Where do I even begin?
I’ll start from the beginning.
I remember distinctly being a teenager, 17 or so, with her absolute favorite pair of jeans. You know the ones. They had the holes in just the right spots to be cool, but not so ragged they were trashy. Right? American eagle, low rise, light wash, wore them everywhere with everything.. you know the ones. And then one day, they didn’t fit! Oh, the travesty. There were other clothes that didn’t fit quite like they were supposed to, but once it was the jeans, there was clearly a problem. I remember running to my mom’s room freaking out in the teenage dramatic way, of course. “MOM! I can’t get them on!?!” I’m sure she chuckled, but then she realized I was truly concerned and cue the mom concern too. We started talking about other symptoms like a sudden increased appetite, sometimes feelings of depression & overall moodiness, insomnia, overall feeling of tiredness, hot flashes.. the list could go on and on. She quickly realized there was a deeper problem we didn’t know about so on to the doctor we went.
I am not much of a worrier. I don’t get sick, ever. And, even when I do, I’m in a constant state of denial and ignorance. So, as concerned as I knew my mom was, was about the level of concern I wasn’t going to reach because “Its not a big deal, mom. Its fine.” Boy, was I wrong.
Cue doctor after doctor after doctor.
It started at our general doctor who became very alarmed and sent us straight to get blood work done and on to the busiest, most booked endocrinologist in the area. Usually it takes about 6 months to get into the endocrinologist for an appointment so when I had an appointment within the next week, my mom knew this was serious. Again, “Its not a big deal, mom. Its fine.” Somewhere in there was also an ultrasound, an X-ray, needles, lots of doctors…you get the gist.
I was diagnosed with Graves Disease at 17.
Defined by the Mayo Clinic, Graves’ disease is an immune system disorder that results in the overproduction of thyroid hormones (hyperthyroidism).
Thus began the medicine regimen. Wowzer, that was hard. I never took medicine at this point. Not for headaches, not for colds, nothing. I just didn’t like putting it in my body and I HAD to take this everyday?! WHAT!? Cue the nagging, worried, very loving mother. Again, “Its not a big deal, mom. Its fine.”
I never talked about it much and remember feeling embarrassed and shameful when my family would talk about it around me. Why? I don’t know. I didn’t cause it. It just happens and I got to be the victim. Other’s would speak healing over me and I got prayed over quite a bit because the implications from Graves have the potential to be truly life changing if its not taken seriously. The doctor was very grateful we caught it when we did because left untreated, it can be damaging to your heart and reproductive system along with other things. But, I think because of my shame and “its not a big deal.” attitude, I wasn’t ready for healing. I didn’t think it was a big enough deal that God really would handle. Silly, naive girl.
I had appointment after appointment for a while until they got my thyroid regulated and operating closer to hypothyroid rather than hyperthyroid because its much more manageable and not threatening to my body. My levels would fluctuate and my medicine would follow suit. Eventually, they were able to lower my dose to a very small amount daily until I was solid for annual check ups. Freedom! Or so, I thought. God had much bigger plans than that.
We were not created to operate in sickness. God’s original design was never for us to be sick or in pain or broken. But, adam and eve couldn’t help themselves. Still, God’s heart for His children is to live a whole life free of sickness, pain, and brokenness.
Over the years, the Lord began showing me His heart on the matter. He began showing me how much He truly cares. He cares for His kids.
Speed up to 2015. the present.
I am preparing for the race which means fundraising, packing, training camp, and doctor’s appointments before I leave for a year. I scheduled a doctor appointment at my endocrinologist for three days after training camp. I was “supposed” to get blood work done BEFORE training camp. A man can make his own plans, but the Lord’s plan prevails every time.
While I was at training camp, there was a night session focused on healing towards the end of camp. I had never seen healing done the way it happened this night. We were taught to ask the Lord for His heart for people, not what was wrong with them, but kind of the opposite. This alone blew my mind and I was excited to learn something new! I prayed for some. But, when he opened up the night for general healing, anything you wanted healing for, I knew I was finally ready to see God move. My heart was pounding and the doubt was desperately trying to find its way in, but I knew better this time.
Two girls found their way over to me, one beauty from my sqWad and the other from X squad. Remember, we’re praying the Lord’s heart over His kids. All of a sudden, they’re praying wholeness over me over and over again. Because your thyroid affects so many different areas of your body, it’s hard to target one specific area. God knew. They keep praying for wholeness and taking all of the pieces and putting them back again. Healing. I knew that the Lord had healed me, but I needed that blood work proof.
Remember how I forgot to get blood work done BEFORE training camp? God knew exactly what He was doing. When I got home on Sunday, I could NOT wait to get my blood work done on Monday for my appointment on Wednesday, the 22nd. I just knew the Lord had healed me.
Finally, doctor time. I was praying and hopeful and so excited. I’m sitting in the patient room waiting, just trying to contain myself. The doctor comes in and the first question out of His mouth is
“Are you still taking your meds? Or whats up? Its been a while since you’ve been in.”
“Weeelllll… its..kind of been..maybe..eh… 6 months or soooo..since I’ve taken them..”
“That’s actually a perfect answer in this case.”
“REALLY?!”
“Yeah, because.. your lab work came back with PERFECT results!”
“SERIOUSLY?! THATS SO COOL! OH my gosh!!”
YALL. PERFECT results.
No unbalanced thyroid levels. Normal, functioning, whole again!
Jesus HEALED me!
But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
He was whipped so we could be healed.
Isaiah 53:5
I was over the moon the rest of the day! I called all my praying people and they joined my over the moon excitement and lots of praising Jesus!
Nothing like this has ever happened to me in my life. Of course, I’ve seen it in others, but to me? Never!
Today marks a catalyst day. This is only the beginning. And, THIS will be a day I will not forget.
And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19
To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God,
be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
1 Timothy 1:17
