Joni and Friends, the leading global ministry serving people impacted by disability announced that founder, Joni Eareckson Tada, was hospitalized on March 29, 2019. The disability advocate spent 14 days in the hospital being treated for pneumonia before being released on Tuesday, April 9, 2019.
Here’s what she said:
It’s been quite a journey since March 27th when Ken rushed me to ER. Basically, over the many years, my chronic quadriplegia has put a strain on my heart and lungs. The good news is, doctors believe that with medication and with a more efficient way of breathing, my condition can be reversed.
My assignment over the last 14 days of hospitalization was straight out of Acts 20:24, “But life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about God’s almighty kindness and love” (TLB). When nurses and aides, respiratory therapists, and doctors asked how I was doing, I could say, ‘Jesus gives me His peace. It’s not as the world gives, so my heart’s not troubled and I’m not afraid.’ Then, they usually got a pep-talk from Ken Tada, a Joni book and a Joni and Friends newsletter.
I’m not shy to say that when life is hard, God is so very good—but we only discover how good when we get about his Acts 20:24 mission no matter where he places us. Even if it’s in a hospital for 2 weeks. Thank you for your prayers; I am now resting on the residual intercessions still reverberating before God’s Throne! Many, many blessings (and a special blessing on all you who sent emails, notes, and Facebook posts… I appreciated every one)!
