace is sufficient for all our trials and tribulations. It would be impossible for you to not be afflicted with medical anxieties, with all that you witness, and it is not a sin to grieve over your inflictions, hepatitus, TB or whatever else may come your way. This is a scary, gross world, ruled by the prince of darkness. God has claimed the victory, and said "It is finished." I hope that you will rest in God's word tonight.
Love Ginger

#11 Ginger on 2010-05-28 22:05