July 23 at 8:30pm
An update from Jennie:

We are home – all 6 of us – together! Even our homecoming has been humbling. Our home was very clean due to the many hands that pitched in and made it sparkle. Our pool was ready for the girls because a few people saw to it to keep it clean. We had dinner and food for the next day waiting in the fridge; and flowers with a balloon on the table!

Friday was an emotional day – first saying good-bye to my parents in Cleveland, who literally saved my life through God’s mercy, and took care of me as I recovered from cardiac arrest. Our relationship is forever changed. Then, coming home all together, knowing that this could have been a much different homecoming for Tom and the girls. We choose not to focus on the “What-ifs” knowing that the enemy could use that for his advantage and we don’t want to give him any strongholds in our lives. When I find my mind slipping into the “What-ifs”, I remember Phil 4:8 – whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things”. This has helped me to focus on the miracle God performed for our family and to be so thankful He chose to let me live and continue to be Tom’s wife and a mama to my four precious girls.

On Sunday we leave on a vacation to Colorado to join in celebrating my parent’s 50th wedding anniversary. I am so thankful that we are still able to go. Our girls are looking forward to spending time with their cousins at the Trail West Young Life camp. And I will continue to recuperate – no horseback riding, white water rafting, or ropes course for me!!

We look forward to returning in early August and getting back into the routines of life.  Yet, we will forever be changed by the miracle that God provided to me and my family. God is sooo  good!

July 12 at 10:00pm
A special greeting from Jennie:

Hello Scottsdale Bible Church and all of our friends throughout AZ , OH and around the US.

Monday was an amazing day and today, Tuesday, has been even more amazing because I was able to leave the hospital and go home to my parents and be with my family!

On Monday, a team of Doctors and Nurses implanted a Medtronic defibrillator into my chest. This device will “shock” my heart back into rhythm if I ever suffer another cardiac arrest. I was awake for most of the procedure and am in awe of the medical staff who worked on me before, during, and after the implant. As I had the procedure done, the verses that kept running through my mind were Isaiah 40:28-31 – Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has not might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. And Isaiah 41:10 – Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

If you have followed this blog, you know that even getting to this point is a miracle – orchestrated by God. My mom was able to administer CPR to me immediately after I told her I was dizzy and fell to the ground. She is obviously my hero, giving me life twice. She will quickly tell you all the glory goes to God, and it was the Holy Spirit enabling her to have the physical and emotional strength to save me.

We have many friends from SBC and other churches that have been following this blog, as well as friends who have a different belief system than mine. No matter what you feel about God and who He is, I know that He has had me in the palm of His hand this whole time.  There are too many details about this event that point directly to His grace and power. I hope you can see that, too!

We have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support from so many of you.  We have had meals delivered, our home cleaned after the dust storm, flowers, balloons, cards, childcare – the list goes on and on. These are the times that the body of Christ moves like no other – I can’t even begin to thank all of you for your prayers and support for our whole family. We love you all!!!!!

Jennie Sharda

July 12 at 9:00am
Jennie Sharda’s surgery went well! We will have a full update today.

July 10 at 6:00am
FROM Tom Sharda:
Incredible progress! Jennie is up on her feet, excited to see family & friends, engaging in meaningful dialogue with each of the nurses, and laughing with her girls. Her mind is sharp in asking about our upcoming calendar of family commitments. She is scheduled for her implantable defibrillator on Monday afternoon, and released from the hospital on Tuesday.

This past week I personally have been shaken, broken down many times to tears, and humbled only to witness a miracle in the sustaining of my wife’s life. There have been some very tender moments for me where all I had was Christ – it was in these precious moments I was assured that Christ is all I really need.
I am convinced that God is not done with Jennie and her time here on earth. In reading each of the comments on the blog, Facebook, & emails; and fielding the many texts & voicemails – Jennie has been used in a profound way to touch so many lives. We have been overwhelmed and at the same time humbled; there have been so many people praying for us – absolutely amazing.
Perhaps through this situation you also might have had a glimpse of God’s presence and provision, encouraged in your spiritual journey, or even may be considering Christ for the first time. When the time is appropriate, we both would love to talk with you.
II Cor 7-11,16-18 ESV But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

July 9 at 2:15pm
FROM PASTOR JAMIE:
What a week it has been for Jennie and Tom Sharda.  Just 7 days ago Tom got that ominous phone call from his in-laws informing him that Jennie had collapsed, was unresponsive, in obvious cardiac distress and was on her way to the emergency room just outside of Cleveland, Ohio. As Tom and I talked on the phone just before the AM worship services that day we prayed the first of many prayers together.  We affirmed God’s absolute sovereignty.  We affirmed His care and love for Jennie.  We asked that His hand of healing be on Jennie, His hand of skill and wisdom be on the physicians and caretakers, and that His PRESENCE would be known and sensed by all involved.  One week later we rejoice and thank God for His gracious provision.  Jennie is “out of the woods” now and growing stronger each day.  She is recovering well from something that could have sent her “home” way too early (at least from our perspective).  The doctors have been given skill and wisdom and have come up with a good and workable plan to help prevent something like this from happening again (see the blog below).  And most important:  GOD’S PRESENCE has been sensed and felt by Tom, Jennie, Jack and Betty (Jennie’s parents) and a host of others who have journeyed this with them.  Once again we look back on a week like this and say, “Only God.”  And for this we thank Him.

Thank you as well to all of you who prayed and cared.  Thank you for the many notes, calls and remarks below that you showered upon Tom, Jennie and the girls.  Thank you to those who cleaned the Sharda’s house after the dust storm so they wouldn’t have to come home to a mess.  Outside of seeing somebody come to the Lord for eternal salvation, nothing gives me greater joy as a pastor than to see the body of Christ care for and support each other.  And so please continue to pray.  Jennie still has a lot of recovery to go through.  They will hopefully put in a defibrillator this week.  Pray that this goes smoothly.  And we are still asking God to give the doctors skill and wisdom as they try to understand the full extent of Jennie’s cardiac issues.  And pray for a persevering spirit for Jennie and Tom (as well as Jack and Betty) as they are miles away from home and certainly feel the fatigue.  Hopefully Tom, Jennie and the girls will be back with us soon — and we can rejoice together with them.

July 8 at 10:35am
It was yet another day of progress for Jennie.  All tubes were removed and the only connected device is a battery powered heart monitor. She continues to gain strength and is now just waiting until Monday when they will implant the ICD. Doctors have continued to be in awe of Jennie’s recovery and admit that the survival percentages for what she experienced are extremely low. To that we attribute God’s sovereignty and mercy, knowing He had His hand upon her.

Tom brought all four girls to see her yesterday for about 30 minutes. They were very excited to see their mom for the first time and are anxious to get her home. There is no estimation yet of when Jennie might be released from the hospital nor the additional step of being cleared for air travel.

“Because he loves me,” says the lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.  He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.  Psalm 91:14-15

July 7 at 8:25am
Yesterday was another good day of progress. Jennie was able to get out of bed and walked briefly in her room.  She is still very weak and sleeps often, but is able to have some longer conversations. The doctors have concluded that there was no heart attack; the heart muscle and valves are all undamaged.  They have determined that Jennie most likely experienced cardiac arrest caused by an electrical synchronization issue.  The next step will include scheduling a time to implant an ICD (defibrillator) during this hospitalization. She was moved this morning from the Intensive Care Unit and into the Coronary Care Unit. Tom plans to take the girls to see Jennie today.

Many people have asked how they can help. Thank you for your support and willingness to actively be the Body of Christ. Currently, prayer is the best way to show that support. We will update you when there may be more tangible expressions of need.

Pray that Jennie continues to gain strength and clarity of mind and that the girls have a tremendous reunion with their mom.

“The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their cry.” Psalm 34:15

July 5 at 10:30pm
After about 12 hours of being removed from the sedation, Jennie is doing well. There have been many tests, and here are some of the medical updates. It appears as though the initial results of the cardiogram came back without abnormalities, which is great news. It was determined that she suffered Ventricular Fibrillation http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/ventricular-fibrillation/DS01158. By reading about this condition, you will see how life saving it was that Jennie’s mom, Betty, began CPR immediately. They are running a series of EKG’s to explore the cardiac electrophysiological next steps. At the same time, they are beginning to diagnose neurological conditions. With the recent removal of heavy medication, it will take time to determine the level of neurological activity. This truly is a “one day at a time” scenario.

Several family members have traveled to Cleveland where the Sharda girls are surrounded by the support of their cousins. In fact, 8 girls (and 1 boy) under the age of 11…so there is lots of activity!

If you would like to show your support to the Sharda family via a card, you can send them to Jennie’s parents address…

Jack & Betty Wolfe
31718 Leeward Court
Avon Lake, OH 44012

Tom is firmly believing in God’s sovereignty and will and trusting that He uses this very difficult and trying circumstance to further His plans and purposes in and through others.

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

July 5 at 2:30pm
There is great news to report this afternoon! Around noon they brought her out of sedation and later removed the breathing tube. Jennie became conscious within an hour and began responding to commands and moving toes and fingers. She recognized Tom and later asked a few questions. They are currently running tests on her heart to determine its condition. It will be several days of testing and small progress points, but it was an overwhelming joy to know that she could respond. The doctors have cautioned against having too high of expectations, but certainly Tom and the family are very grateful for this progress. In a later update we will be giving Jennie’s parents address so that cards can be sent to her. Please continue to pray.

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” 1 John 5:14-15

July 4 at 11:57pm
Jennie is the wife of Tom Sharda, Executive Pastor of Scottsdale Bible Church. On Sunday morning, Jennie collapsed while at her parents home in Cleveland. She was immediately given CPR and transported to the hospital where they determined that she suffered a heart attack. They inserted a stint into an artery that was 70% blocked. She has remained unconscious. Tom, and the 3 youngest daughters flew to Cleveland Monday evening to be with her (the oldest daughter was with her). The recovery process will likely be long with intentionally slow steps of progress along the way. She has been sedated to help the healing process and on Tuesday they will begin to remove the sedation medication to begin investigating the next steps.

Please pray for Jennie, Tom and their four daughters (Rachel, Rebecca, Jessica & Sarah Grace – ages 5 to 11). Pray for peace, healing and God’s unmistakable presence.

We will endeavor to keep you informed via this blog and social media. Tom has expressed his sincere gratitude for everyone’s prayers and for all who have contacted him via phone, text or Facebook, but is unable to respond to everyone at this point.

“The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.” Nahum 1:7