Bishop's Health

Bishop Health

As many of you have heard, I had a episode this past Friday that required me to be hospitalized. What happened is, I apparently had a mini stroke and experienced some disorientation, double vision, and was not aware of how I drove myself to Hopewell.

I left the house about 8am, to travel to Tidewater for a meeting with some pastors. While coming up to a red light, with cars stopped, I lost my concentration and bumped into the car in front of me. Thank the Lord, there was no damage. After getting out and exchanging phone numbers, I went back to the car and just sat there. Finally, the cars behind me honked the horn, so I continued driving down Rt 10 East. I should have gotten on I-95 South but I passed it and then I began having double vision. The cars looked like they were going through the trees and grass in the median to my left, so I tried to follow them. When I began to run of the road, I realized I was making a mistake, so I tried to move over to the right lane, but the cars honked their horn and so I stayed in the far left lane. That is basically the last thing I can remember until I arrived in Hopewell, about 6 miles down the road. In Hopewell, I remember thinking, "If I can just get to the RM Furniture Store maybe someone can help me." I don't know how I got there, but I found myself on the wrong side of the street, stopped, confused and disoriented. I called my wife and said "Something is wrong with me. I am in Hopewell and don't know how I got here." She works for Chesterfield County Fire and EMS, so she put someone else on the phone and they walked me through some instructions and then called the ambulance. The next thing I remember is, I am in the Hopewell Emergency Room. Wow! What an experience!

As I look back on the experience, I believe the Lord was with me keeping me from getting on I-95 or I-295. I would have been driving at a much faster speed and with the disorientation and double vision I experienced, it could have been fatal. I am so grateful for the Lord's protection and supernatural provision.

The doctors have run every conceivable test and have not been able to find out what caused, what they believe was a mini stroke. The doctors released me from the hospital on Sunday, but do not want me to drive until they feel certain I am not a risk for a repeat episode. I hope to be back in the office on Tuesday, Dec 2nd. I will be checking my email from home if you need to get in touch with me.

Obviously, an experience like this shakes you at the core of your being. It makes you reevaluate your priorities and your personal responsibility to care for your own body and mind. Because the doctors believe it was a mini stroke they have focused on my circulatory and neurological system. They have found that my blood pressure was high and that my cholesterol levels were not within a safe range. So, I am having to do some soul searching to decide how I am going to be a good steward of the body the Lord gave me. I am the one responsible for my own health, diet, exercise and a slower pace of life.

I am sharing the details of my experience because I believe as a leader we should model honesty and openness. It may also be a reminder for others to take care of themselves better. We only have one body and when that is gone our work on earth is done. So may we all be reminded, that a lot of people are depending on us - family, friends, co workers, etc. Let's not disappoint them.

Thank you for your prayers. I will keep in touch as things progress.

Bishop Dayton Birt
Redemption Ministries