Precious Pearls

Finding beauty in trials!

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Soaring Day 1:

6 Days of Suffering

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6 Days of Soaring

Signifying 6 Years

May 27, 2023

“Medical Miracles”

“Walking Miracles” Matthew West

From a medical perspective, I will always consider myself a walking miracle.  The chorus of today’s song reminds us to keep our eyes open because God has placed miraculous people all around us. 

“Oh, they’re all around us everywhere we go
The proof that we should never give up hope
‘Cause we serve a God who turns impossible
Into living, breathing, walking miracles”

I don’t think I will ever understand why God chose me to be one of those living, breathing, walking miracles, but I am!   Four key things continue to remind me of God’s miraculous work in my healing process. 

First, I was told on multiple occasions that amputation was a possibility.  Today, I continue to walk on my own leg and foot. 

Second, my foot was rebuilt by fusing cadaver bone to fragments of my bone and stabilized with pins for three months.  The objective was for the cadaver bone to become strong enough to support me.  After those three months, I was scheduled for surgery to remove the pins.  Shortly before my surgery, I was told there was a possibility that my whole foot could crumble once the pins were removed.  The pins were removed, and my foot remained intact. 

My ankle presented a different problem. It was, for lack of a better term, locked in a raised position.  Even though I was non-weight bearing, doctors were concerned that my ankle would not allow my foot to lower.  This unnatural position could have prevented me from walking.  During my third surgery, my doctor was able to apply pressure to my ankle to release it slightly.  Following an eight week healing period, I began physical therapy.  As we worked on weight bearing and walking, God enabled my heel to lower-a third miracle! 

My last physical miracle relates to the screws and plates holding my ankle together.  About a week after the accident, my ankle was rebuilt with 3 plates and over 20 screws. I was told following surgery that the screws would never come out. Never. My doctor was emphatic. In fact, my doctor said, “If they come out, your whole ankle will fall apart!” But the left side of my ankle was extremely painful.  For months, I repeatedly requested my doctor to remove the plates and screws on that side.  Six months following the accident, I renewed the request to my doctor.  After reviewing X-rays from that visit, he told me the screws could be removed the following summer.  Only the Lord could produce such thorough healing after such extensive damage.  God enabled my doctor to have incredible skill and an immense amount of wisdom to know exactly how to treat my injury. 

Although I will never have full strength and use of my ankle and foot, I know it is only God’s power and grace that allowed me to heal to this extent. 

Psalm 139:13 refers to the beauty of a child growing in his mother’s womb. 

“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb.” 

When I ponder this verse, I am reminded that God needed to reform the inward parts of my foot and ankle. How amazing to consider that the God who formed my body when I was a tiny baby, imparted wisdom to my doctor and allowed my bones to strengthen enough to be used again!