A Hope Story

Written by: Kathryn Gore

Recently I ran across a story of a young women who had a massive stroke and wasn’t expected to live by the end of the night. Her husband came home in between classes (law school) and found her, which he was able to call 911. She was conscious while getting on the stretcher, feeling embarrassed thinking everyone was probably over thinking it, but found herself losing consciousness on the stretcher. She woke up 2 ½ months later in the hospital unsure as to what happened to her.

Yes, she was in a comma due to massive bleeding on the brain. The morning of her stroke, she woke up feeling funny, but she’d been feeling this way for 6 months. At that time, she had her first child 6 months ago and thought nothing of it. When she reached the hospital, the doctor told her husband she had AMV, which is similar to a brain aneurysm, and this was the worst case the doctor had ever seen. Apparently, she had this from birth, but it went undetected until the age of 26, when this scary event took place. The growth grew and exploded leaving her life in the hands of the doctor.

The doctor was scheduled to have an 8-hour operation, but it took 16 hours to move some things around in her body in hope of saving her life. While waiting through surgery, her husband and church family worship the Lord in the waiting room, believing she would make it through. The doctor came out and said to this to them all, “She’s alive.” He wasn’t sure how her life would be after surgery but at least she still had life.

She came out of the surgery forever changed. She had to learn life all over again. The stroke changed the features of her body. She now talks from the side of her mouth and had to learn how to walk again, which she hardly can stand. She was in a lot of pain. It was horrific for her. However, as time went on, she knew God didn’t make a mistake by leaving her here on the earth. She understood the great physician made a sacrifice in order that she may live.

Isn’t that just like God? Sending Jesus to earth as the sacrificial lamb, so that we might live?

Her story is so profound. She has sorrow and joy in her pain. Her life was forever changed but she understood that she must live a life worthy of her Calling. And if God allowed for her to live in such a way, she believes God called her to this state and it’s up to her how the story plays out.  Throughout this horrific life changing event, God blessed her with another son. She has a life, with a husband who stayed and prayed, with children who love her, even though her body will never be the same. Even when we don’t understand, God is still good. She knows the faithfulness of God, living in His goodness every day.

Selah