Gayla's Magazine

Hospital Tips for Covid Restrictions

Being stopped at the Hospital door and not allowed to go in to assist your very sick loved one is overwhelming to say the least! But there are ways to help your loved one in the hospital during Covid restrictions. While it’s certainly a challenge, the phone is your lifeline and eyes now.... keep it fully charged and the ringer on at all times. Your people skills will need to be applied to provide support for your sick family member. It’s a challenge for both the patient and the family member for sure, but here are some ways that can provide some solutions when you feel helpless to help.

For several days I was at a real loss and suffered anxiety until I started figuring out by myself what to do. After 5 days in ICU my husband was moved to a regular room, and by then I had started figuring out what to do to help VIRTUALLY. Maybe this information will help someone else in this situation as well. I have written these top tips simply to help others understand what they can do long distance when they can’t be right there beside their own loved one.

 

1. Questions:

Start making a list of questions you will have to ask the people who are involved in their care. Each day new questions may arise... it will give you peace of mind to be prepared when you talk to his/her caregivers.

 

2. Answers:

Each phone call make good notes as to who you are talking to, what part of the body are they involved in treating, what was said and the medications that are given and what side effects it might cause. This is your ONLY way to keep connections in the big maze of healthcare done when you can’t be there. They are just voices over the phone unless you make good notes w dates and times and names. That way you can help your loved one to understand what’s happening in their care.

 

3. Understand:

There are multiple Drs involved in their care. Each dept cares for a different body part. While this can give expert care to the patient, you can get confused easily unless you clearly know who the ‘blood dr’ is and who the ‘kidney dr’ is! Write each name and 'body part' down that they are taking care of.... this information is extremely helpful in all the confusion of the medical  care being given. 

 

4. Staff:

Each day and night there will be a different staff set that’s caring for them. Find out the nurse’s names, call the nurses station, introduce yourself and ask when is the best time to check in with them for updates daily. This lets them know you will be involved in the care of your loved one. Show appreciation for their personal care .... it could go a long way for better attention and helps them to know their patient from a more personal perspective. Then call every day just to check in.

5. Doctor:

Find out the name of the attending Resident Dr of the floor where your beloved is. And figure out how to get ahold of him/her if an emergency arises. I learned this the hard way!

6. Observation:

FaceTime daily with your honey and ask for them to show you the room. That way you can visually but silently see the upkeep or lack of it and make a note to talk about it w the staff. Don’t be afraid to ask the staff....you are the only eyes and ears that love him/her and what you see or find out is important on their recovery. Get food trays removed, clothes pick up off the floor and fresh blankets with your daily staffer calls.

 

7. Phone Calls:

Have your patient call you or request the Dr to call you while the Dr is in the room so you can hear and understand what’s happening. Make sure your phone number is given to Drs and staff.

 

8. Meals:

Eating is an issue for one who is very ill.... find out if they need liquids, a soft diet, regular or diabetic meals? They can’t just order off a menu, understand the timing the order must happen or choose best options for their dietary needs or they are not able to reach the phone. They are SICK. This needs to be addressed with the nursing staff each day.... if this isn’t addressed the patient simply will not eat or be fed. Ask me I know.

 

9. Who Can Help:

Find the Patient Advocacy dept and call them. Make a friend in this area and explore how they can help your loved one. They know you are extra worried because you are not allowed to be there and that can make a difference.

 

10. Charge Nurse:

When there is something going wrong medically and the nurse doesn’t seem to be in control, too busy or have the information at hand. You can call the Charge Nurse. This person is in charge of the floor and they can go make an assessment and see what the emergency is and make a decision to get help quickly.

 

11. PC Doctors:

Stay in touch with the patient’s PC Dr. This person will be able to help if they know pain levels, bleeding, new symptoms ect. They will have sent you to the hospital where they have hospital privileges. A PC Dr will know the procedures to follow, know the staffer/Drs in charge and help with care. They can go and come from there while you can’t and they will keep you informed as well.

 

12. Loved one:

The last phone call of each day pray with your loved one. You want the last voice they hear for the day to be positive, life giving and full of faith that God is with them through this situation. He is there when you cannot be..... and God loves them MORE than even you do. So pray.

 

Dr Gayla Holley

Christian Counselor

Message to Afghanistan’s Christians

Afghanistan… stand strong! Be bold! The Armies of Heaven and the Lord Himself stands beside you. Hold your heads up and look for your deliverance. There are millions of believers praying for you all. Do not be afraid, your redemption draws nigh. Even today. You have the eternal victory… be covered in the Might of God and let your voices proclaim the King of Kings. For you belong to a Kingdom not of this world and this present darkness cannot prevail over you. Pass thru easily and release your mighty voices in the last shout on earth and the first shout in Glory. You will shine like the stars in the crowns you shall receive eternally. Go with God our prayers are covering you this very day!

https://youtu.be/9dowS2k2TS4

Covid19!

  

The time for 'ease in Zion' is over..... no more comfort zones of just hearing the Word and being relaxed in nice comfortable surroundings and let someone spoon feed us.  With Covid19, the church has arisen and is beginning to feed herself from the table of God's Word.  Time to get up.... time to put on the armor of God.... time to enlist the energies of faith itself for personal strength.  

Who knows if God allowed this to awaken the church at large? To see what the level of our own spiritual strength is?  How much depth do we have as believers when 'church' is no longer available?  To take our own spiritual temperature and see if we are on fire for God, or just lukewarm after all.  Do we have to have a church service to feel 'connected to God'?  Or will we see the wisdom of God and have 'church' for our own selves daily in our own homes and hearts.  Where is the zeal shut up in our bones, and where is the anointing hovering over our own hearts.  

Rise!  Stand! Speak the Word of God for yourself! The years of pew setting are over, stand up and proclaim Christ alive in your own life.  Wake up sleepy head, it's time to go into the fields and reap the harvest.... for the King may arrive at any moment.  May He find us all alert, awake and about the Father's business this very day.  Arise church...... trim your lamps ....... arise!  

Perspectives...

Boy has my perspective about life changed!

I CANNOT even begin to tell of the massive changes that have happened in my life in the last season- 2015 onwards.  

The Loss of all things that were my 'normal' life of ministry, a MASSIVE change for me after 40+ years.... There is way too much to post here, but down the road details will be given over time. Talk about CHANGE my perspective over how I was comfortable with my ministry life! You have no idea. 

The loss of both of my parents within a very short time of each other. 

The loss of a hero nephew due to suffering from PTSD after major war trauma.  

And now for the REALLY BIG ONE...... My husband's fight with invasive cancer - this fight is happening now, every day and every minute. We have been together 43 years at the writing of this post.  He needs me and I need him! It's a fight and we are a team in this. 

Leaky eyes? You bet! 

Yet I must say...... when I look back at my journals, the many words and dreams the Lord had given to me, He was preparing me for all of this.  The ONE thing..... the ONE thing that has remained steady and steadfast in my life is Him.  Jesus.  The Holy Spirit has held me upright countless days and nights and the ongoing adventure of life itself has brought many surprises that I had no idea were behind the losses.

God's purpose for my life, gives me a new perspective.  After all ..... I am just one character in the Book that God is writing of my life.  

Still learning..... still working on my perspectives over all....

                                   but slowly I'm becoming more dependent and trusting in His ability to lead and take care of me.  He's clearly in charge, not me. 

And now Coronavirus?   God's in charge of me - not you. I'm doing my part to stay safe, and God is doing His part over my life.  

 My perspectives have evolved over time.  Is there anything too hard for God? No. period no. My part is to stay yielded to His plan for me. He can do exceedingly, abundantly above all I can think or ask, true.  But submission is not submission until you have to submit to God's plan.   The battle is not mine, it's the Lords.  And so is my life..... every little detail of it. 

Perspectives....... It's a deep vein of thought i find myself in.  

 

 

 

 

The Lord is on YOUR side!

 

 

This morning I had a full list of things I WANTED to do. After being away from home for a couple of days I needed to complete some tasks.

 Preparing to begin my day my quiet time was asking for God's help for the day ..... then this whisper slips into my thoughts.

 "The Lord is on your side.... so leave your mark where ever you go today....Smile! Touch lives!"

Suddenly there was a joy from down deep inside, an enthusiasm, an excitement about my day as I thought about INTENTIONAL living and leaving a personal mark on every life I came in touch with today.  Oh what a wonderful day it has been for me.  Filled with surprises and unexpected blessings. 

Think about doing this yourself
...... 

"The Lord is on YOUR side..... so leave your mark where ever you do today..... Smile!  Touch lives!" 

You will be surprised what happens in your day.  

My Instagram Message to You

Slow Down to Make Progress Ahead

Being married 43+ years (at the time of this writing) has brought us through many countries, cultures and belief systems in this old world.  Now  that our time isn't sooooo crammed with schedules and trying to please so many people, there is more of a chance to analyze and think about our experiences together through the years. To work smarter not harder.   While standing in this elegant hallway I was thinking about the past travels and how far we had come in life.  This picture is a paradox - we were trying to go 'slow' - but were moving across the waves at a fast pace.  How can you go slow and fast at the same time? 

Well I think it has something to do with the size of the vessel you are in.  If you travel in a small vehicle, going 40 miles an hour can feel quite fast.  But if you are in a large motor coach, going 40 feels like you are crawling. If you are on the water - traveling in a small boat can be a tossing experience in the waves - but in a cruise ship the waves feel like nothing! 

It depends on where you are in life as to how much the wind and the waves can affect you.  After a lifetime of marriage and seeing many 'waves and stormy winds'  - small squalls are nothing.  Our going 'slower' now doesn't mean at all that we are crawling along.  Not on your life!  Rather it means we have concentrated our efforts, doubled our energies, and made our next season one of experience loaded moves!  

Less is more now..... we slowed down so we can move ahead with greater purpose!  

 

 

The Benches

What does this picture speak to you? Two benches, falling leaves and you. 

To me it says...... the  crisp air of Autumn, the gently falling colorful leaves, my fall boots, sweaters and scarves I forgot I owned, it's a nice fall experience of life.  Add a pumpkin spice coffee and here would be the makings of a perfectly lovely afternoon.  

Sadly...... women in ministry are far too busy to stop and enjoy the sights, smells, tastes, feelings and the warmth of God's changing nature.  And beyond the explosion of senses?  The inability to set and absorb the Presence of the Lord personally..... alone.... in quiet solitude. It's this, that  is lost. We. Are. Too. Busy. 

BUT ...... THIS is exactly what you need to do.  To regain your balance, your peace of mind and your personal inner sanctuary with God.  

If you have to schedule it in - pencil in an appointment for yourself - it can be essential to your wellbeing.  You've often heard about 'stopping to smell the roses'? Same concept - but a different season in life.  Do you know what season you are in? Are you prepared emotionally for what's coming next? 

When leaves are dying and trees are going into a period of rest such as Fall into Winter - so we should watch, learn and also change our mindset about all functions in our lives. Every part of life cycles naturally - do we?

Find a spot outside, get alone, watch God's creation and listen for His whispers in your heart. You will be refreshed in a new way privately as well as become prepared.

Your bench awaits...... God is already setting there on His bench, just waiting on you.    

Tea Madam?

Have a cuppa with me...... Lets talk about Fall and 'turning over a new leaf' in our lives.  

When a season changes in ones life, transition can be confusing, scary and make one insecure about the future.  Who can make any long range goals when change is in the air?  Yet the seasons of nature show us that change is natural and normal in it's various stages of life.  Babies grow into toddlers, toddlers into terrible twos, and they turn into children who turn into preteens who become teenagers, then slide into young adults.... and on and on.  You get the point.  20's..... 30's..... 40's... 50's and then the awesome 60's happen etc.  

What stage are you at? Where are you on the 'age change' scale?  What about the ministry changes that occur?  I have lived long enough to come through various stages of ministry some happy, and some were heartbreaking.  Some made perfect sense and others caused me grief.  But it's only later on that the full picture comes into view, and I ALWAYS say..... "Oh!  Now I get it!  Thank you God for not listening to me.  You knew what was best for me!"  

Now sip your tea and take a good look at your seasonal change.  The autumn of the year has often been my season of change. Has it been yours?  

Now I look forward to my next stage of life and ministry.  It's all good. I've seen the end result of trusting God with changes I can't control.  

Hey..... different is good!  It's going to end in a great position of blessing - hang on pumpkin!  

What's Up?

Sharing my heart with you... with just little 3 minute videos helps us to bond and stick together! Enjoy! Fyi I post everyday to my Facebook page... Lots of little tidbits of life, experiences and inspirations!