It was so good to be back in worship with our church family yesterday. I was so blessed to join our friends and church family in praising the Lord. It seemed that the blood was not the only thing that seemed to flow easier since my heart cath. The praise in my heart seemed to flow unhindered as well. The words seemed to pour from my heart and not just my lips. I had many reasons to praise the Lord; one of which was the ability to quickly return to my wonderful, loving church family.
I also enjoyed being in the pulpit, preaching the word. It was as though God were showing me that he was going to continue to fulfill his calling on my life. When you go through a crisis, it is good to know that God is still waiting to use you for his glory on the other side of the crisis. Once again, God has shown himself faithful to me and my family. This past Sunday was filled with many evidences of his faithfulness, thus, it was easy to praise the Lord with all my heart.
With all my HEART,
Bro. Wade
Monday, January 28, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
First Day of Rehab
Today was my first day to attend Cardiac Rehab at Valley Baptist Medical Center. The class starts at 7:45 a.m. where I have my blood pressure and sugar tested. It then put on my heart monitor and we start warm-ups. Today I began my exercise with a 20 minute ride on a stationary bike. It was a good feeling, as I have been wanting to get some exercise. I struggled to keep the pace down to the speed they wanted me at on my first day. I actually felt more comfortable going faster, but they were wanting to evaluate my heart rate at the lower speeds on the first few days. All my vital signs are looking great.
I will attend Cardiac Rehab 3 days each week. However, I am looking forward to my leisure bike ride with my kids in the neighborhood, it has become our quality family time as of late and we all enjoy it so much. Rachel asks each day when I can go for a bike ride. It tell her it won't be long.
I truly am enjoying be home with the family each afternoon and night. I told the kids that we are having "family night" for two weeks - they loved the idea.
Once again, thanks for the prayers,
Bro. Wade
I will attend Cardiac Rehab 3 days each week. However, I am looking forward to my leisure bike ride with my kids in the neighborhood, it has become our quality family time as of late and we all enjoy it so much. Rachel asks each day when I can go for a bike ride. It tell her it won't be long.
I truly am enjoying be home with the family each afternoon and night. I told the kids that we are having "family night" for two weeks - they loved the idea.
Once again, thanks for the prayers,
Bro. Wade
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Answer to Prayer
I am truly a walking answer to prayer. I have fully experienced the power of God's people praying and believe I am healed today because of it. I have been grateful to be a prayer warrior for others in similar positions, but being on this side of the prayer equation reminds me just how powerful prayer can truly be.
Jennifer and I have been amazed at the number of people who have been praying for us. We wish we could say "thank you" to each person, but it is not physically possible. We were amazed to hear of the many churches in Harlingen, the valley, Texas, Arkansas, and around the world who took the time to pray for us this Sunday morning. The many pastors and teachers who took the time to lead their churches to pray for our family have humbled us by their compassion and love.
Sometimes we never know how much we are loved until we are in a time of need, and our family has truly felt loved. Thank you for loving us enough to pray for us. Thank you for caring enough to intercede for us with the heavenly father.
a Living Answer to Prayer,
Bro. Wade
Jennifer and I have been amazed at the number of people who have been praying for us. We wish we could say "thank you" to each person, but it is not physically possible. We were amazed to hear of the many churches in Harlingen, the valley, Texas, Arkansas, and around the world who took the time to pray for us this Sunday morning. The many pastors and teachers who took the time to lead their churches to pray for our family have humbled us by their compassion and love.
Sometimes we never know how much we are loved until we are in a time of need, and our family has truly felt loved. Thank you for loving us enough to pray for us. Thank you for caring enough to intercede for us with the heavenly father.
a Living Answer to Prayer,
Bro. Wade
Overwhelmed with Love
Going through a crisis situation is so much easier if you don't go through it alone. This past week our family experienced this again. We were so blessed to see how the body of Christ responded to us in our time of need.
Many of our friends who are physicians and nurses came to our aid at the hospital in minutes of our arrival and they continued to care for me and my family through the days and nights that followed.
Many of our friends who work at the hospital came to check on us and they cared for Jennifer, which in turn helped me.
Our great and caring ministerial staff from First Baptist Harlingen proved once again that they really care about their church family, and this time it was expressed toward my family.
Many sent emails and text messages around the world in just a few hours, enlisting prayer warriors to stand in the gap for my family. We have heard from so many around the country who have shared their compassion with us.
Still others have provided tangible things, like child care, meals, cards, and plants. Each filling a different need in our lives at just the right time.
Needless to say, we have been overwhelmed with love and we are grateful to all.
Thank you for being Jesus to the Hood family,
Bro. Wade
Many of our friends who are physicians and nurses came to our aid at the hospital in minutes of our arrival and they continued to care for me and my family through the days and nights that followed.
Many of our friends who work at the hospital came to check on us and they cared for Jennifer, which in turn helped me.
Our great and caring ministerial staff from First Baptist Harlingen proved once again that they really care about their church family, and this time it was expressed toward my family.
Many sent emails and text messages around the world in just a few hours, enlisting prayer warriors to stand in the gap for my family. We have heard from so many around the country who have shared their compassion with us.
Still others have provided tangible things, like child care, meals, cards, and plants. Each filling a different need in our lives at just the right time.
Needless to say, we have been overwhelmed with love and we are grateful to all.
Thank you for being Jesus to the Hood family,
Bro. Wade
Tough Day for the Hood Family
Thursday (January 17) was not an easy day for the Hood family. After returning a few emails, eating breakfast, and taking a quick morning bike ride, I experienced a severe headache, some chest pain and tingling in the left arm. After taking some aspirin, Jennifer drove me to the Emergency Room where we began a long journey of discovering what had happened. After a few nitro pills and some other medications to relax my body and reduce my soaring blood pressure, I felt much better and we began to think that I had not had a heart attack. But as evening approached, the proverbial elephant on my chest grew heavier. I then received two more nitro pills and eventually a nitro IV drip was needed to remove the pain. The plan had been to take a stress test on Friday morning, however, the blood enzyme tests revealed that I had indeed experienced a heart attack and the pain revealed that I needed a heart cath by early morning at the latest.
The next morning, my cardiologist performed a heart cath on me and discovered that one of my main arteries was 100% closed. The other vessels were clear so he cleared the blockage and placed a stint. There did not seem to be much damage and the heart was recovering well. I recovered in CCU and then PCCU for two days and was released on Sunday morning.
I will be taking many new medications for the rest of my life, but I am expected to make a full recovery and lead a very normal life. I should be back to regular excercise in just a few weeks. I will take a few weeks off from work, continuing to preach on Sundays, and then adjust back to full time the following two weeks.
It was a tough day for the Hood family, but there was no fear in our hearts, it was just tough for each of us to watch the other having to go through it. God carried us through and he deserves the praise.
Saved by grace and ALIVE by grace,
Bro. Wade
The next morning, my cardiologist performed a heart cath on me and discovered that one of my main arteries was 100% closed. The other vessels were clear so he cleared the blockage and placed a stint. There did not seem to be much damage and the heart was recovering well. I recovered in CCU and then PCCU for two days and was released on Sunday morning.
I will be taking many new medications for the rest of my life, but I am expected to make a full recovery and lead a very normal life. I should be back to regular excercise in just a few weeks. I will take a few weeks off from work, continuing to preach on Sundays, and then adjust back to full time the following two weeks.
It was a tough day for the Hood family, but there was no fear in our hearts, it was just tough for each of us to watch the other having to go through it. God carried us through and he deserves the praise.
Saved by grace and ALIVE by grace,
Bro. Wade
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