My life, like most, is not always easy. In fact, my life has been somewhat scary for a bit. I’ve been dealing with too much; much more than any normal human being can deal with on her own. I’d like to share one aspect that I’ve been going through recently. I know that I’m not the only one going through this; many women are, many people are. I’m just glad that I can look through the lens of knowing Christ.
I was diagnosed with MS about 14 years ago. The good news, that I found out immediately, is that there is medicine that can help me cope with all of the symptoms and maybe even help stay in remission. This wasn’t always the case! The bad news is that all of the medical treatment options were needles– injections. I don’t like needles, like a lot of people. In fact, I’ve passed out at just the sight of a needle before. I thought this was a cruel joke! I did it every day, took that shot, that needle, which was going to keep me in remission. It never did, but I kept trying different medication options. Always needles.
I also always get an MRI every year to keep track of how my MS is progressing or not. This past summer I had my yearly MRI. I went to the neurologist this past September to review the results of the MRI. (I’m grateful and thankful to say that this was the second year in a row that I didn’t have more lesions; in other words, I’m in remission.) My doctor continued to say something about how my thyroid had grown. He double checked to see if the report had ever said anything about my thyroid before, it hadn’t. It grew too large too quickly. He immediately sent me to another doctor, a specialist who did a biopsy in his office, immediately. The woman in the room next to me was going to the hospital the following week to get her biopsy. I figured that was not a good sign. My appointment for two weeks later was pushed back to three weeks so they could send the biopsy out to a second lab. Knowing, most likely, what the outcome was going to be, I took my sister-in-law with me to the appointment. She was asking me too many questions that I just didn’t have the answers for and what better way to get her and me answers to questions I wasn’t even thinking about! Long story, yes, he was fairly certain that I had cancer. Everyone told me that this is the cancer that you want if you have to have one. Yay me! It’s definitely the truth, but it’s still the “C” word. Scary. As you can imagine, I prayed –a ton. I pray about MS, I pray about my boys, I pray for all these big things in my life and my friend’s lives. I pray.
I had surgery the end of October and then two weeks later in November. The entire thyroid is out. I’m now on another medication to replace what my thyroid was producing. The thyroid has these four little friends, glands, which sit two on each side of the thyroid. These glands regulate your calcium level. I was going daily for a blood test to check my levels, they kept going down. These glands were unhappy that they didn’t have their friend (the thyroid) to sit on and sometimes, my doctor told me, they just stop working. I would go dutifully to get these blood tests. I was put on mega doses of calcium for weeks. As I shared this information with a co-worker she immediately stopped the conversation. She put her hand on my shoulder and bowed in prayer. She prayed to Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to have these little glands start working again on their own. I was surprised how abruptly and quickly she prayed and sent this up to God.
I felt so stupid.
Of course she prayed to Jesus. That’s what we’re supposed to do. He wants everything, not just what we consider to be hard stuff. All of it. He wants it all.
I went the next day for a blood test and the calcium I was taking was cut in half, the little guys were starting to get back to work. The end of January, 2018 I was taken off all excess calcium. My little glands were happy and working to their fullest potential!
I know to pray about everything and yet sometimes I just forget. It’s so great to have those friends in my life to lift me up and give me reminders that God wants everything. The good, the bad and the small stuff!
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” -1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” -Mark 11:24
I’m amazed and so thankful for all the friends that have supported me and the boys. I have seen so much love.
Amanda says
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