Those who have suffered from a long-term chronic illness, or who have supported or lived with someone who is afflicted, will recognise a lot of familiar sentiments in this heartfelt piece from Beth Altrogge, daughter of Mark, who posted this on his blog with her permission.
There are times when you can even forget to hope for healing.
You can almost forget what the ‘normal’ you want to return to is because what you’ve been suffering from has been your ‘normal’ for so long you can barely remember the life you used to live.
Beth shares her story, and her hope.
I’ve been getting headaches since I was 13, and migraines since I was 14. I’m 23.
Since the first day they appeared, year after year, they got worse and worse. My parents took me to numerous doctors, first locally, then in Pittsburgh, then in other cities in other states. I tried all kinds of medicine and therapies, including acupuncture. I took more vitamins and supplements than I can remember, tried diets, and read every migraine article I was given. I was tested for food allergies. I exercised, I didn’t exercise. I drank caffeine, I didn’t drink caffeine. I made many trips to the ER and endured a horrific week in a Philadelphia headache ward in attempt to ease the pain.
Still they came, sometimes constantly for weeks.
I dropped out of college, unable to keep up. I’ve missed church services and events and spent many nights alone, unable to hang out with friends.
For 10 years I’ve repeatedly asked Jesus to heal me. My family’s prayed. My friends have prayed. Even people I don’t know have prayed for me. I’ve gone forward for prayer in church many times and been anointed with oil more than once by pastors.
Often I’ve quit asking, thinking what’s the point – it’s been so long and nothing’s happened. Doctors haven’t helped. Prayers haven’t worked. It’s always going to be this way…
Read the rest here.
via The Blazing Centre.
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