April 2025
April 20th, 2025 (Easter Day) marks six years since a situation that I went through which brought me very close to death. I went to the ER In the midst of an unbearable head and neck pain and blurred vision, but they kept telling me it's just migraine headache. God gave me the wisdom to tell them it’s not just migraine. He let me keep telling them and pushing them. They did three CT scans before they finally found the bilateral arteries were torn at the back of my neck. I was then transferred to another hospital in an ambulance early morning the next day, which was Easter (then April 21), which is today. Doctors didn't know how I was even alive with what had happened and I was in the hospital for about 8 days. This happened a week after I had Faith (She was a week old baby at home and I was at the hospital). Couple days before that by the nudging of the Holy spirit, I went to the doctor and ended up finding blood clot in my leg! Anyway, three surgeons came and stood near my feet and told me that they had never seen any case like mine where both arteries got torn so bad without any trauma and have a blood clot etc. It was something new to them and were a little puzzled and said we don't know how to treat you. Even though I was in excruciating pain, uncertain of what was going to happen and was barely able to speak, God put the smile on my face and words in my mouth and made me tell them this. I told them they may not know how to treat me, but my God does, and I hope this helps you to treat others' patients down the road. They were taken aback a little and were looking at each other 🙂 After that ordeal, a lot has changed with me, but He has been with me and still is with everything my body was and is going through. When you live for Him and He is your everything, we find joy in our suffering. I find joy in the midst of what my body went through and is going through.
Fast forward to yesterday, I didn't even realize that April 20th was when this had happened. Yesterday, we hosted an Easter prayer meeting at our home (which I know God orchestrated the whole thing). While I was getting ready an hour before the meeting, the Holy Spirit reminded me of when and what had happened to me six years ago on this day. I was in awe! Not only did we celebrate His Resurrection yesterday, but I shared what God has done in my life six years ago yesterday and gave a new life to be able to stand and celebrate at our home! He was, is, and will be the same and a faithful Father, and who will turn our situations around to bring Him glory! What an awesome Papa we serve! I hope this encourages some of you in some way. Whatever you are going through, hang on to Him. Though you may not be able to feel or see, He is right there with you. I promise you He will make the way and surprise you. In turn, to bring Him alone the glory. May He alone get the glory through this testimony 🙏 In Jesus's name Amen 🙏
October 2024
I want to give praise to our God, who is awesome and so precious, Father, that He loves, cares and is right there with His children no matter what we go through. I was asking the Holy Spirit when to share this testimony, and I felt like it's today (10/12/24). I wanted to share at the ICF retreat (Sep 20th) evening and a couple other times after the retreat, but the nudging I got was not to, so I didn't. I know His timing is always perfect. Lot has happened after the retreat too, which I added in the testimony. Maybe He made me wait just so I can share other things that happened too.
Here it goes - Since the second week of August, I have been sick. As many of you know, I have been struggling with a lot of health issues for years, and He has been with me, but this one (extreme burning pain of the feet) was the new one. When this started, I said to the Lord, if something happens to me, please take care of the girls, and if I am here, give me the strength to bear. I wanted to be faithful no matter what and said let your will be done. Whoever I spoke to, whether it's Moses, kids, mom etc., I said I want to stay faithful to Him and He encouraged me in some shape or form speaking in different ways that you will see below. He made us name our last daughter Faith! It’s a constant reminder whenever I call her name. There was burning pain in my feet that was excruciating and later spread all over my left side of the body, hands and random places with other really bad symptoms like fatigue, headaches, nausea, dizziness, tingling, pins and needles and more that was happening and a lot of sleepless nights with pain and other symptoms. Burning pain in my feet felt like I was on fire and taking showers was excruciating. Body felt like it was done. I called the doctor, and they said I need to be seen right away. I was praying, and the Holy Spirit nudged me and said B12. I saw the doctor on 8/14 and discussed it with the doctor and talked about it, and she was saying different things that can cause that. I mentioned B12 to her. She wrote the bloodwork for lots of things including B12. They all came back at the end of the following week as very low (major vitamins) and that I am anemic!
I have been anemic in the past but didn't have burning pain in my feet. She recommended that I see a hematologist. He didn't have any appointments until October. So, I kept calling, and God made a way for me to see him on 8/30. I talked and asked him questions about B12. He saw my history of low B12. He then decided to write a specific test (I was praying to give him wisdom). I have seen the same doctor a few years ago for being anemic and this test was not written. He also checked my burning of my feet and said it's neuropathy, and I need to see a neurologist. Neurologist was not open until October 3rd week, but God again (this has a testimony for itself of how this happened) made a way for me to see him on 9/13. The results came, and the Hematologist doctor called me himself and said I have an autoimmune disorder where my body can't absorb B12 through food and I am losing blood because of it! That disorder is called Pernicious anemia. I must take B12 injections for life, bloodwork very often, and get an iron infusion right away as my iron levels were very low. One of the vitamins (B1) that was low they said it's usually not low in humans that easily, but mine was. They were baffled by why that was low. So, they put me on oral meds (my stomach can't tolerate meds) for that which flared up my gastritis (really bad symptoms) that I suffered for 12 years and got better this year, and I even stopped taking acid medicine that I was on for 12 years. I stopped it this year with the help of the Holy Spirit. The doctor said I had to start acid medicine again.
So, on 9/8 morning around 4.30am, I was thinking I must order acid medicine. I heard the devil say, "are you still going to be faithful to the God that you got gastritis back and have to take the acid medicine again"? I said I will be faithful! I ordered the medicine. It was supposed to come the same day between 10 am and 3 pm. It was 3.30 pm and I still didn't get it. Got a notification that it will come the next day. I waited and nothing. Then, I got another notification the next day saying we couldn't deliver it, and it went back (which never happened)! This is His doing! Since then, I have asked Him to speak to me about how I can manage the gastritis symptoms, and He has been talking to me, and I am following (not taking acid med currently). Some symptoms are still there, but I know He will guide me and be with me whether it's acid medicine or not. On 9/8 (same day) Sunday. I was watching the church online as I couldn't go the way I was feeling. The very first thing the pastor said before he started a message was for everyone to say I am an overcomer! That's the exact word with the word stronger Holy spirit spoken to me over 10 years ago when I started my health issues. I sat and prayed with everything I was dealing with back then. He put a song on my heart which was I am an overcomer by Mandisa. And the song stronger. Through this pastor He reminded me that I am an overcomer like before and to hold on. I have been since everything started then and will be moving forward through His strength. We have an amazing papa who loves so dearly and will speak just the way we can hear!
Faith was dealing with stomach pain that started in August that we thought got resolved. How it started was that I got a call from the school that she threw up. Got her home and she threw up fifteen times that day. Since then, she has been dealing with tummy issues. So, I was praying, asking the Holy Spirit to speak to me what to do so things with her tummy issues gets better. He has been. Other things were going on with Moses' job too. I saw the neurologist who tested and has some area of the nerve in question but wanted me to wait to run an EMG test and told me to keep up with B12 injections as it can drop and won't maintain as my body can't absorb in food and recommended that I get physical therapy for another issue I had with sciatic nerve. Took 10 injections in three weeks. While I was dealing with all of this, my body was not supporting me. Each time I wanted to do something, I asked Him to give me the strength to do the things. Whether it's cooking, kids, dealing with Faith tummy issues, my stomach issues, home, etc. There were days every week I couldn't get up from the bed and could barely walk. Some of the nights it was so bad that Moses asked me if I want to go to the ER. I said no and just prayed. I got my iron infusion on 9/16 (Monday) (that's the only day they had available). When I was getting the iron infusion, the nurse asked me how they diagnosed mine as far as autoimmune. I told her the whole thing about the nudging of the Holy Spirit, and she said, oh my God, it’s giving me goosebumps. She also said it’s hard to diagnose that and that her grandmother passed away from it. Thank God for His nudging and wisdom! My symptoms doubled after taking it. I was miserable for the next few days. I have been praying for a while that, Lord, retreat is coming, and it is just a couple days away now. Please give me the strength to do what I planned on doing. So, each day, I was taking care of a few things for the retreat. It went on like that for a while. Moses looked at how I was feeling. He said you and Faith could stay back, and Rachel, Leah and he would go. I was like, no. I am praying about it, and He will take care of it.
In the past for the ICF retreats our family usually went on a Friday to the retreat place, set up, and have most of it ready before we start the retreat on Saturday. This year we had to go on Saturday morning given everything that was going on. On 9/18 (Wednesday), I had to get blood work again for B12 and some infection they suspected in my stomach. The lady who took the blood poked too many times and way too hard to a point there was excruciating pain in my right arm/hand/shoulder and neck. I couldn't put my hand straight. On 9/19 (Thursday) I had my PT Evaluation. I had my first session, and the therapist put a tape to hold it for a couple days for the pain on the sciatic nerve area! I had to see the doctor on 9/20 (Friday) for the arm pain etc. because of the needle pokes who told me it would take at least seven days to feel any relief and checked for any damage that might happen. Then I came home, prayed, and started putting things for the retreat (snacks, drinks, tea stuff), packed our stuff, etc., as the retreat was the next day.
We left, picked up Rachel from Bloomington, and came to the retreat. We arrived at the retreat, and I knew He would give me supernatural strength to take care of the things that I planned to do through me, and that's exactly what He did! For the next two days, He gave me strength like no other. I was able to do things that I couldn't do before and was too weak. He walked me through it. For the person who could barely walk some days and was like that until the day before the retreat. Who couldn't stand for 10 minutes at a time, burning, and all the other symptoms to making me walk, stand, etc., at the retreat for two days!! If anyone who was at the retreat would have seen me a day before or before that, they would have been in awe of how I was walking like nothing happened. He can only do that! I was dealing with so much and every day was different with new symptoms or worse of the ones I had and how miserable I was feeling physically. Didn't know what to expect.
Saturday was the first day I felt good strength with less to none of some symptoms, etc., in a month and a half. Before that we went places and gatherings where at least burning pain of feet or other symptoms was bothering. At the retreat was almost nothing! I was able to take care of the set up for the snacks, made tea a couple times, clean up, pack, drove the golf cart and more. Some of us went for a walk on Sunday morning at the retreat. I know the devil doesn't give up. Two times, I felt like I was going to stop breathing and was choking. Can't express the feeling. It wanted me to attack twice that morning. I prayed, "Lord, you take care of it, and the enemy has no power over me and started worshipping Him. As I said that, I felt better. The enemy brought so many things to stop me at the retreat, but our God is bigger. Faith fell and her skin came off on her knee. Took care of her while I was making tea on the other side of the camp area. Rachel got hurt at the retreat on her ankle. As I was typing this, I got a call from my gynecologist saying they found three fibroids in the ultrasound which I got on 9/19 (Thursday). That could be the reason for the heavy bleeding that I was having. We dropped Rachel and came home.
We had to make an appointment for Rachel so she could see the doctor as the swelling and the pain was bad from the injury she had at the retreat. We were not there to check on her. She did go to the doctor but thankfully there was no fracture. She still needs to monitor that area as it changed. All my symptoms came back right after the retreat, and I was down again. Next day on 9/23 some things were bugging my heart (not my health). So, I prayed and asked Him. The next morning 9/24 at 9:04am, I received a text from a friend from church who said " I really admire the Jesus in you that perseveres through adversity. You are a shining light for the Lord." He sent what I wanted to hear for what I asked Him the day before! On 9/25 I was talking to my mom and saying, nothing matters. What we do, we got to do it for Him, stay faithful and be prepared for His return. Couple hours later, I came across this - God is staying to you today. No one knows the day I return, not even the angels in Heaven but the Father alone. So, live each day as if I am coming soon. Keep your heart ready. Stay faithful and let your light shine in this world and so on!! Isn't He an awesome Father? Coincidence? Not! Same day, the nurse from the gynecologist called and said she will need to set up an appointment with the surgeon to discuss fibroids. That night I was sitting on the bed. I came across Psalms 112:7 that says, "I am not afraid of bad news because my heart is firmly fixed trusting in the Lord" Then I was like Lord, whatever the bad news is I firmly want to trust you and will be faithful. I felt like He was preparing me.
On 9/26 I had to get an ultrasound near the breast/arm pit as there was a lump. They did a mammogram on 9/9. I was waiting for the results. I was driving home after the mammogram, and I stopped because of the red light. I looked up and saw the license plate of the car in front of me. it said, "Have Faith"! Coincidence? Not! The same night I asked Faith to get a book for me to read to her. She ended up getting a book that talked about people in the Bible that their faith healed them etc. Coincidence? Not! The same day I had to see the doctor about left side stomach pain who said I need to see a gastroenterologist. Meanwhile my hematologist wanted me to get outpatient surgery/procedure (endoscopy) to check the throat, stomach and take the biopsy to check three major things. On 9/27 I was talking to my mom sitting outside my physical therapy appointment. I told my mom I want to keep my faith no matter what and not let go. I have been telling this to her all the time, especially since August as things were happening back-to-back. I told her enemy is trying so many things. I went inside to get my PT. of all the sessions I had, this was the first session he made me wait, so I was sitting. I lifted my head up and I saw a sign that said, "Persistence never give up" Coincidence? Not!
On 9/28 we had a fellowship that we met. I was praying prior to that for God to give me strength. So, on the day of, I was able to cook, cooked an extra dish than what I signed up for, got ready and went! We were supposed to study a series. I had it in my heart to worship and pray but as a group we had to do the study. Only a few showed up, so we decided to just do that and leave the study for next time! We watched a message about prayer. There were three points he talked about. Two out of them were patience (which I thank God for that He has given me and persistence (same one that He showed me on the wall at PT after what I told mom)! Then the burning of my feet started as the meeting was coming to close but I was thankful that He gave me strength till then. On 9/29 I was in the kitchen, prayed and asked the Lord to give me strength to cook. I asked Alexa to play Christian songs (randomly). It played a song called That's who I praise by Brandon Lake. It says I wanna dance like David, I wanna faith like Paul etc. He knows my heart of what I wanna be like in faith. I danced to the song and worshipped Him repeatedly. On 9/30 I had an appointment with the gyno surgeon to discuss three fibroids. The first question he asked me was "Do you know about your pap smear results that was done on 9/6?" I said, yes, the nurse called and said it looks good and normal. He turned around with a shocked face and said, "it's not and it's abnormal". He discussed and said that I can be aggressive and get a procedure done to get the biopsy or wait a year and see. He also discussed three fibroids and said one might be the culprit for heavy bleeding. He said having the autoimmune and losing blood through my period is not good. I have to always monitor my B12/iron levels to make sure they are good which is impossible to know until bloodwork is done. He discussed procedures/surgeries etc. which I still need to decide which route to go. I know He will guide me through. I only went to talk about fibroids and ended up coming to know about abnormal pap smear.
I came out and started driving the car. The enemy wanted me to cry, and the Holy Spirit wanted me to play the same song. That's who I praise and worship Him (did you see how I started my testimony?) I want to give praise to our God. He Nudged me to start that before I knew some of the things about my health. So, I played that song and started worshipping Him and said you have no power over my body only my God does. That night I was sitting and came across Psalms 121:7-8. It says "The Lord will keep you from ALL harm He will watch over your life The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Coincidence from Psalm 112:7 a few days ago and now? Not! On 10/1 I was changing the calendar from September to October. Guess what it says, Ask in faith! October is my birthday month! On 10/2 Faith got sick. Took her to the doctor and they said she had pneumonia. Praising God that I was able to take her to the doctor on time. She started to get the treatment for it right away. I got my mammogram results, and it said I had no breast cancer! Praise God! On 10/4, I went to physical therapy again and the therapist asked me how old my kids are. I told him that and the age gap between Rachel and Leah and Leah and Faith. I told him it's God and talked about Him. The next I knew we were talking full on about Jesus and having faith etc. God even gave me a believer physical therapist!
On 10/4 to 10/6 Rachel had a chai alpha (Christian organization) fall break away. Guess where it was? It was at the same place where the ICF retreat was. Same place she took sessions for the teens and where she got hurt. Now, she organized a group choreography and sang solo for a talent show and had a great time spending time in His presence with her friends even with her ankle getting hurt two weeks ago at ICF retreat. Coincidence? Not! He can only do that! On 10/5 we had a wedding to go to. I was thinking how can I deal with these many symptoms, burning feet that’s painful and sciatica pain. Moses again said do you want to stay? I said, no I will go. I prayed again and said Lord, you give me strength. I looked for the saree etc. just a day before as I couldn't before because of the way I was feeling. I prayed that it fit me correctly and it did! Everyone loved the saree and the combination :) On 10/05 morning at 3.30am, the burning was gone! I felt like He touched my feet. They became cold. I got up in the morning, just running around and getting ready. We went to the wedding and didn't feel ANY pain! I even danced like there was no tomorrow (I love dancing)! the way I was dancing. If someone would have seen me a day before, they would have been shocked to see me dancing with no pain. We came home after the wedding; I took a shower and went to bed. The burning etc. came back at 1.30am. He stopped everything for me for the wedding!
On 10/8 they set up my EMG test in November as the symptom were getting worst. Next couple of days I had to do things where I asked for His strength. Which He did give me. I had to cancel my MRI appointment for a few reasons. He miraculously gave me that appointment on 10/10 evening. Waiting for the results. On 10/11 early morning I had my outpatient surgery/procedure (that’s the only day they had open for this) to look inside my throat/stomach and send tissue for biopsy which I am waiting for the results. God made a way for Rachel to come(as she was on fall break) on 10/10 day before my procedure so she took Leah and Faith to school the next day. He took care of the girls so we didn’t have to the day of my procedure! I had to stop my blood thinner and all the medicines for 7 to 10 days. I didn't stop my blood thinner for that long in five years, but I know He got me. I had a blood clot in the past and bilateral dissections in my neck. Got it done and after the procedure, I was in pain and coughing. The doctor said I had a lot of saliva and they had to suction a lot. My throat was hurting a lot, I had a severe headache and stomach was hurting. I was sipping water and eating Jell-O. While I was on the bed, I was organizing the food/pizza for the ICF meeting for the next day. So, I couldn't take calls that I received from the ladies. So, texting people instead of talking. I am asking the Lord to give me strength and heal me for the next day to do what I need to do and in turn to Him to get glory through me. I was texting the ladies and trying to take care of the food. I came across this. Faith is seeing light with your heart when all your eyes see is darkness. In a way God is keeping me strong to continue to have faith in Him even after all of this. Before going to bed, I was finishing my testimony and I said to Moses, maybe I should write a book of testimonies. Maybe they will help someone who might be going through the same things. I went to bed after.
On 10/12 morning, I woke up and I got a message from someone at 4.44am who said their B12 was low and taking meds. Doctor asked her to take injections and she is scared to take them. I told her what I told Moses the night before and I got her text in the morning. I told her to go ahead and start taking the injections. She said she will do that and thanked me. Coincidence? Not! I got up to start cooking for ICF. I went to wash my face and my throat was hurting like crazy. I started to spit, and blood was coming and next thing I know a small piece of tissue came out! When we say His name and see what He is doing, the enemy wants to something else. But God, turn that around. After that I came down and started making mango lassi and other items. Moses asked me to stay back and not come to ICF as I just had a procedure yesterday and I was feeling awful and in pain. I said no, I will come. I need to set up the food and make sure everything (food etc.) is taken care of and I can’t let the enemy stop me to give a glimpse of my testimony. I was praying for Him to give me strength. There is no way I would talk or be like this if it's not for Him. There is no testimony without a test. I know it's not my strength that I was able to do what I did at the retreat, every ICF gathering or in general anywhere. It's all because of the strength and patience He has given me every time. I want to give all the glory to Him alone!
Moses had to start going through the transition process on 9/20 from his old job as that company that he worked for got acquired by another company. This was a day before ICF retreat. I told Moses and we talked and said God knows what's best for us and let His will be done. After the retreat, that week, Moses was offered the same position into the new company till 12/31/24 (3 months). let His will be done after that. Moses is a very hard worker in his job, and I thank God for giving him the knowledge and wisdom to do his job. In the middle of this, the guy who worked for the new company, the same as Moses' position, gave two weeks' notice and left the company! Though Moses just started with the new company just a couple weeks ago, he is considered as a senior as the guy who worked with them is gone and they rely on Moses more now. God is amazing and works in mysterious ways.
The enemy never stops, and so is our God! Choice is ours of how we look at things and handle with the help of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is always with us, and we don't have to look for help anywhere. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide us and simply have faith in Him no matter what knowing He got us. He will take care of the rest! As I was dealing with all of this, I was talking to my family, etc., about that I want to continue to have faith in Him no matter what. I say that, and I feel like the enemy brought something else. Then our precious Father spoke to me every time that happened through something. God always looks at our hearts and our intentions. The outer being doesn’t matter, and I know my heart. I don't know what my future holds with this many things going on, but I know He is with me every second and every step of the way regardless of how it looks, uncertainty etc. So, like I requested my mom when I talk to her not to pray for my health or healing but pray for my faith to grow even stronger and continue to stay faithful to Him during this as I know He will take care of the rest in His time. His timing is always perfect and is so much better than ours. Nothing that happened are coincidences but more God-incidences. I am sure there are a lot more that have happened, and I will write them as I think of them and what happens down the road. I know I said this already, but I want to close with this. I am just a vessel. I want to bring Him glory in all that I do. MAY HE ALONE GET THE GLORY THROUGH ME AND THIS TESTIMONY! AMEN!