I don't know who will read this. I need to share with you what the song Love's Divine means to me and my family.
My son was born last summer. I have an autoimmune disease called lupus, and the pregnancy was difficult. The delivery was treacherous. Yet my son made it. Five days after he was born, I returned to the hospital's emergency room, where they immediately began an examination to see what was wrong. I had gone into congestive heart failure. They took me to the ICU, where I was hooked up to God knows what, fighting for my life.
I remember thinking that it was as if I was in a huge storm being tossed about. I didn't think I would make it, and I was so distraught as I tried to imagine how my husband of 11 years and my newborn son would do without me. The next morning, the priest came into my room and delivered the last rites. I was 33 years old. I remember thinking, "This canNOT be happening!"
The second hospitalization was a surreal experience, but obviously, I got out alive.
As my husband drove me home from the hospital, the song Love's Divine came on the radio. Of course, I know it wasn't written about my experience. One of the beautiful things about Seal's music is the ability for the listener to find the nuance that exists in the song and apply it to an experience in his or her life.
When I heard the line: Then the rainstorm came over me. . . and I felt my spirit break. . . it perfectly described that first desperately lonely night in the ICU. I heard the nurses chatting about the legal definition of brain dead to describe the situation of the patient in the next room. I listened to machines bleep and buzz and whistle all night long. I listened to the sounds of my own tentative breathing, unsure if I was going to be rolled out of the back of the hospital into a limo to take me to a funeral home, or if I was going to be rolled out the front in a wheelchair to a car to whisk me home. I truly felt lost.
Then I heard the line "time threw a prayer to me" (regardless of if it's threw or through, this is how I hear it) and I realized that indeed, time threw me a prayer to pull me out of a situation that was truly spiraling out of control.
As I listened to the song, I cried. The tears flowed silently down my face as we drove home. My wonderful husband and I had been through such an emotional experience - the birth of my son was so treacherous, and we had felt so victorious when we had been allowed to go home as a family. But the treachery began again as my body's systems began to fail me. Then, given a solid bill of good health, some prescriptions, and little reminders of followup physician visits, I was allowed to go home again.
I know the lyrics were not written about me, but like so many others, I have found a commonality in the words that I have adopted as my own. The song has become a sort of anthem for my family. I knew my husband would purchase the CD for my birthday in September. We listened every night to that song. I will pick my son up and dance around the room to Love's Divine, whether it's on the CD or on the radio. It is a sight that makes my husband cry, no matter how often he sees this - which is often, as I play the CD so often. We will sometimes dance a "family dance" where my husband and I will face each other and hold our beautiful 10-month-old son between our arms.
I am sure it is the song that my son and I dance to if he ever gets married. It will be a permanent part of our family.
It's a miracle I'm alive to even post this message.
Thanks to everyone on this board for taking the time to even read this.
Many blessings,
dani
southwest florida

Thanks for sharing your very touching story with us here .Glad to hear that everything worked out fine in the end it's amazing how @ moments like these a song like love's divine can really impact us. Many of us here have had slightly different yet simliar experiences. This man is a true blessing in all our lives now and always.Welcome to the site Dani!

Wow Dani, you got me choked up. An incredible story, very nicely told. Welcome to the seal.com forums. We're glad you're with us, and very glad you're here.
Best wishes for continued good health!

Welcome to the forum Dani.
Thank you for sharing your story and glad that your health has improved. Looking forward to reading more from you.

Thank you for sharing your story Dani!

When I hear Love's Divine.. I will share in the dancing with you !! It too is a beautiful song with personal meaning to me!

Cheers to your newborn friend.. a new son! And to your family !!!

Lydie

Olá Dani,
incredible story of strength and love that you have. You know that yesterday it was the
International day of Lupus, and here in Portugal in many TV programs
We heard many stories of people with the same difficulties that you have,
and how it affects more women than man.
Hope you feel good here with us .
Take care,
Love love love,
Carla

Hi Dani, Thats some story and experince!!!

Thank you for sharing it in such a real way, I was with you and could clearly imagine the hospital and the Priest. Your story again reminded me of the how precious we are and life is.
I hope you continue to relate to Seals music in such profound ways.

Love,love,love Sketch!

sketch you said everything i was thinking what an amazing story. im just glad it all tuned out well luv sue xx

Thank you to everyone for such a kind welcome and words of encouragement. I am truly blessed to be here - and by "here," I mean here in life, here on this board, just here.
Many blessings,
dani
southwest florida

Phew! "Be gone dryness" is what your expression said to the dryness that was making it hard for my contacs to focus. It yanked at my insides and demanded I send you, your son, and your husband a warm embrace and a "Thank you for sharing!" I haven't been on site for a while, and to encounter this upon return was powerful! Thanks again Danij!

Dear T.A.,
Thanks for such a wonderful note.
Be gone dryness. I love it. Instead of a Kleenex moment, its a Be Gone Dryness moment.
Many blessings,
dani
southwest florida

danji...thank you so much for sharing your very touching and emotional life experience with all of us. I am very happy for you that everything worked out and that you and your family are fine.

And yes...I also like "Be gone dryness".

Thanks Dani, GC, glad to put a lil smile on your faces. That was too powerful not to move anyone who happens to be humman, and although I hate to admit it, I am the "H" word .

And heyyyyyy! You're in SW FL huh? Cool! Another Floridian (can't be a bron Floridian, nobody is, right ) in da house. If we get enough of us we can have a local Seal hook up. You into recruiting Dani?

GC, I'm working my way over to the site I heard you put together. Can't wait to check out your handiwork . I heard all about those escapades and now I wanna see for myself Thanks for sharing.

quote:

Originally posted by T.A.:
GC, I'm working my way over to the site I heard you put together. Can't wait to check out your handiwork . I heard all about those escapades and now I wanna see for myself Thanks for sharing.

Oh boy...you have no idea what you will see...LOL!!! Now our "innocent" cover is busted...we are certainly one crazy bunch...next time...you and caterpillar should truly join us...

quote:

And heyyyyyy! You're in SW FL huh? Cool! Another Floridian (can't be a bron Floridian, nobody is, right ) in da house.

Prepare to be stunned, T.A.! I was actually born over in Miami Beach! Went to college in Tennessee, lived in Atlanta for awhile. Been on this side of the state since '99 when we had enough of the daily grind in Atlanta. Great town with all sorts of wonderful things to do, but my husband and I both lived at work. And then we "got in line" as we say to get in the car and try to battle our way home. Too much time spent in the car; too much time spent at work. Love it on this side of the state, although I'm sure it'll get built up the way Miami is in another decade. The hurricanes sure haven't deterred people from moving here (here being just south of where Charley came ashore last August).
Many blessings,
dani
southwest florida

quote:

Originally posted by danij:

quote:

And heyyyyyy! You're in SW FL huh? Cool! Another Floridian (can't be a bron Floridian, nobody is, right ) in da house.

Prepare to be stunned, T.A.! I was actually born over in Miami Beach! Went to college in Tennessee, lived in Atlanta for awhile. Been on this side of the state since '99 when we had enough of the daily grind in Atlanta. Great town with all sorts of wonderful things to do, but my husband and I both lived at work. And then we "got in line" as we say to get in the car and try to battle our way home. Too much time spent in the car; too much time spent at work. Love it on this side of the state, although I'm sure it'll get built up the way Miami is in another decade. The hurricanes sure haven't deterred people from moving here (here being just south of where Charley came ashore last August).
Many blessings,
dani
southwest florida

Very cool or iceberg rather ! Funny, I was just visiting my old haunts on South Beach this past Monday. I also went to Univ of Miami. I definitely didn't think ANYONE was born on Miami Beach though . just foolin. Glad you folks have found a place and lifestyle that suits you. Central FL is suiting me pretty well at the moment. Much of the big city benefits without much of the drawbacks. Hope all's well on your end!

Sara I second the choked up part...

Dani, first of all welcome! You will adore this family like no words can explain. Second of all, my son Harley came into the world under very simliar circumstances. While he was in the neonatal icu I played "A prayer for the dieing" and my wedding song "Violet" over and over and over and over in his isolet... And by the grace of God he is here with me today 11 years later and last year this time had a another miracle come true for him ~ he met Seal. (and I met Michael & Effie)! And just like Rita said, may of us have had similar experiences and the power of Seal's music is life altering!

Hope you stick around here with us.

Jakki & Harley
South Lake Tahoe, CA

quote:

Originally posted by SaraOhio:
Wow Dani, you got me choked up. An incredible story, very nicely told. Welcome to the seal.com forums. We're glad you're with us, and very glad you're here.
Best wishes for continued good health!

Dani, bless you for sharing your experience. You have angels watching over you, honey Love's Divine is a beautiful song with so much meaning. Blessings to you, and I pray that your health will continue to improve! Welcome to the board. Love, Janet

Thank you Dani for sharing your experience. I'm glad you're okay now. You made me cry.

and T.A., I finally get what iceberg means, duh. It took me awhile!

Hey DaniJ,
What a touching story. Still wiping the tears from my eyes. So glad that you and your family are doing better. I too had a difficult pregnancy and was bedridden for the last 5 months,and though i wasnt as ill as you were, i too recuperated, and what got me through that dark, uncertain time of my life was the SEAL II album. It lifted my spirits and strengthened my soul in ways i cant describe. I always thought it was just my own personal reaction to his music,until i came to this forum and realized just how deep his music touches us. His songs do something to our souls, our beings, unlike any other artist I've ever listened to. His music has such power, but yet Seal is so humble about his gift. That's what i love about him. I hope one day, you are able to meet Seal in person to let him know what his music means to you and your family. Through his humbleness, i think he knows.
Wishing you much love, health and happiness..