I Can Walk!

“I am the Lord, I have heard you calling. I am your God, I have seen your tears, I AM! I AM! Soon all will see My glory thru your weakness, soon all will know My Name throughout the land. I AM! I AM! I AM THE LORD!”

June 15, 2012 I went in to yet another doctor, Dr. Matsunaga, a local guy recommended to me by a friend at church. Having been to multiple doctors over the past 6 months that were unable to help me walk without severe pain I had little hope that his treatment would be effective. My husband had scheduled a trip to Deep Creek, just the two of us, for the weekend & I secretly prayed that I would be able to walk for our trip. Dr. Matsunaga is a pain specialist & he treats people with RSD (Reflexive Sympathetic Dystrophy) or its newer term CRPS (Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome). He said he was going to give me a shot in the region of my tailbone that was intended to stop the pain going down my leg into my foot. If it helped then my diagnosis would be CRPS & he could treat me with these shots of steroids, saline & pain medicine. He said I may need the shot a couple of times to get the pain message turned off & return to my previous level of function. He also said if it didn’t help immediately but felt better in a couple of days it was more of a lower back issue & the steroids were helping that. Either way, I should have a pain relief & a diagnosis.

I was a little skeptical because it sounded so simple. I lay on my stomach waiting for the injection hoping against hope that it would help. I began to feel a warm sensation down my leg & foot as the medication made its way into my system. I laid there for a few minutes & then he asked me to stand up. THE PAIN WAS GONE! I could stand (a little wobbly since I hadn’t walked in 6 months) but I stood on 1 foot, my right foot without pain. I couldn’t even believe it! I thanked Dr. Matsunaga & his assistants for their treatment with a polite hug & a grateful smile. DJ & I calmly walked out of the office & wept tears of joy in each other’s arms outside the office doors. Across the hall was a cancer treatment office & people looked at us with empathy. Even in the elevator, as kind people attempted to console me, I tried to explain that my tears were tears of joy not sadness, tears of relief from the constant disabling pain. We had finally found an answer, I had CRPS but there was a treatment & possibly a cure as the shots built upon one another if I went in as soon as I felt pain.

We drove home, I walked up the steps, I cried. We went to the pool to pick up the boys (a friend of mine was babysitting the boys at the pool)…I walked through the gate of the pool & embraced my boys. I cried as the boys leapt up & down saying, “Mom, you can WALK!” I took a little hand & walked back to the car & more tears fell. I had been holding in my fears & anxieties about my future in for so long & the tears came out everytime I did anything that I used to not be able to do without great pain.   

                DJ & I had a wonderful time in Deep Creek walking along the lake, enjoying God’s creation & each other. Since that time I have had another shot & scheduled for my 3^rd shot this week. I may not return to running & leaping in the immediate future but I am walking & able to care for my precious family.

Thank you all for your encouragement, kindness & prayers extended to me & my family through this whole ordeal. I am overwhelmed with gratitude.

 I Samuel 12:24 “Be sure to fear the Lord & serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.” He has done GREAT things for me! 

We are back on the adoption trail now & excited about what God has in store for us. I am not back to work as I am not sure I can stand for 12 hours just yet but I have been able to be the camp nurse for a few local church camps which has been just as good for me as it has been for my boys that attend. I have been enjoying my “legs” so much that I am not really on Facebook much or blogging often, however, I will update on our adoption journey. 

Remember to treasure each day for it is a gift from God, as is your family, friends & whatever health you may have. Cherish it all, make the most of each moment, WALK in your calling!