Imelda Update

June 30, 2020  /  Eryn Eubanks

Last Thursday was a 12-hour, nerve-wrecking day. We found out that our Doberman, Imelda, has liver disease. We hate for her to have any sort of problem; but we are grateful that she didn’t have a heart problem, an issue with her spleen, or a cancerous mass. We're thankful that we didn't receive any news that would have had her "put to sleep."

A biopsy, anastesia, and surgery would be too risky for Imelda. She will be taking new medicines to help treat the liver disease. When you think of us, please pray for Imelda and her liver, because it still is a serious thing. But I know that nothing is too hard for The Lord. He can bring healing to her... He can help her still go on to live a good life. As long as she feels good, she will keep on living, and we want to make the most of every day of her life... Which is what we really should all be doing, all the time, for all of our lives and loved ones.

Today is a happy day in Imelda’s life. We received news from the vet that she does NOT have lymphoma, so we are grateful for this good report. Knowing this gives us more clarity regarding what medicines Imelda can take to help her.

Also on this date - June 30th - we brought Imelda to our home in Augusta, GA. Our family drove to Canton, GA (near the Tennessee border) to get her, and as you can see from the photos, the seating arrangements haven’t changed in 8-years!

Thank y’all for caring about Imelda and praying for her.

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Virtual Tip Jar

April 04, 2020  /  Eryn Eubanks

Things are quite different here in Augusta, Georgia than what everyone was planning on for this weekend. Instead of multitudes of people from all over the world packed on to Washington Road, our street is much more quiet and empty. I am still trying to have a little Masters Tournament vibe by eating a pimento cheese sandwich and enjoying my Club Magnolia apparel today.

After my hospitalization and open heart surgery, I did not have any musical events for 4-months. That was a huge change of pace for me since I had spent every weekend gigging with The Family Fold since I was 13-years-old. It’s rough putting an 18-year weekend tradition on hold.

The coming of Spring was a hopeful thing because I was finally well enough to be back in to all of my musical activities. The annual Springtime gigs were lined up... Playing for Augusta West Rotary Club’s “Taste of Something Wild,” preparing to perform every day of the weeklong “Masters Golf Tournament” either at the airport or at Club Magnolia, planning to have my “Birthday Pickin’ Party” in mid-April, continuing on with St. Paul’s Celtic Services, and looking forward to Augusta Canal’s Music Cruise... But, everything came to a halt again due to this Coronavirus Pandemic.

Once again, I am very much missing being out in public playing music for y’all; but I am trying to make more use of technology in order to stay connected with y’all and still bring music your way. I am striving to do more with The Family Fold’s YouTube Channel, and I am learning the ropes of FaceTime and Zoom.

I’ve also learned about PayPal and Venmo, and now I am setting out a “Virtual Tip Jar.” My public gigs are gone for now, but honestly, my mountain of medical bills is still there. I’ll keep chipping away at it the best I can, and I know that it’s tight times for a lot of people right now. But if my music has touched your heart, and you ever feel like making a donation, I would greatly appreciate it. Most of all, know that I am forever grateful for your prayers for me. Thank you!

-Eryn Eubanks

PayPal: http://www.paypal.me/eryneubanks

Venmo: http://www.venmo.com/eryneubanksfamilyfold

E-Mail: eryneubanks@me.com

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More Prayers for Ricie

March 29, 2020  /  Eryn Eubanks

We pray that you all are doing as well as you can through this anxious season.

I wanted to send this video in hopes to bring some tranquility to your ears and spirit.

I also hope that it will remind you to remember my mom, Ricie Eubanks, in your prayers. We are grateful for how y’all have prayed for her eyes so many times. Things are looking up in that department.

But we would love for y’all to especially remember her during this time of the Coronavirus Pandemic. As most of y’all know, she has been a nurse for decades at University Hospital.

The rest of The Family Fold and I aren’t around a lot of people right now, but Mom is still out there - along with the other medical heroes - serving many people in sickness. Please pray for their safety, health, and peace.

We thank you, and we pray for you & your loved ones to stay well during all of this.

~ Eryn Eubanks ~

Eryn Eubanks & The Family Fold (featuring Ricie Eubanks on penny whistle) play "As The Deer Panteth For The Water" at Saint Paul's Church (Augusta, GA - 02/0...

New “LIVE” Album from The Family Fold

February 27, 2020  /  Eryn Eubanks

We are thrilled to announce that our NEW “Live” Album is here! This CD is an energetic recording packed full of Family Fold favorites...

1. Watson Allman Blues
2. Old Joe Clark
3. Monroe Blues
4. Kitty’s Wedding
5. Big Ball In Brooklyn
6. Orange Blossom Special
7. Ring Of Fire
8. Orphan Girl
9. Ashoakan Farewell
10. Amazing Grace

To get your copy of Eryn Eubanks & The Family Fold “LIVE,” e-mail eryneubanks@me.com, or purchase it the next time you come to see The Family Fold.

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13 Is My Lucky Number

December 12, 2019  /  Eryn Eubanks

It has been 13-weeks since the saga of my heart journey began... 13-weeks since that Friday the 13th in September 2019 when I had open heart surgery to replace my aortic valve.

Since then, a lot of you have heard me share about this experience. I’ve tried to write thorough accounts of what we faced and what has happened along the way. But I have been wanting to write about the very personal thoughts that were running through my head 13-weeks ago.

I had no clue that such an event would happen to me at 31-years of age. Even though I didn’t feel well, I didn’t look like a person who was in heart failure with an aortic valve that was “in shreds” due to the destruction of endocarditis. I was already shocked to have gone to the doctor for a routine echo and be told, “You have to have open heart surgery.” (And my first thought was, “Good Lord! September 11th is even more of an unforgettable date for me now.”) As I was starting to get my swirling head wrapped around that news, I thought, “What’s that new term they keep saying? Starts with an E... What’s that all about?” After finding out all of the damage that “endocarditis” had done to me in such a short period of time; I quickly memorized that word, spelling, and description. “Dear God, I never knew that I could get such a bacteria. How did I even get this? They talk like they’re not sure how.” When my surgeon told me that the operation would have a “60% mortality rate,” I thought, “I don’t think I want to clarify whether ‘death’ is the 60 or the 40.” My surgeon explained that open heart would be even more dangerous for me because of this infection, so they had to wait for the antibiotics to get to work in my body. But he said that they didn’t want to wait too long to do surgery because pieces could break off from my shredded aortic valve and cause me to have a stroke. And that is when tears started rolling down my face. I signed the paper to have the open heart surgery. I read the part that said if I didn’t have surgery my prognosis was death. “Well, Lord, I have no other choice. There is no other choice. There’s nothing that I did that caused this. There’s nothing that I could have done to stop this. This is it.”

My family & I were so thankful for all of the people who came to visit us while I was in the hospital waiting for surgery. I can actually say that I had fun seeing everyone. My room stayed packed like we were having a party. The love, prayers, and testimonies from everyone encouraged us and strengthened us. The visits helped keep us from being eaten up with worry.

But I would stay awake all night. “I don’t want to fall asleep and have a stroke. I’ve got to stay alert, and take care of things that I need to do before surgery.” My family, my medical team, and I had faith and hope. “Thank You, Lord, that they think this is worth doing. I mean, it’s a good sign for me that they’re going through with this, right?” But there was still plenty of room for fear to creep in. I felt like I had a lot of hurdles coming up that I was going to have to jump. It’s wasn’t just a straight shot to the finish line. “Dear God, I’ve got to get through these days waiting on surgery. I don’t want to have a stroke. The antibiotics need to work so I’ll be safer for surgery. I have to make it through the actual surgery and not die on the operating table. I don’t want my vocal cords to get nicked when they run that tube down my throat. And then there’s after surgery! I don’t want to get pneumonia, or another infection, or die of a blood clot. They’ll want me to cough and go to bathroom before they release me. And then I have to work on staying well at home! I’ve got 6-weeks worth of antibiotics and a PIC-line in my arm. Everything needs to go smoothly with that. And God, I don’t ever want to get this frightening ‘endocarditis’ again! How do I keep from getting something like this?”

I thought about the last two “Family Fold Church Gatherings” I had led. I went into the large, private, hospital bathroom while my loved ones caught a nap. I locked the door, folded a towel, and put it on the floor to cushion my knees. “I’m going to kneel down while I’m still able to ‘cause I sure won’t be after surgery.” That “bathroom” became my “prayer closet.” “Father God, I have believed in You my whole life. I have preached Your Word wholeheartedly. I know You work miracles. I told my church group about a lady that I met that the doctors gave her and her daughter no chance to live, and they are alive and healthy, twenty-years down the line. I know You did that! I have always believed in Jesus, and that He is the only way I can go to Heaven. I know that! But I want to know that more, ‘cause now more than ever I am having to put my money where my mouth is. The last sermon I preached, I shared 2 Timothy 4:6-8. ‘For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me on that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.’ God, I pray that those words could be said at the end of my life... But I don’t want my funeral happening anytime soon! I want to keep fighting the good fight. I want to live and stay on the course. I know You, Lord, but please help me because I want to know even more that I am in Your hands, that I am safe in You, that whether I live or die, I belong to You... And if I die on Friday, I want to know even more that I’m going to Heaven. I believe with all of my heart, and it is only because of what Jesus did on the cross for me. I’m trusting and depending on You. My all is on Your altar.”

The Prince of Peace continually filled me with His Peace as I awaited Friday the 13th of September. Over a 24-hour period, He sent me Isaiah 41:10 three times. My mom & dad ordered a beautiful flower arrangement with a little angel statue in it for me. They wanted to write a Bible verse on the card, so Mom got to searching for a Scripture. She stumbled on Isaiah 41:10, they liked what it said, and put that on the card for me. At another time, my husband brought me a card from my stack of “Ruth Bell Graham Memory Verses” that I keep in our guest restroom at home. (“After all, you do have a ‘captive audience’ to share a Bible verse with in the restroom, right? I mean, their eyes will have to see the Scripture card sitting there at the sink right beside the soap.”) Every morning at home, I would flip the memory verse cards and find a new Scripture for the day. It was always a surprise. Greg said to me in the hospital, “This card was sitting out in our bathroom at home, and I thought it was perfect for you, so I had to bring it to you.” It was Isaiah 41:10. “Wow!” And God added to that wow-factor when a friend of mine in Africa wrote me later on that day and said, “I am praying Isaiah 41:10 for you.” Prior to that, Isaiah 41:10 had not been a verse that anyone associated with me or that I had marked out as one of my “absolute favorites”... But it is now! I truly believe God was repeatedly and personally telling me, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

The evening before my open heart surgery, the minister came to serve communion to my family and me. (“This is not my ‘last rites.’ I’m doing like Jim Jewell used to do and taking a special communion because I am in need of some healing.”) Before we partook of the bread and wine, the minister shared a Scripture from Matthew 9:27-30 (NASB). “As Jesus went from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out, ‘Have mercy on us, Son of David!’ When He entered the house, the blind men came up to Him, and Jesus said to them, ‘Do you believe that I am able to do this?’ They said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord.’ Then He touched their eyes, saying, ‘It shall be done according to your faith.’ And their eyes were opened...” Sitting in that hospital bed, facing all of those hurdles and not knowing just how everything would turn out, verse 28 of that old familiar story strongly struck my heart and moved me to tears. It was like Jesus was asking me, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord. I believe in You. I trust You. All of my faith is in You.”

13-weeks later, I can tell you that Jesus did it! He has been with me and upheld me every step of the way. It was no walk in the park getting my chest cut open and all... But I feel like God did a miracle for me because so many parts of my story could have easily been way worse.

My first close relative unexpectedly passed away when I was 11-years-old. When I was 13, the second gig Mom & I ever did was a funeral. We’ve done many, many funerals since then. Pa (my dad’s father) passed away when I was 15. I’ve had several close music friends who were decades older than me, and they are playing with the “Angel Band” now. My uncle (Dad’s brother) passed away last year due to the flu. I’ve seen death strike people who are younger and healthier than me, too. And my whole life, I have believed the Bible, the Word of God that reminds me that none of us are guaranteed tomorrow. (See James 4:13-15.) But my experience has driven this home for me even more, and I hope that my story encourages you in your faith. God loves you so much and is working personally in your life! He wants to be The One to walk with you through the raging storms and the fiery trials. You are not alone. And He wants to give you His peace so that no matter what happens to you - an unexpected obstacle, a tragedy, or even death - you can know that you are safe in Him. He wants you to know that you belong to Him, that your sins are forgiven, that you are in right standing with Him, and that you have eternal life. That’s how much He loves you! All you have to do is believe.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) Nothing can ever separate us from the love of God. (See Romans 8:38-39.) Call out to Him; for He says to you, “Come now, and let us reason together. Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18, NASB) 

“If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10, NASB)

~ Eryn Eubanks ~

12/11/19

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend!

November 29, 2019  /  Eryn Eubanks

We hope you’re having a happy Thanksgiving weekend! I have been especially thankful for the progress I have made as I heal up from my open heart surgery.

I have received good reports from my surgeon (Dr. Timothy Hunter) and my infection doctor (Dr. Richard Kilgore). We even found out what I got that caused my endocarditis. It is called “Cardiobacterium Hominis.” Essentially (from what I could understand and remember from that doctor’s report), it is a common bacteria that is in the mouth, and there is nothing I could have done differently to have prevented it.

A couple of weeks ago, I started the “Cardiac Rehab” program at University Hospital’s Heart & Vascular Institute. I’ve never been a “gym person,” but I am having fun working out there. It’s a boost to my spirit to know that I am strong enough to do that now.

The Celtic Service at Saint Paul’s Church on Sunday, November 24th was a special time for us because it was the first time I publicly played music with The Family Fold since having my open heart surgery (Friday, September 13th, 2019). Prior to being hospitalized, our band had provided the music for Saint Paul’s Celtic Service on September 8th. 11-weeks later, we felt like we had come full circle getting to be back at Saint Paul’s Celtic Service after all we had been through. On our YouTube channel (eubanksfamilyfold), you will find a video of one of the songs we played that evening (“Hallelujah + In The Garden”). I especially enjoy when we provide the music for these services because my mom gets to shine and have the lead on her beautiful penny whistle. I love getting to play off of her on those instrumentals! And of course, Mike Merritt faithfully provides a strong rhythm for us. I am so grateful for my band mates, and I felt very privileged to put on my black beret and share our music with others that evening!

I am thankful for your prayers for me through all of this, and I ask that you please continue to remember me. The medical people still remind me that it could be a year before I’m fully healed up from all of this. But I am feeling better with each passing week, and they encourage me to be inspired by that.

I will have an appointment with my cardiologist (Dr. Michael Johnson) on December 12th, and I will have an echocardiogram done that morning to see how my mechanical aortic valve and heart is looking. Please pray for me to have an improved “EF.” The “Ejection Fraction” is the percentage of blood in the heart that is pumped out with each heartbeat. The normal range is 55-75%. Right after open heart surgery, my EF was below 35% due to the heart failure and endocarditis I had. With this lower EF number, they don’t turn me loose on all of the gym equipment at cardiac rehab, and they remind me to pace myself. Anyways, please pray that my EF will improve.

Through it all, my heart is full of thankfulness... Thankfulness to God for shielding me through all of this, for keeping me alive, for letting me see another holiday season, for letting me play music again... And I am grateful for the love & prayers of precious family & friends like you! I pray The Lord will keep you and fill you with His peace & hope this season and every season.

God bless you, and always remember... GOD LOVES YOU!!!

- Eryn Eubanks -

11/28/19

Check-Ups & Checkin' In

October 21, 2019  /  Eryn Eubanks

A couple of days ago, I had a few medical appointments. It was wonderful to see my cardiologist, Dr. Michael Johnson, and my infection expert, Dr. Richard Kilgore. These doctors are awesome, and have been so kind to me on this journey! Both of them are pleased with the progress I am making.

I’ll have another visit with my infection doctor next month after I make it through a few more weeks of these IV antibiotics, and I will see my cardiologist again in December.

Although the freaky-sounding term “heart failure” is part of my history now, I thank The Lord that - as my cardiologist put it - I’m “not ‘in’ heart failure.” In December, I will have a heart echo, and my prayer is that my numbers will be better and that my heart will be stronger.

Thank you all for continuing to care, encourage me, and remember me in your prayers! Y’all have filled my heart with a lot of love and hope.

~ Eryn Eubanks ~

10/21/19

Endocarditis & Open Heart Surgery

September 26, 2019  /  Eryn Eubanks

Thank you all for holding me up in your prayers! I was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday, September 11th. I had open heart surgery to replace my aortic valve on Friday, September 13th. I came home on Thursday, September 19th.

Although I was born with the heart condition, “bicuspid aortic valve,” it never gave me any problems and it was regularly monitored. My heart echos always made surgery seem like it would be 20-30 years from now.

In August 2019, I developed “pneumonia-like” symptoms of fatigue, shortness of breath, a little fluid in my lungs, and a cough that wouldn’t go away. It progressed to where I couldn’t sleep peacefully at night in the bed because I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I went to prompt care, received antibiotics, and was advised to make a follow-up appointment with my cardiologist “for safety’s sake.” A heart echo was scheduled for September 17th, but I was not getting any better. My mom messaged my cardiologist and my husband called prompt care to also send a message, and we had a heart echo the following day. On September 11th, my heart echo showed that I had major leakage caused by “endocarditis.”

Somehow (and we’ll probably never know how) bacteria got in my blood. It completely destroyed my aortic valve, caused a hole in my aorta, and a tear in my mitral valve. The doctor said that all of this had probably transpired in the last month. I was having “acute heart failure.” It was urgent for me to have the open heart surgery to replace the aortic valve, but they had to pump me full of antibiotics so my surgery wouldn’t be as risky. But, we couldn’t wait too long for surgery because a fragment of my aortic valve could have broken off and caused me a stroke. It was scary news to receive! At the age of 31, I did not know how ill I was, and I could have died if this would have gone untreated or been put off. I am so thankful to The Lord, though, because I see how He was working through every family member, every doctor, and every nurse to save my life.

I still have quite the road to travel for recovery. It is enough in itself to heal up from open heart surgery, but I am also taking multiple IV antibiotic infusions every day to prevent infections from getting on my new, mechanical aortic valve (or anywhere else in my body). These treatments will last for a minimum of 6-weeks. Currently, the percentage of my heart function is not as high as we would like. But we are doing our best to get me stronger, and I know that nothing is impossible with God!

I miss getting to play my musical instruments and sing. (I haven’t gotten clearance from the doctor on that yet, so I haven’t even been able to pick a little tune on my cozy, little mandolin while curled up in the easy chair.) I miss getting to go out to my Family Fold gigs and teach my music students. But my spirit is with y’all, and I ask that your prayers would stay with me as I go through this season of my life. Thank you!

God bless you, and always remember... GOD LOVES YOU!

Eryn Eubanks

9/26/19

Do You Want To Experience The Love of God?

March 26, 2015  /  Eryn Eubanks

God wants you to be reconciled to Him.  He wants you to have peace, joy, and hope while you’re on this earth.  He wants you to have eternal life with Him in Heaven when you die.  He wants to cleanse you of all your sins and change your heart.  He wants to be your Savior and your friend.  All this can be done through His Son, Jesus Christ.  Jesus is the only way to God, and his death on the cross and resurrection gives us salvation.

All you have to do to start walking with God is say this prayer:

“Dear Jesus, I believe that You died on the cross for my sins because You loved me.  But because You're God, I believe that You were raised from the dead three days later.  I believe that You are alive forevermore and You want to reconcile me to God, the Father.  So come into my heart.  I know I'm a sinner, but I'm sorry for my sins and I ask You to forgive me.  Help me to live for You from now on. I give myself, my life, and everything of me to You.  Fill me with Your Holy Spirit to do good for You.  Thank You, Lord, for what You've done and what You are going to do for me!  In Your Name, Amen.”

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved."  (John 3:16, 17)

"Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creation: old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)

-Eryn Eubanks (March 26th, 2015)