Christina, our kids, and I went on our first family camping experience (!) this past weekend. Yes, those of you who know us probably can't BELIEVE that we went camping... Well, we didn't go alone. We went camping with Greg and Joyce and their kids - a family we have grown close to at First Church. They are seasoned, accomplished campers. Good thing -- I would still be trying to set up the tent!
We camped in a campground in the Sequoia National Park, complete with such luxuries as flushless toilets!
Saturday (June 7) we decided to go for a hike on the Trail of 100 Giants. It was a very easy hike for the experienced outdoorspeople who came with us. It even had paved trails so we could push Dumisani's stroller! I was afraid we were crimping their style a bit, but they were good sports about it.
About half-way through our hike, Christina began to slow down. "I don't feel like I can breathe," she said as we walked to the nearest trailside bench. For a while we walked from one bench to another, until she got up from a bench, took a couple steps, and went backwards. We got her back on the bench, but weren't sure what we could do. She clearly wasn't breathing well.
A thousand thoughts screamed through my mind, the most prominent theme being, "Let's get her out of here..." Greg and his son were able to help carry her and I could help - but with my back, there might be two of us to carry before long, instead of just one.
Greg and I had her put her arms around our shoulders, thinking that we could at least balance her. She needed more support than just balance. Joyce and the kids went on ahead to find their way back to the parking lot to see if there was a wheelchair we could use. As they sped out of sight, I realized that in the stroller was our water bottle... smart!
A group of men had been around us for a few minutes by this time. As we struggled with Christina on the path, one of the men offered a bottle of electrolyte enhanced water. We received it gratefully and Christina began to drink.
I had noticed earlier on the trail that the man who offered the water had a t-shirt which read "sinner." As I got closer, I realized that in fine, red print there was a Scripture verse printed under "sinner."
When it became apparent that Christina needed more than water, the men behind us offered to carry her. We realized that God had arranged this. Three men who were Greg's height joined Greg in carrying Christina to our minivan.
A man named Bob walked beside me, and struck up a calming conversation. He shared with me that these men were from Saddleback Church, camping at a nearby Boy Scout camp for a weekend retreat. A man named Mike came up and asked permission to look at Christina. He was exceptionally gentle and thorough. Because of his manner I assumed he was an MD. I found out later he is an EMT. Whatever his credential, he and the men in the Saddleback Group helped save my wife's life. Not only did they care for her physically, but they prayed for and with us, too.
They sent members of their group to find help. About an hour later, an ambulance made it up the mountains to our location. All that time, Mike and other Saddleback men stayed with us.
We are thankful that her problem seemed to be related to elevation and not her heart (although her heart condition may have contributed to the severity of the problem). After oxygen, some protein, and lots of prayer, she was well enough to ride home in our vehicle, but not until she was evaluated by members of two ambulance teams, one of which was a helicopter ambulance team. Apparently, her situation was considered to be pretty serious at first.
I am grateful for our friends and their caring support. They took care of our girls and the baby and helped comfort our girls who were pretty concerned when their mother teetered on the edge of unconsciousness for a little while. I am also grateful for a group of men who stepped in and did the right thing. I hope I would have done the same, but I certainly would have first struggled with thoughts like, "They'll sue me if something goes wrong," or "I wonder if this is a set-up," or "Gosh, I feel terrible. I'll go alert authorities, but I don't have time to get involved."
In this case, the authorities had no resources to help us, but these men carried my wife, prayed for her, and stayed with us until help - which some of their members found for us - arrived on the scene.
So what did we learn? First of all, hiking above about 5,000 feet is probably not something Christina will be doing. Secondly, we learned again the value of doing the right thing regardless of inconvenience. Finally, we were reminded - by these men who were in the right place at the right time for us - that God is good, all the time.
