Stregnth, Determination, Family

My sister Sandy, who resides in Jamaica, has had the sickle cell disease which has kept her in and out of hospitals all her life due to one of the major symptoms of sickle cell which is, excruciating pain in the joints during a flare up or crisis. In addition to frequent pain crises my sister has had a non healing leg ulcer for over twenty years. If you can imagine what a flesh eating bacteria wound looks like, this is what my sister's leg has looked like all those years and no amount of hospital stays and intensive treatment has been able to heal it. Amputation is the only suggested remedy left as the infection has taken hold of the bone in her shin and now affecting her hip. 

As if that's not enough suffering for one young woman, she had a mild stroke a few days ago and is home again taking medication hopefully to dissolve a blood clot in her head. My sister is a remarkable girl though, because in all of this suffering she maintains, "God is a good God, and I'm not letting him go for anything." 

There were times I begged God for physical pain rather than the emotional pain I endured but truth is God knows I could not have survived physical pain like my sister has because, I have the lowest threshold on pain; terribly afraid of pain. God never gives us more than we can bear and though it is hard for my sister, she is grateful that God has given her the strength to carry her cross and she does it patiently and hopefully every single day.

My sister's case reminds me of the woman in the Bible with the issue of blood for so many years who could not find healing from any physicians she spent her money visiting, but heard that Jesus could heal and reached out to touch him. My sister mentioned a couple of days ago that she would like to be healed like that and so for this reason I ask all of you to please send a prayer up to heaven on behalf of my sister, Sandy. If God would grant her just a break from so much pain and heal her leg, truly it would be a miracle worth praising and rejoicing over. Due to intense embarrassment she won't allow a picture but you can all imagine what her leg must look like.

While Sandy is having trouble, another sister Lavern is graduating teacher's college after more than five years of full time studies, a low paying full time job, two children and gruelling adversities including days when she didn't know where the bus fare would come from to get to classes. Her story is one of remarkable fortitude, determination and a poignant reminder that once we put our minds to something, we can achieve it if we really want it, no matter the obstacles. I will be traveling to Jamaica to celebrate this victory with Lavern and spend some time with Sandy. 

Please pray for me and my family in this season of goodwill, thank you all!