Being raised as a Catholic, I always believed in God.  However, I saw church as a dictate from my parents. Although I no longer attended church, I joined a spiritually based recovery program in my twenties. Six years ago, I began going to a Christian Church. My attendance was sporadic and I lacked commitment. In 2005, I became ill.  After a year of seeing various doctors without a diagnosis, my doctor referred me to Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.  A neurologist at Mayo diagnosed me with an incurable brain disorder.  I had chronic pain and spent most of my days in bed. I experienced dementia, seizures, tremors, paralysis and extreme fatigue.         

In March of 2009, my doctors at Mayo Clinic informed me that there was nothing else they could do for me. I had tried the two forms of treatment available, but both were unsuccessful. I was told my chronic pain would persist and my other symptoms would increasingly become worse. Although my faith had remained constant during the four years of my illness, I returned home depressed.

When I didn’t have the energy to drive to my former church, I decided to go to Ginger Creek because it was close.   A strange thing happened to me when I entered the building, I felt “at home” for the first time in my life. When I introduced myself to Sherryl after the newcomer’s breakfast before I knew it I began to sob and tell her my story.  She started spending time with me the very next day.  She made me realize my illness catapulted my commitment to become a Christian. For the first time in my life I began to read the Bible.  After that, I experienced a miraculous recovery. Although the doctors told me that my condition would only worsen, I no longer spend most of my days in bed and live in chronic pain. Now I walk without a cane and my cognitive abilities have returned. I believe that God will supply all of the strength I need to move forward as a committed Christian.  Today is the first step.  Rec'd 12/2/2009