I’d like to share a story of how our Lord Jesus provided healing in an extraordinary way.
I injured my lower back in March while doing some exercises. It started with radiating pain down my right leg. The pain was bearable but did hinder tasks like bending to tie my shoes. I started talking to our Heavenly Father about this, and in my heart knowing that He already provided my healing on the Cross. This gave me peace, knowing that I held the purchase price. I knew He would take care of this like he has done so many other trials in my life.
After about three months I felt that I should go to the doctor for an MRI to see what was happening. I kept talking to the Lord and holding His promise in my heart. My primary care Doctor told me we had to “try and fail” with medicine before insurance would cover an MRI. He put me on a 10-day dose of steroids. As expected all symptoms went away while the medicine was in my system.
On day 12 of the steroid treatment, I woke up in the worst pain of my life. I couldn't move, couldn't sit up in bed, nothing. We decided I should go to the ER. This decision was at 9 am, and it took until 2 pm before I could muscle enough courage and strength to make it to the car. At the ER, the doctor took a CT scan and revealed I had a herniated L5 disc. The doctor put me on another dose of steroids and told me to get with my primary care doctor to talk about options. I knew this meant surgery.
Herniated Disc
As you can expect, after two days on the steroids I was able to walk and move again, so I returned to my primary care doctor. He made a call to a friend, who happens to be one of the area's best Neurosurgeons (also teaches at the university). The surgeon said I should get an MRI, which I did and brought with me to the visit. This showed in detail the herniated disc.
He said I need a micro-discectomy surgery to remove the ruptured disc. This was heartbreaking. I did not want surgery. At this point, it looked dark, but I kept trusting in Father, knowing I had a promise.
I was fortunate to be on the crew assigned to travel to Beaumont, Texas as part of the Agapao tour auxiliary crew. Knowing this, I asked the doctor if we could delay the surgery until I returned. He agreed and also approved my travel. Of course, the devil kept telling me not to go and listing the reasons why it would end badly. The foremost on my mind was that the trip would overlap the ending of my second dose of steroids, and as you can imagine, I had flashbacks of the last episode of withdrawal which ended in the ER. I decided to go, trusting the Lord and knowing He was able to heal me.
The trip was truly a time to remember. We had a wonderful time fellowshipping with the precious Saints in Texas. When the time came to leave Beaumont, we all gathered out back to say our goodbyes to the bus crew and Bro. Joseph (the auxiliary crew was flying home). As Bro. Joseph said goodbye to me, I asked him to remember me in prayer for surgery scheduled for the next morning. He stopped, then hugged me close for a moment not saying anything. Then he let go and told me to keep him updated. Oh, I wish I could explain the renewed peace I had at that moment. Something happened on the inside, and I knew everything was okay.
The next morning, we woke up to a terrible storm. Everything was flooding in southern Texas. We took a bus to Houston to catch our flight back to Louisville. By the time we arrived in Houston, our flight was canceled due to the rain. We tried renting a car to drive home, but the airport had become marooned, all roads heading north were flooded. After many attempts and hours waiting in lines, we finally found a flight going to Atlanta. At this point, we were all talking about how the Lord may not want me to have surgery. Praise the Lord!
Well, we made it on the plane with a connecting flight in Atlanta that would get us home late. I still had a chance to get back in time.
As the flight attendant was on the microphone going through the takeoff protocol, she got a call and stopped before she could finish telling us how to buckle up. A few minutes later she came back and said the cabin door would not close and they were calling a mechanic to repair it. After a while, they fixed the door but said we had to exit the plane so they could test the pressure. So everyone got off. By this time, we missed our connecting flight in Atlanta. One of the brothers commented that they were going to have to treat me like Jonah and throw me overboard so they could go home. We had a good laugh. I felt such peace knowing this was the Hand of the Lord.
Surprisingly, the gate attendant found one seat had opened up on another flight and was a surefire flight directly to Louisville. The brothers kindly gave me the seat knowing I had to get back. I headed over to that gate awaiting my turn to depart. Meanwhile the Brothers got back on their plane and departed for Atlanta. As I set there watching the screen at my gate, it went from “on time” to “canceled”. Oh, my! Now I know this is the Lord! Well, there was nothing else leaving that night, everything was canceled. I was stuck. But, funny enough everyone else made it out. I was starting to wonder about that Jonah comment!
Fortunately, I have family that lives in Houston, so I called my Brother and asked if he could make it through the flooding. He had a big 4x4 truck and was able to make it to the airport and pick me up. I stayed with him that night and my family all came over for dinner. It was a very nice but highly unexpected family reunion.
The next day I made it home, I had missed the operation, but knowing that it was ALL working according to His plan. I called the doctor's office and told them I would reschedule for the next week. By this time, I was enjoying the story and marveling at how the Lord was working. Well, next week came, and I was feeling great. I had been off the steroids for over a week and still feeling fine. Praise the Lord! I called the doctor and rescheduled again for two more weeks, but had it in my heart that I was going to cancel altogether. Before I had the chance, I received a call from the Neurosurgeon himself; he said that I obviously didn't need the surgery and that my body must have absorbed the disc and healed itself. HE canceled the operation; I didn’t have to do anything.
God led me through it all, at every step. I did nothing but trust Him and watch Him work everything out for my good. Not only did He heal me, but He let me go on the tour, grounded a plane (twice) to kept me from a surgery I didn't need and allowed me to have a reunion with my family.
AMEN! I know my redeemer liveth!
Bro. David