Ridgell's Originals

Some of you will know about this and some will not.

Our daughter Julie has been on a very long five year medical journey.  She had internal issues that just could not get diagnosed.  During that time she went to Drs. in Abilene, specialists in the Dallas area, and specialists in a major medical facility in Central Texas.  Test after test, a few surgeries, and lots of "don't worry, we will fix this."  Bills, bills, and more bills.

There was suspicion of pancreatic cancer, congestive heart failure, and kidney failure.

Pain, exhaustion, fear, and depression.  For Julie, her husband Bobby, parents and family, kids.

But we kept begging God for answers and healing.  Our elders prayed and anointed her with oil.  She prayed.  We prayed.  For five years.

Sometimes we got our hopes up, sometimes we were resigned to life as it was.

Julie kept working, kept doing the best she could to be a wife and mom.  Fought to believe and to keep her faith.  Lived by Philippians 4:6.  Giving it to God.  Nursed her son Jake through a bout with Kawasaki disease, buried her Pap-pa, worked as a school nurse, even taught Bible school.  Lived and worked with situations I am not sure I could have handled.

Kept working to believe that she was not crazy and that God could -- and would -- someday heal her.

Finally, a couple of years ago the Doctors began to narrow it down to bladder issues.  Kept asking God to find her a Doctor that could help.  Or for God to just heal her.  Then she found Dr. Rinard, an Abilene girl who came home to practice.  Said the same things everyone else said.  But this time it was true.  

She got approval for a new treatment.  Insurance came through.  Had two surgeries this month.

Had a checkup yesterday and everything really is working.  Feels better than she has in five years.

Healed.

So glad for our GP, Dr. Chad, who is a believer and a friend.  Thankful God used Dr. Rinard who I do not even know but I love her.

But mostly thankful to God and giving him the glory.  We are.  Julie is.  The whole family is.  Our church family is.  The kids are celebrating Mommy's healing.

After five years.

So here are a couple of things I have learned.

God always heard.

He is in charge.

He did answer our prayer and heal our Julie.

He would have still been God and we would still have praised him and given him glory even if we were still waiting.

Never quit.  Never give up.

Faith.  Family.  God.  Jesus.  Love.

And gratitude.

So thanks God for healing Julie.  Thanks for being patient with us when we were frustrated.  Thanks for drying the tears.  Thanks for equipping good doctors.  But we believe the healing came from you.  So we give you the praise and the glory.  And we will not forget.  We will tell others what you have done.  We will use this story to bring others to know you and your son.  

GO GOD.