El hospital, a blood clot, and your prayers

Blood clot for Hermana Emily

Sister Emily last night went into the hospital with a blood clot...as some of you know, this factor V (a blood clotting factor) runs in our family; several of us have tested positive for it. It increases the chances for a blood clot developing, and we're thankful so far that Emily has been the only who's had to deal with a clot. However, we also are not happy that she has to enjoy it, especially now.

Emily is scheduled to depart the MTC this coming Wednesday with her district; if her pulmonologist (blood doctor) thinks she's stable, she's good to go. If not, she'll have to stay behind while her companions leave and she'll be brought into another district entering the MTC. We're hoping the latter doesn't happen, though; she's a bit (!) bummed about being in the hospital now.

Blood clot blessings

We're grateful that Emily has been through this before and was wise to the symptoms and warning signs of a blood clot and acted on it before really serious things happened; as it is, there is some clotting in her lungs. So, no one is rejoicing at this, but we are counting are blessings that she's under excellent care and is not on a plane where her risks go up.

This is also a re-confirmation that Emily was called to the mission she was for a reason, and that Heavenly Father is aware of her--at this point, she'll need monthly checkups, and the chances she'd get the care she needs outside of the U.S. isn't fantastic.

Emily is waiting to see a doctor today to learn if she can be released (albeit cautiously) back into the MTC. Haha, makes it sound like tadpoles or something. Anyway, please keep Emily in your prayers, specifically asking Heavenly Father that He would help Emily to be comforted, stabilized, and able to leave the MTC for Anaheim on Wednesday as planned.

Tomorrow (Sunday), we'll be fasting and praying for Emily for this purpose. If you can, please join us. Personally, I love when I have the opportunity to fast for something beyond little silly me--it makes me feel like I'm needed and it's certainly powerful. It has the power to unite.

Fast story about fasting

A little side note: in our Provo ward last year, our ward family fasted for a young father who had a fairly progressed cancer and was heading into chemotherapy. The next fast and testimony meeting, he and his wife both bore their testimonies that fasting did work--another medical miracle had happened after only a very, very short time and beyond logical, human reasoning, and the cancer was gone. That was a testimony to me, too, that Heavenly Father waits to bless us and that joining together for something like this can expedite those blessings. We have faith that this will happen in Emily's case, too.

Edit: Emily is not dying

Word on the street is that maybe my post is a little dramatic. Well, to me, a blood clot is dramatic, and being in the hospital is dramatic, too. However, this is not life-threatening and as my mom said in an e-mail, it's just "a little speed bump." True. So, disregard any flair for the dramatic I may have demonstrated, and know that while it's not cool, Emily is not in any kind of critical condition. However, prayer is still good. Okay.