Recently someone I once fellowshiped with at the same church had a massive aneurysm and stroke. I remember her and her husband very fondly. Eventually we moved on from that church to another one and over time we lost touch with one another. However, through social media my husband and her husband and other friends stayed in touch. So when the news came for urgent prayer we of course complied. Sadly on Saturday morning she passed away at a very young age.
It reminded me of my own experience and I wondered, why did I pull through 28 years ago? There was so much more medically available to her in this day and age than there was when I had my massive brain stem stroke. For her and her husband it was much quicker. I'm sure the sudden shock of being thrown into a medical crisis similar to what Myles and I went through was unfamiliar and terrifying. For anyone who has never experienced anything like this, being thrown into the intensive care unit, put on life support systems, and experiencing things totally foreign to you can be overwhelming. You don't get much time alone with your loved one especially in the beginning of the crisis. The doctors and nurses are working desperately to stabilize you. Most of the time I was in and out of consciousness. They were taking me for tests and putting me in large machines that I now understand were CAT scans. Everything was foreign to us back then. As I'm sure it was for this couple and their families. The one thing we had in common was our faith in God and the Messiah. While she had many years to live and walk out her faith physically I on the other hand had survived only to live out my faith as a quadriplegic.
It has been 28 years since that night. The memories of walking and what it feels like have long faded. However, the joy of being able to live and love alongside my husband, watch my children grow, help raise them, and now to see my grandchildren far outweighs the physical loss that I have experienced. The strength I have received from my Redeemer has carried me and continues to every day of my life. While I've written a book "A Flicker of Hope" telling my journey the fact is as Paul says in Philippians 1:21 "for me to live is Messiah , and to die is gain"! I try my best each day to follow in the footsteps of my Great Shepherd Yeshua/(Jesus). Without His Holy Spirit I would be unable to live the life I've been given. I am blessed beyond belief and I give thanks every day that I am alive! I pray every day that if my King can somehow use me that I may be available! My hope is truly in Him!
Cherish those around you this day and more importantly give thanks to the one who gave you life and gives it more abundantly! The God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob/Israel and the Messiah Yeshua our soon coming King!
Theresa Mitchell
