In 2001, I had a marriage made in heaven, three wonderful little boys, great friends and a house with a white picket fence. I worked as a university instructor and at one of the nation’s top hospitals. All of my hard work had paid off, and I was on my way.
But in a matter of months, my picture-perfect world was shattered. After the birth of my youngest son, I began to experience unusual physical symptoms such as extreme fatigue, numbness and tingling in my limbs, and loss of balance.
After undergoing months of testing and losing my vision in one eye, I heard the dreaded words: “You have multiple sclerosis.” Life as I knew it changed forever.
I would no longer be able to work and was declared legally disabled. My husband began to feel the pressures of being our family’s sole provider. Physically, he stayed for a while, but then, when I needed him most, he left. Our marriage ended in divorce in 2003.
Less than a week after the divorce papers were filed, I was getting out of my SUV around noon one day, in front of my church, when I was robbed at gunpoint. A man walked me to the alley of the church then commanded: “Turn around, run down that alley. Don’t look back. Run for your life.”
With tears rolling down my face and thinking about my three boys, I said, “The blood of Jesus!” And I ran for what seemed like an eternity; then I collapsed.
As I ran down that alley, I realized that God was with me. He spared my life that day. God is so awesome!
If it had not been for my relationship with Him, I would not have survived thus far. But I am a survivor–on many fronts. My prayer has been that my testimony would inspire others to hold on during the darkest hours because God is there.
In 2002, the Lord led me to organize the Walking With Faith team. This is a group of 100 people who participate each year with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society to raise funds to combat multiple sclerosis (MS).
I’ve also started a support group for Christian women with MS, Never Alone Inc. My children, along with other kids and their parents, founded Kids FUN-RAISE for Multiple Sclerosis Inc. Their goal is to raise support for those who have parents and loved ones battling MS. The fundraisers include Kids Roller Skate for MS, Kids Jump Rope for MS and Kids Bowl for MS.
I know the faithfulness of God. He continues to make a way out of no way. He says in His Word, “I will never leave nor forsake you” (Heb. 13:5, NKJV); and He hasn’t.
