Friday, March 3, 2017

Slice of Life Day 3 - My Healing Testimony

Today I would like to share something about myself that I'm sure you don't know about me, in hopes that it could possibly encourage you in your journey of life.  

My husband Tom and I had been married a year and we were counselors at a church camp when I noticed my legs were swollen.  They continued to swell and everything began to swell.  I couldn't wear my contacts because my face and eyes were so swollen.  I  felt like I looked like a monster.  I ended up being referred to a kidney specialist, Dr. Patrick Doody.  I showed him a picture of what I really looked like so he would know that this was not my normal.  He admitted me to the hospital and began running tests.    My kidneys were fine so they did tests on my heart to see if there was blockage.  My heart sac and lungs were filled with fluid.  The doctor told me that the EKG showed that I had had a mild heart attack.  I told him that I knew when it happened.  I was getting ready to go somewhere and I had my head bowed down blow drying my hair and when I flipped my head up, I felt pain or tightening in my chest.  I immediately said, "Heart in the Name of Jesus, you function properly!" as I pointed to myself in the mirror.  As I prayed and thanked God that by His stripes I am healed, the heart problem stopped and I went on and got ready.  I think I was getting ready to go to the hospital.  They initially  diagnosed me with lupus, but decided it wasn't exactly lupus but another collagen vascular disease and pericarditis which is fluid in the heart sac.  He said my tissues leaked.  They gave me high doses of Lasix which is a diuretic, to get the fluid off.  Then for eight years I treated the symptoms by taking high doses of Lasix every day.  Every time I tried to go off of it, I would gain 15 pounds of water weight which would get in my heart sac and lungs and I would get so I could hardly walk and so I would go back on it.  

We wanted to start our family.  The doctor had told me that if I got pregnant, the baby would get what it needed and it wouldn't be a problem.  But when we got serious about having a baby, I asked him if he was sure it would be okay and he checked with Dr Chesney who said, "No way. Tell her not to get pregnant while she is on Lasix."  So then I became desperate to get well and began to pray at the altar.  Friends and family prayed.  We prayed for wisdom on what to do.  I had taken herbs off and on and was really skeptical about whether or not they would help.  Then my sister-in-law introduced me to her herb lady.  I decided that I would never know if the herbs would work or not until I consistently took them.  So I took lots and lots of herbs.  Eventually, after about three years, I weaned slowly off of Lasix and about six months later, I was pregnant with our first daughter, Sarah, and have never had any more problems with the disease.  God gave us a second daughter, Lydia.  Now they are both grown and out on their own.  I believe that God answered my prayers for healing and for wisdom on what to do.  Naaman had to wash in the Jordan River seven times.  The lepers had to go show themselves to the priest.  I had to take herbs.  But ultimately God is my healer.  James 1:5 says: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given."  

1 comment:

  1. Incredible testimony!! So glad that your heart is okay now!!

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