Our 4th of July...

This happened yesterday and below is an email that my sister sent out to our friends reminding them to know CPR. I want to please urge all of you out there to know your CPR too!

I'm writing to let you know that my dad almost died this morning. After hearing the story, I thought you might be encouraged to know how worthwhile being CPR trained and having an up-to-date first aid kit really is.

My parents were at my grandma's lake cabin. It's about 30 miles from the nearest town with a very small hospital. Fortunately, it's the 4th of July, so there were some neighbors down the road (otherwise it can be quite isolated). My dad was doing some yardwork and got stung by a bee. He didn't know he was so allergic. He came in the cabin, passed out on the futon and couldn't breathe. He started sweating and his eyes rolled back. My mom couldn't get her cell phone to 911 to work so she went running down the road yelling for help. The neighbors were visiting and mowing so they couldn't hear her. When she reached them, they came running back with her(2 men and 2 women). They had an outdated epi-pen b/c they have a son/grandson with an allergy. However, he hadn't been coming out to the lake so the shot was 7 years old. The man froze and said his CPR had expired and he couldn't administer it. Mom said, "you have to; I don't know what to do!" At this point, the lady had reached 911 and mom almost passed out (later she was told she stayed remarkably calm).

Anyway, at this point, she went outside and began to do spiritual warfare praying(she couldn't stay there to watch him and felt so helpless)...God spoke to her and said he was going to be ok so she stopped praying. Later, the neighbors told her he had completely stopped breathing; they were just going to begin CPR when he took a breath. There was just enough in that old epi-pen to help him until the ambulance could get there. Finally (after about one hour), the ambulance arrived and took them both into town. The ambulance had stayed on the phone with the neighbor lady the whole time telling them exactly what to do. They cut my dad's shirt off and did what they needed to to keep him breathing. When he got into town, after x-rays, the dr. told mom he saw spots (she was still emotionally recovering from his near death and then had to think about cancer). It turned out they were just shadows so it's ok. Needless to say, he can't go anywhere without an epi-pen now.

The doctor told my parents they owe the neighbors a new epi-pen and a steak dinner because they saved his life.

So...keep your epi-pens and CPR up-to-date. We're thankful for God's grace for this day!

When my mom called I told her I was packing the kids up and we were heading out there...she told me to wait. She talked to my dad after he woke up in the hospital about us coming. My dad decided he wanted us to come when we can all have a fun time together! :) We praise the Lord for the neighbors that were there and that He used them to save my dad's life!

Oh by the way, are my mom and dad just the cutest couple!?!? I just love them so much!!!!!