Through the years I have written about a very unusual birth defect, and how it could have caused my death as a young woman. I am no longer young, and God has been so faithful – how can He NOT be? He is True and Loving and Faithful, and He never changes.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17).
In 1974 I went to my doctor for a check up. After looking in my left ear, he told me that he saw a red mass and asked if I was in pain. I told him that I had no pain in that ear. He put me on two courses of antibiotics, but told me that the “mass” was still there. He sent me to an ENT.
The Operation
The ENT also tried strong antibiotics, but seeing no change, he decided that he needed to do an exploratory surgery. Remember – this was 1974, before technology gave us CT Scans and MRI’s.
When I awoke after the surgery, this doctor told me only a part of what had transpired during that operation. He said that I was born without a bone in my middle ear, and that he had placed teflon sheeting to replace the missing bone. That was all he said. But he kept sending me to have x-rays done of the left side of my neck. He never explained why he needed those.
1983- Pain in the left ear Incapacitated me
Years later, I had excruciating pain in my left ear. It was the worst pain I have ever experienced in my life. When I would lay down, the pain lessened. But when I would sit or stand up, this horrific pain would cause me to vomit. I had been saved just months before. I remember crying out to God to please take me because I could not stand the pain any longer.
My GP got me admitted to a hospital. They did a spinal tap which came back normal. Elders from my church came to lay hands on me and to pray. I remember that during the night, I awoke several times and I heard a voice say “Go back to sleep – I am here.” This happened all night. It was probably a dream, but I believe that the Lord Jesus was comforting me throughout that night.
In the morning when I awoke, I was able to stand – I still had pain, but not incapacitating. I went home. I knew that the Lord was in total control, and that was the most comforting thought. I can’t prove this, but I believe with all of my heart that I had an aneurysm, and again God saved my life.
The pain that remained was mostly behind my left ear. My GP said I should see an ENT, so I found one and went to him. This ENT told me that I had a tumor in my left eardrum which had to be operated on. I told him the story of my exploratory surgery in 1974. This doctor wanted to see the operative report. But he also wanted me to have an arteriogram. During that procedure, he saw that what appeared to be a tumor, was actually my carotid artery in the wrong place. He told me that he might have killed me if he had proceeded with the surgery.
He also told me that the artery had a kink and a stenosis (thinned area) which could impact the blood flow to my brain.
He stressed to me the importance of having the operative report from 1974. He wanted to see what had happened in that operating room.
The Operative Report
I called the first doctor’s office to ask for the operative report and the receptionist came back and said that they didn’t have those records anymore. My new doctor told me to tell them that my attorney would be the next one to call. When I called back and used the term “attorney” -all of a sudden they had the report!
In this report of what transpired in the operating room, the doctor wrote that he saw a large vessel which he thought might be the jugular bulb but that it was in the wrong place. He said that it was attached to a bone, so he dissected it from the bone and it bled profusely. He then said that he applied pressure to stop the bleeding, and then covered the wound with gel foam and teflon sheeting. This doctor had never mentioned any of this to me after that surgery.
When the doctor read the operative report, these are the words he said to me: “You are a walking miracle because that doctor punctured your carotid artery. You should have had a major stroke or died.”
Fast forward to 1990’s – early 2000’s
I had stayed home with my children when they were young. In the 1990’s I got my first job since before the children were born. I felt a bit overwhelmed at the job. I wasn’t sure that I would be able to continue that job. I gave them notice.
I went through quite a few jobs and began to feel so bad about myself. I felt stupid and it was embarrassing to me. I noticed as time went on that learning new things at jobs was becoming harder and harder for me. I kept feeling that there might be something wrong with me, but then I just thought that I was not smart enough to hold down these jobs.
In 2006 I got a job with a computer company. I wore many hats at this company and for the first time I felt good and comfortable. The boss seemed appreciative of me and told me that I had a job there as long as I wanted it. But then I was doing so many different things including marketing and the books, I once again started to feel overwhelmed.
My boss became frustrated with me. I was not retaining what I was learning. It had gotten really bad. Then this boss let me go. I was devastated. I went into a deep depression.
The MRI
My husband and I decided that it was time to look for a possible physiological reason for my problems. My neurologist ordered an MRI. The results showed an area of my brain where the cells had died. This area was exactly where the affected artery sent blood into my brain. The kink and stenosis was restricting the blood flow to my brain. It was getting through but not as fast as the doctor thought that it should.
After that, I had a team of doctors monitoring the artery. They felt that the first doctor who had done the exploratory had caused the “kink” when he attempted to patch up the vessel. It was at this time that I started to have small seizures. The doctors also felt that the seizures were from this damaged artery and the lack of oxygen to my brain.
If I had never gone for that checkup, I may have never known about the aberrant carotid artery. It was a birth defect and would have remained silent. But that first exploratory surgery was in 1974. I was born again in 1983. I knew that everything that had happened, the Lord allowed. I also knew that He miraculously saved my life more than once.
Writing articles for the Lord
Almost 4 years ago I began writing articles. As I would write, the words would just seem to flow. I would ask the Lord what I should write about, and usually within hours I would feel in my spirit what I was to write.
But recently I have been struggling. The part of my brain which is affected by restricted blood flow, controls speech/language, vision and short term memory. Finding words is becoming increasingly difficult. One day about a month ago, my vision began to blur and the tinnitus which I always have had in my left ear became so much louder. I was also having trouble with balance. My doctor told me to go to the ER.
After every test known to man, including CT scans and an MRI, I was told that the area in my brain affected by my artery was widening – there was more cell death. There was a team of neurologists seeing me. They told me what I already knew; that it would be terribly dangerous to attempt to straighten out the “kink” in this artery. They told me to make sure I take aspirin every day to thin my blood.
Prayer
May I ask the readers to please pray for me? The doctors have made it clear that I am at high risk for stroke. I know that God is in control, but I also know that Jesus spoke so much about prayer, and He was always in prayer to His Father.
“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16).
What a glorious thought!
Much love in Yeshua
MARANATHA!
OH MY! Thank you for sharing your experiences and your heart in these matters. I found your blog about a year ago and so very much appreciate your writings. Your level of research shows in every post. Your faith is evident and I know God is going to continue to go with you. God bless you, Geri!
Geri I thought I might share the Bible Verse. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18New King James Version (NKJV)
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
We all have things we go through as Born Again Believers in Jesus Christ but He is faithful even when we are not. I long to be in heaven with no sin, disability, pain or any our things and have our new bodies at the Rapture of the Church.
I will keep you in prayer
God Bless You
Dear Geri,
My heart is heavy with sorrow for your illness. I love your articles. These articles are truly interesting and inspirational.I will pray for you and your speedy recovery. You will of course be in the best of all hands-the hands of the Lord. We can never be in a better place than that.
In Christ’s love, Deb Beck
Sent from my iPad
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Wow Geri…you are a miracle! No matter what happens…we have the wonderful peace of Jesus and the knowledge that he is in control. We also have access to the Throne. I will be praying for you. Your writings have blessed me and my husband. Take care. ❤️
Love you Geri. You”ve been a source of inspiration, accountability, knowledge, and love. I will be praying for you…no matter what occurs. We love you…God Almighty Loves you so much more!
Will be praying for your husband and family, also.💖
Amazing testimony. . . I am praying for you. Maranatha!
I will pray for your complete healing. God Bless You. I hope that you will be able to continue writing for WordPress.
Sent from my Windows Phone ________________________________
I’ll be praying for you. If you have to stop writing I’ll miss your articles but you do what’s best for your health.
God Bless
The articles you have been led to write as led by the Holy Spirit , keep us well informed and have been such a blessing so we will miss them if you must stop. I will be praying for you every day.
God bless you and yours and Maranatha!
Praying that the Lord will heal you and that you will recover completely from all of the health issues that you mention in your article.
God bless you Geri.
Oh Geri! We have never met but I love you, I watch for your articles because the Holy Spirit uses them to minister to me and educate me in so many ways, I am so looking forward to meeting you Sister. Nothing has more power than the blood – nothing can stop its life-giving flow, God bless and give you strength love.
Maranatha!
Like those who’ve commented before me, I too have been blessed by your articles. The Lord has used your gifts in a powerful way and I’m grateful for your witness to us who have grown in our faith and understanding because you’ve followed the will of our Lord Jesus. I’m praying for Jesus to heal you and as Mesach, Shadrach and Abendego kept their faith no matter what happened when they were placed in the fire, our Lord has you…always.
God’s blessings and much love from your sister in Christ.
You have touched many lives with your writing, mine included, and no doubt, you’ve touched the lives of others in your own personal life. I will be praying for you as well. May God bless you with the peace that only He can give.
My hubby and I just prayed for you and will continue to do so. We prayed specifically that if we are not Raptured out of here soon, then the Lord will hive you more time to be able to write and not have any more issues with your brain.
I am truly sorry to find out you have such a serious medical condition that could become worse and cause you to not write anymore, and that an idiot doctor made your situation worse.
I can so relate to the issues you have had in trying to learn and retain information, but mine is due to ADHD. Learning, retaining, staying focused, trying to understand imstructiond and verbalize my thoughts has always been a struggle, like a blockage is in my brain. These issues constantly leave me feeling insecure about how I do my joband I am in constant fear of making mistakes and job security—-yes, this condition has caused me to lose a few jobs over the years.
My heart goes out to you and I hope you can continue to find comfort in the fact that the Lord has His hands on you!
BTW, I have no doubt that was Yeshua speaking to you that time you were in the hospital.
Please stay encouraged!
YSIC….Dee Holmes.
What a blessing and a testimony you are. God is indeed with you and will continue to carry you through this life until His time to carry you home.
I will pray for you too. The Lord Jesus Christ uses your writing(s) to instruct, inform, inspire, and equip (not only me but countless other people – I am sure)! My hope is that the Lord will enable you to continue teaching and ministering through your articles.
May God bless you for your faithfulness.
2 Chronicles 16:9 – “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.”
Psalm 62:8 – “Trust in Him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before Him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.”
I will pray for you, your ministry of writing, and your family. God Bless you all
Geri, I have never logged in to comment before, but your blog has been such a blessing to me. Your bold witness to the truth and words of encouragement have strengthened me in my ability to discern truth from lies, and to be able to better bear with the mistreatment I have endured from family and friends because of my faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. I have often been concerned when you haven’t posted in a while, and prayed hard for you but now I understand why. I will miss your articles, but you and your family will always be in my heart and prayers. May God bless you in whatever way He sees fit to use your witness going forward, and I pray that He will comfort and heal you completely in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
I WILL pray for you,i have been reading your articles for a long time and thank God for you! The Lord has truly blessed you with a wonderful gift! May He give you that peace that surpasses all understanding during this time!!! Your sister in Christ,Nora Carnahan
Praying for all the best the Lord has planned for you Geri and Tim and your family in Jesus’ wonderful name, amen.
Although I have never commented before I have read many of your letters. I always look forward to your next entry. You have been such an encouragement to me.
I have been blessed by your ministry. It has opened my eyes to the evil often hidden in plain sight. Through your writing I have been introduced to JD Farrag and other end times teachers.
You are definitely in my thoughts and prayers.
Hi Geri,
I found your site about one year ago and could hardly contain my excitement! The very best most Godly, well written, informative articles I have found. I love your writings and if you must quit I will immensely miss them. I have been so blessed to have them. You have already been in my prayers and I shall now pray to God and my Lord Jesus for a complete recovery. God Bless you and your family.
Geri i am so saddened to know of all your suffering with all of this and my heart truly goes out to you. i will keep praying, i promise. stay strong n hopeful my dear lady, Shalom….and yes, we all appreciate and love you sister. May our Good Shepard keep you through n through, amen* i have such respect for you, your Wonderful ! Thank You….We are trusting Yeshua
Standing with you in prayers for your miracle healing by the Great Physician. I know that Matthew 8:17 says HE took our sicknesses. If He has carried them away, you can’t have it. Please stand on that scripture against all medical reports. Shalom. Love you.
I’ll be praying as well. I have found your articles insightful and very useful. Be of good cheer, sister….
Lifting you up right now and going forward Geri !!!!
Praying for you. Believing with mustard seed faith for your healing
I want you all to know that I am so humbled and so overcome with emotion at you caring comments! It’s wonderful to know that so many of my brothers and sisters in Christ are holding me up in prayer! I can’t wait to meet all of you in heaven 🙂
Geri: I am so sorry to hear this. God is able and He will bring you through this too. I believe He will use you even in a greater capacity. I will definitely be praying for you my dear sister in Christ.
Maranatha
Joy