Sharing my Best Friend’s Testimony
In 1991, at the age of 41, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I had a large mass that protruded out of the bottom of my breast.
I had to have a biopsy to confirm a cancer diagnosis. My mom went with me for the results. The breast surgeon said I would have to have a mastectomy. My mom said to the doctor, “We believe in miracles.” “Yes,” said the doctor, “but she still has to have the breast removed.”
While in the hospital, after the mastectomy, I felt the Lord say not to have chemotherapy. I prayed and said, “Lord, if that is really you, please confirm it to me.” My sister-in-law brought to the hospital a magazine to read. It was Women’s Day. The Lord said to me, “Your answer is in the index of the magazine.” At that time, the index had a scripture verse in each issue. This scripture was my answer: Your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:5
When I returned to have my stitches removed, the breast surgeon walked through the door and said, “You got your miracle.” She had removed 23 lynph nodes and all were negative for cancer. Considering the mass that I had under my breast, she assumed the cancer had spread.
Even though I had no cancer in my lymph nodes, she still wanted me to go to the oncologist to have chemotherapy. Remembering the scripture the Lord had given me, I refused to get the chemo. That was 34 years ago. The doctor was very upset with me and wrote me a letter saying she would not be responsible for my life. That was okay though, because God was the one who took care of me.
In 2005, I had a rare autoimmune disease called Pemphigus vulgaris (Latin for blistering disease). I had a very serve case. I was hospitalized two times. The first time I was admitted was because I was so dehydrated from the disease being in my mouth and throat. It was so painful, I couldn’t eat or drink.
While in the hospital, my lesions had to be washed and new bandages put on 2-3 times a day. The bandages that the nurse used would pull my skin off each time they were removed. When my doctor saw what was happening, he was so mad and told the nurse to use nonstick bandages-the kind they use on burn patients.
The second time I was admitted was because I was not getting better. At this point I had lesions all over my whole body. It was very serious. I was on very heavy doses of medications. As a last resort, the doctor ordered four infusions of Gamma Globulin.
During my recovery, my dermatologist ended up with pancreatic cancer. I was heart broken. He was such a great doctor, the top doctor in his field. When he could no longer practice, I felt like I should write to him about salvation. He was Jewish. I sent him tracts and literature about Jesus and told him I was praying for him. He eventually died, and I never knew if he accepted Christ as his Savior. His wife did send me a note, thanking me for having encouraged and prayed for Doctor Kalish.
I had Pemphigus for six years. The doctor that took over for Dr. K checked my body and could not get over that I did not have even one scar. Although this was a very hard time in my life, I got closer to the Lord and my faith grew. My pastor prayed over me that this disease would not return. A lady in my church had gotten a scripture for me that said: What do ye imagine in the Lord? He will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time. Nahum 1:9
We all go through trials and afflictions in life, but with Christ we can get through them and it be used as a testimony!
Let her testimony be an encouragement to all who read it. Amen!