BAMACAJUN'S - 
ABOUT ME
I'm 62, originally from Morgan City, Louisiana. Moved to Ozark, Alabama in 1999, where I married my soul mate,
Together (we were both married before) we have 5 children (3 daughters and 2 sons) and 11 grandchildren.
I work just about full time on Genealogy and learning HTML by designing this web page. Enjoy reading, crossword puzzles and just about anything that occupies my mind and keeps me busy. Trying to get back into studying the Bible, especially eschotology, ("End Times"). She left her job back in May 07 to take care of me. I couldn't have a better nurse or companion. She loves to cook and bake. To me, she is equal to Paula Deen (that's her idol). She plays the piano (after 6 lessons) and plays from her heart. She has been asked to play at several churchs in the area and plays for weddings and furnerals. A family member of her deceased husband gave her an upright piano recently which we now have in our living room. I could fall asleep listening to her play. One day I hope to get a recording made so I can post something here. She has a given knack with children, they love her. Since we both are in our "experienced" years, the closest we come to OUR children is Petey, our 3 year old Boston Terrior.
I know I'm still here today only because of the many prayers that have been offered up for me and by the grace of the good Lord. I'm on many prayer lists, not only here but everywhere I have relatives, friends and especially my co-workers. Our heartfelt thanks and prayers go out to all of you. May God bless.
In July of 2002, I was working in our yard cutting the grass. It was hot, with no breeze, but I was use to it being from way south Louisiana. I had been at it for a couple of hours and suddenly had a sharp pain in my chest. Well, I passed it off as indigestion from the sinus infection I had and continued on. About 10 minutes later I had another which put me to my knees. I only had a little left to cut so I asked the good Lord to let me finish. I got up and started singing (you don't want to be around when I sing) "Lord Help Me Jesus" sung by Kris Kristofferson. For me, at the time, the strangest thing happened. A cool breeze started blowing, but it was NOT like the typical July summer breeze in southeast Alabama. It was a very refreshing breeze, cool, clean, and crisp. Not only did I finish cutting the section I had targeted for that day, I finished the whole back yard. I can assure you we have a big, slopping backyard. I told my wife about it when she came home from work. That night and the next day my "heartburn" continued, so fulfilling her request I went to the doctor she worked for and he referred me to an ENT. During the exam, the ENT doctor found what he thought was a "spot". Knowing the situation with my sister, he wanted to go in and take a look and get a culture. First, though I had to have an EKG because of my family history. The EKG said no-no, no way jose, nadda. I had a blockage. I was then sent to a cardiologist. She ordered a heart cath. The report came back and showed that my main artery was 98% blocked with the secondary artery 95% blocked. She said "you're going to the hospital NOW!!! My wife and I, at first were shocked. We asked if I could go home, get clothes and things i would need. The doctor said NO.!!! She told us that had I not gone to the doctor I wouldn't have lived 30 days. She said I needed a double by-pass and left the room to make the arrangements. We held one another, prayed and from that moment on (we were very concerned up to that moment) we felt peaceful and calm. I was rushed to the hospital via ambulance. My family from Louisiana and my in-laws from Mississippi came in, as well as our local family all were there to be with us. My surgery was delayed for a week and I was sent home. At the end of July I was operated on, ending up with 4 bypasses. (My wife had had 6 bypasses done in 1998) That was on a Wednesday morning. Three days later I was sent home feeling "fit as a fiddle". The next day, Sunday, I went to church with my wife!!! The congregation was amazed, but we all knew who and why. For the next 3 months I recovered at home and from the time of surgery until returning to work, I recovered without pain or pain medication. I feel that from the moment the doctor told me I had to have surgery thru the operation, I was in a state of grace. Why me? I feel that Jesus "walked for and with me!!! Thank You Jesus!!!
In 2004, I was driving to work when suddenly I had a terrific "shock" in my head. I shook my head and turned my car signal on to turn onto the road going onto Fort Rucker a military base where I worked. I don't remember much after that other than waking up in a field (luckily an open field which had a small road accessing it) and a lady shoutin "Are you alright, sir, are you ok?" I guess I answered her because the next thing I remembered was a four lane road with 2 trucks in front of me. My vision was very blurred and my eyes burned. (in reality, the road is only a two-lane road and there was only 1 truck). I had already passed thru a security check- point, showed my id to the guard and drove through winding concrete barricades. It was hard enough driving thru them sane and sober muchless the condition I was in. I drove another 2 miles to the parking lot, parking perfectly (I waited almost a month before going to get my car. I didn't know what kind of shape it was in) between 2 other cars. I tried to get into the doorway, but was pushing and banging on it, instead of pulling on it. A co-worker came to the door and helped into a chair. A dear friend of my wife called her and told her i needed to get to the hospital. The doctor in emergency said that the symptoms I described were that of a TIA (transient eschamic attack), or stoke. I had the scope done and sure enough my right cartodic artery was 98% blocked and that probably a piece had broken out and went thru my bloodstream crossing my optic senses. If it had gone straight up instead of across it would or could have killed me. Again, to the hospital, surgery AND again without any pain or pain medication. I was back up and at em in a few days. Another song by Kris comes to mind "Why Me Lord". Jesus walked with me again.!!! Thank You Jesus!!!
March 2006, I started swelling, gaining weight like crazy. I went from 138 pounds to 202 pounds in 17 days. I couldn't wear any of my normal clothes or shoes. I was diagnosed with neuphrotic sydrome, a childhood infection of the kidneys. The doctor put me on steroids and after a few months said I was in kidney failure. I was off work for 6 months returning in November. That day, sitting at my desk I gained 8 pounds. My co-workers said they could see me "enlarging". The doctor's ordered another biopsy which revealed that I DID NOT have neuphrotic sydrome, but had glomerulonephritis, the final stage into complete kidney failure. I had been treated by the doctors for the wrong illiness with the wrong medication. I often wonder if I would be in ESRD (end-stage renal disease) if they would have diagnosed me properly. Today I undergo dialysis 3 days a week, 4 hours each day. I'm on a very strict diet and liquid intake. My kidneys are working but not enough to keep me alive. I had to medically retire and am very limited in what I do. I am able to walk, drive and work around the house and in the yard some. One nice lady I have in my dialysis session, who also has diabetes, recently lost both of her legs. Another has lost her eyesight. Many are brought in in wheelchairs, some use canes. Some don't even have family, they are in homes for the elderly. I, can do on my own. I can get a kidney transplant and be just about normal. I do have two doners, my daughter and my stepdaughter who is like my own. They are both young and I'm trying to consider their future. My life is what I made it, and I feel truly blessed that I am alive today, even though not in the best of health. IT COULD BE WORSE. Again, Thank You Jesus!!!
Each time I've had surgery, if you've had any major surgery, you'll know what I'm talking about. The surgery table has an arm on each side that they pull out, resembling a cross. As I laid there, arms secured to the "cross", looking up at the bright light, my eyes start watering. I think of Jesus on his cross, not complaining, not trying to fight what destiny and his father predestined for him. That he had to die to pay for OUR sins. His words come to mind "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." He forgave us.What was he thinking, what was he feeling? I pray that he felt as I did thru my ordeals, no pain, no suffering, just pure grace. My wife and I feel that all of this is training and does have an end purpose. What that purpose is, we have to be patient. The good Lord works in mysterious ways and will reveal all when he is ready. I have to be sure that I am.
Here's something I found years ago that I've kept around. I wish I could remember where I got it from to give credit to the author.
A man found a cocoon for a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared, he sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through the little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and could go no farther. Then the man decided to help the butterfly.
He took a pair of scissors and snipped the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily. Something was strange. The butterfly had a swollen body and shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time. Neither happened. In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and deformed wings. It was never able to fly.
What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand, was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the small opening of the cocoon are God`s way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon. Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life.
If God allowed us to go through all our life without any obstacles, that would cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been. Not only that, we could never fly.
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