Divine Intervention and the CPAP Mask

My wife was the executive secretary serving on a multi-state medical board. One of the perks for member spouses was the fact that we were invited, all expenses paid, to the annual executive conference. The setting and the accommodations were always first-class. That year we went to Saint Simons Island in Georgia.

Because of her responsibilities, my wife made it very clear to me that the priority of the trip was her duties as secretary of the board, not our personal getaway. High-quality sleep was essential for her ability to efficiently fulfill the strenuous requirements of her position. My snoring was not an option!

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea back in 2000, and since then my CPAP machine has been a constant travel companion everywhere we go on overnight outings. Every time, my wife gently reminds me, “DAN, don’t forget your CPAP.” One of the first things I did when we arrived at our room was prepare my side of the bed with what I affectionately call my “Snore Machine.”

Halfway through the night, something happened, and my mask broke. The rest of the night was pitiful for both my wife and me. I immediately became aware of my next, most pressing assignment: locate a replacement mask. I knew the likelihood of my success was low due to the nature of strategic medical supply. I began praying and asking God to work a minor miracle.

When my wife left for the conference room, I found that the facility still provided a Yellow Pages book. For over two hours I prayed and made phone calls. Every call was met with an apology and an explanation that they did not carry durable medical supplies. In desperation, I took to the streets. I stopped in every business that could conceivably carry a CPAP mask. Every time, I received the all-too-familiar apology and explanation. But…I heard on multiple occasions of a place that was my “only real hope on Saint Simons Island.”

I located the aforementioned “only real hope.” I quickly entered the establishment and approached the customer service rep with great anticipation, only to be given the now-customary apology and explanation. I turned away in frustration with a sense of helplessness and hopelessness. There were no more rooms available, and it looked like I was facing a few nights sleeping in my car.

As I was walking away, a lady approached me and said: “I don’t mean to pry, but I couldn’t help overhearing you speaking to the clerk about a CPAP mask. Are you needing one?” I quickly explained my situation and informed her that I was open to anything she had in mind that could possibly help me.

This lady informed me that her husband had sleep apnea and their insurance company had been sending them new masks on a routine basis. The shipments came more frequently than her husband wanted to change masks, and as a result, they had multiple unopened boxes of CPAP masks. She said, “If you will wait until I finish my business here in the store, you can follow me to my house and I will give you one.”

When she completed her mission, I followed her a few short miles to her home. She went upstairs and came down with several unopened boxes and said, “Take your pick.” The one I chose became my favorite mask of all time, and it lasted for about a year and a half beyond the anticipated demise.

I explained to the lady in greater detail my spiritual journey of acquiring her husband’s mask. I inquired as to the amount of money I owed her. (The masks vary in price, but are consistently available for around $200.) Her answer was jarring: “Oh, you don’t owe me anything. If you don’t take it, we’ll just throw it away.”

I had been wondering silently why this woman would speak to a stranger in the store and then invite him to follow her back to her house, where she knew no one was at home. It’s not hard to conjure up scenarios whereby the outcomes would be horrible. As she continued talking, she cleared up my question and reinforced the real-world fact I already knew: THIS was a God story!

She concluded our conversation by saying, “I wasn’t supposed to be there today. I have routine business in that establishment, but today was not my day to go. I woke up this morning with a strong sense that I needed to rearrange my day so that I could be there. Now I know why.”