It happened on Monday night before I had an appointment the following day with a surgeon. We were to discuss surgery, nursing home care, and other problems with pain in my left arm.

I was “taking care of business” and I’m not sure what happened, but suddenly I ended up wedged between the toilet and the cabinet. My right leg was in the air and my left one was caught between the toilet and the power chair. The telephone was hanging in the pocket on the other side of the power chair so I had no way to call for help.

I thought about all the suggestions I had heard concerning the alert systems that would involve monthly payments. I had one in the early days, but it was of no use outside so I felt no need to waste money in the summertime.

With all the times I’ve fallen, I have been able to reach the telephone to call for help. Perhaps this was the Lord’s way of telling me now is the time to make a wise decision to purchase an alert system.

I was lying there having a discussion (prayer) about where was all that strength that I’ve claimed in Philippians 4:13. I didn’t feel any weaker than normal, but I was trapped!

So I yelled and banged on the cabinet knowing that no one on this earth could hear me, but that the Lord knew every thought I was having, every plan he had, and what the results would be. After about two hours, I settled down and accepted the fact that I would be there until someone came to check on me, probably the next day when I didn’t answer the phone. I doubted that my daughters would call again that night and my next-door neighbor who has picked me up several times would not come unless I called. My neighborhood friend whom I talk with late at night is in the nursing home recovering from surgery. I had resigned myself to being there all night and began to count my blessings as opposed to cursing. I had been having trouble with my feet and legs swelling and “weeping” so the nurse had come and wrapped my legs as Dr. Malone had ordered once before. So my feet and legs were not cold and I had on my bed jacket. Those were blessings since sometimes I get too cold. I took three rolls of toilet tissue out of the stacker and used those to pillow my head which raised my neck and helped me to feel a little more comfortable.

I had recently sent a story to “Angels” magazine about some of the angels in my life so I didn’t think the Lord would object to my asking Him to send an angel. I told him I was ready to leave this world and have said many times I hope to die in my sleep. But the appearance of an angel assured me an opportunity to write another story about my Lord and Savior.

I have been having more trouble with confusion and forgetfulness. So I had forgotten that my friend, Marcia Kirtley, had called early in the day to ask if I would like to have a dessert. She thought she would be coming around eight o’clock, but was delayed and arrived at 8:40. I had left the door unlocked (something most people do not agree with), but when I heard the door open and her sweet voice, I remembered the earlier phone call.

“Marcia, please call 911! I’m on the floor in the bathroom.” This column is going to be too long so I will have to write about the rescue later. But it was not long before everyone was gone. My friend and I sat down to enjoy tasting about five samples of different desserts and I knew once again God had answered my prayer for an Angel! Thanks to God and my good friend, Marcia, who is an angel I will never forget!