The Journey Continues: Debbie Ruiz
Several weeks ago, I offered a summary of the 10-week Good Neighbors ministry to children at Redwood Baptist Church; none of this would have been possible without the ministry of Debbie Ruiz, transportation coordinator. She has an interesting journey, and I asked her to share it with our readers.
"I am a follower of Jesus committed to children’s ministry at Redwood Baptist Church," Ruiz said. Last summer, in 2018, during the second week of Good Neighbors, I accidentally cut my forehead on broken glass while attempting to get the keys out of the locked van. Brother Phil Walker put a little blue bandage on the cut, and I was able to pick up the kids. We had a great session, and afterwards I got all the children home safely.
“Then I went home to Fentress where I perceived I was having a heart attack," Ruiz said. "I got on my knees and I asked for forgiveness of my sins and I promised the Lord that I would never take my life or my beating heart for granted ever again. I called my son, Ray, and told him, ‘Son, I think I am having a heart attack.’ Because his jobsite was shut down that day, he was next door at the shop.
"He quickly took me straight to the Luling hospital where they transferred me by ambulance to Seton Kyle. While being loaded into the ambulance, my husband drove up and followed behind. I thought to myself, ‘I am never putting my loved ones through this again,'" she said.
“I was blessed. My heart attack, at a relatively young age, saved my life. I did not have a heart attack and ‘go home;' I had a heart attack and ‘went to work,'" Ruiz said. "Dr. Vamsi Krishna at Seton was on call. Dr. Krishna operated and inserted a heart stint and then ordered Cardiac Rehab for three months. I finally became accountable for what I put in my mouth. As I said earlier, I had a heart attack and got to work.
"You may wish for something, but you must work for it; and it is hard work to change who you are," she said. "When the Cardiac Rehab, Kyle, was over, I started crying — I was scared. Cardiac Rehab told me to join a gym. That same day I joined The Texas Health and Racket Club (THRC) in San Marcos. Exercise is now part of my daily life. I am proud when I walk into the gym, and even prouder and so thankful to God when I walk out of THRC. I want to keep my heart beating.
“When I started Cardiac Rehab, my weight was 289; and today I weigh 169," Ruiz said. "Dr Krishna saw me two weeks ago and was so proud of me. My blood looked terrific; and I had no more diabetes. I still have a goal to reach — the doctor wants my weight in the 150s, and with God helping me and leading me on my journey, I will get there.
“This year I have had the best summer yet; I am blessed," Ruiz said. "Because of my weight loss, it was the first summer that I could wear jeans every day to Good Neighbors and I fit into my very first ‘Phisher Kids’ teeshirt! When the Lord takes me now; my loved ones will know I was living my best life. I feel good about myself; I am a winner.”
Additionally, Ruiz graduated from Hands of Hope, a faithbased women’s self-improvement program at First Baptist Church in the spring of 2011, and for the last 6 years has been responsible for supporting and transporting the participants to class. Her husband, Mike, and adult children, Ray, Vyntaria and Skyra and 2-year-old grandson Jensen support her.
Her life verse is:
“For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16
