Sharing Heartache, Rejoicing in Victory

One woman’s journey with coronavirus

(From the October - December 2020 issue of VOX)

Already suffering from a chronic lung disease, when Rosemary Sheldon contracted Covid-19, her doctors warned it could be extremely serious. Here is Rosemary’s story:

Rosemary and Colin Sheldon arrived in Ireland in the early 1970s from Canada and the UK. It was here that they met and married in 1975. About five years ago, Rosemary developed a terminal, chronic lung disease called Sjogren’s Disease.

“Every time, I came down with a slight cold, it would quickly develop into a breathing problem that needed strong antibiotics, steroids, nebulisers and usually a five-day stay in hospital,” Rosemary said.

During 2019, Rosemary and Colin were praising God that she had not been hospitalised all year but on 28 December, she was rushed into hospital. She spent most of January struggling to recover from a bout of flu.

“By February, I was beginning to get my strength back, and was once again involved in my church activities among ladies. By the middle of March, the pandemic virus was beginning to take root here in Ireland, and I sensed with my underlying health condition, it was necessary to self-isolate, which I did on 11 March,” Rosemary explained.

She seemed okay until 23 March when she became ill and was eventually sent to Accident and Emergency in Tallaght Hospital on 26 March. Unaware of her health condition and concerned that she might catch the virus, the doctor on duty sent her home. But by that same night the symptoms of Covid-19 were evident.

The following day Rosemary was sent back to hospital and within 24 hours, the test came back positive for coronavirus.

“When God is in control, we can trust Him, even if the way is difficult.”

“The amazing thing was during my brief time in A and E, a young Christian doctor whom we both know came and prayed with me. When God is in control, we can trust Him, even if the way is difficult,” Rosemary shared.

“I last saw Colin when he left me at the front door of A and E, as he could not come any further. 24-hours later, after the positive diagnosis, I told Colin on the phone I was in God’s hands, so not to worry. If I came home healed, it was God’s doing, and if God chose to take me home, my healing would be complete. Later on, my diabetic consultant came to see me, and explained the seriousness of the situation. He also phoned Colin, and our son Stephen. I told him what I had told Colin.”

Rosemary was put into a small room in isolation. On the Sunday morning, as she watched the Church service on TV, the speaker spoke from Ezekiel 37, about dry bones coming back to life. He also referred to the raising of Lazarus in John 11.

“As I thought through this message later, I believed in my heart, God was saying to me, ‘I will bring you through.’ God is in control, and He never fails,” Rosemary added.

However by Tuesday 31 March, Rosemary’s condition was deteriorating, and causing concern. Colin was told to keep his mobile phone on overnight. Immediately, Colin phoned two mission organisations in the UK and Canada for urgent prayer. Already there were many people in Ireland praying. To Colin’s amazement, from right around the world, people began telephoning, emailing and texting, and putting messages on social media platforms. So many people took up the challenge to pray, and Colin was uplifted by this groundswell of prayer.

The doctors, nurses, carers, cleaners, and people bringing in food were like ministering angels. Even though they were covered from head to foot, they brought words of cheer.

By 7 April, Rosemary was at a low ebb and began to feel “enough was enough;” maybe it was time to go home to the Lord. “He is there with a place waiting for me. It is not fair all this prodding with needles. It’s too much,” she thought.

What she didn’t realise was the medication had started working. That same night, she woke at around 3am with the realisation that something had changed.

“I felt different. I even sent a message to Colin at that time to wake him up with the news. Prayer was being answered and God was at work.

“Would you believe, God gave me a Christian nurse? She came from Australia two years previous to find out more about her Irish family. Taylor was God’s choice to encourage me through this dark period. We later discovered Taylor is a distant relative of our neighbour, two doors down the street from us. It can only happen in Ireland.”

Moved to a new ward, Rosemary found herself in a bigger room with four large windows. As Colin could not visit, they stayed in touch by WhatsApp, putting on the camera so they could see each other. “On occasions Colin would put his phone on the piano, and play songs of faith to encourage me. I had daily chats with my family. The Bethany Church family in Dublin came up trumps, providing hot meals for Colin each day. In all of this, our son Stephen came down with the virus too. As he is younger and healthy, he got through it quicker through sleeping and self-isolation. By the time the results came through, he was over the virus, and back working from home. Colin kept well, and did not suffer from any of the symptoms. “

“Colin and I were spectators of what God did through people who took up the challenge to pray.”

On Colin’s birthday Rosemary came home from hospital. Some of the staff clapped as she was wheeled out of the ward. Colin had arranged for a stair lift to be installed in their home, and he was able to get the oxygen she needed.

“The amazing thing about all of this is that Colin and I were spectators of what God did through people who took up the challenge to pray. We have a song we sing in Bethany Church,” Rosemary said.

I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God,

I’ve been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood!

Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,

For I’m part of the family, the family of God.

When one has a heartache, we all share the tears,

And rejoice in each victory in this family so dear.

As each day passed, Rosemary began to gain strength first to do things around the home, and later to go for short walks. In early June, she was taken off 24/7 oxygen, and only needed it when going out for walks.

“I was asked to write my story of my Covid-19 experience for a ladies group in Canada. Within a short space of time I was receiving messages from families and friends in Ireland and from around the world, thanking me. But really it is God’s story because people took up the challenge to pray. So we continue to give thanks to our Heavenly Father for all His care.

“However, we are conscious that for some people, the outcome has been different. Our prayers are with their families at this time, that they will know God’s strength and comfort.”