Miracles

Here is our latest update! We had a doctor’s appointment this week and my CD57 cell numbers have dropped. Last time when they were at 92, but now they have dropped to 76. My initial thoughts were frustration, anger, and sadness. We want them at 150 so badly. But the Lyme is trying to survive just as much as I am. My body is its survival and it will do anything to stay alive. I am also currently fighting a co-infection called Babesia. It is something that can be common among Lyme disease patients. Symptoms I have experienced with this has been fevers, chills, and night sweats. I am currently doing a Babesia Protocol to kill it off with an anti-malarial drug. As that dies off my body will be able to focus more entirely on the Lyme Disease (for more information on this co-infection see our references at the bottom).

Dr J. helped lift our spirits and told us that we have to stay in it mentally in order to continue to progress. Being able to be mentally strong is what people with Lyme need. It is a battle each day, but in order to get better we have to fight to get out of bed, to smile, and make the most of our days despite the symptoms we are facing. My battle is influenced in every single aspect by my support system. Dr J. told me how lucky I am to have the support that I do in this fight against Lyme disease. I couldn’t agree more with him! My sweet husband, our families, friends, neighbors, and people I have never even met are such a strength to me.

Sometimes I wonder if I am not supposed to get “all” the way better. This was brought to my attention more as I listened and read a general conference talk by Elder Hallstrom called “Has the Day of Miracles Ceased?” He says: “What about the innumerable faith-filled, priesthood-blessing-receiving, unendingly-prayed-for, covenant-keeping, full-of-hope Latter-day Saints whose miracle never comes? At least in the way they understand a miracle. At least in the way that others appear to receive miracles.” This made me ponder on if maybe I have been trying to see my health miracle in a way that isn’t wrong, but maybe I haven’t seen it in the way that my Father in Heaven wants me to see it.

Elder Hallstrom also says: “My limited knowledge cannot explain why sometimes there is divine intervention and other times there is not. However, defining a miracle as “a beneficial event brought about through divine power that mortals do not understand” gives an expanded perspective into matters more eternal in nature. This definition also allows us to contemplate the vital role of faith in the receipt of a miracle.”

This next question Elder Hallstrom poses really hit me as I listened to this talk. He said “Do we have the faith “not [to] be healed” from our earthly afflictions so we might be healed eternally?” What a powerful statement. This has changed my whole perspective. I know I have faith, and I know that whatever happens is for a reason and plays a role in the plan God has for me, but I think I was probably hoping for a miracle of healing from this disease, instead of looking at the daily miracles that are placed before me. How about the other day when I felt some energy and was able to shoot some hoops like I used to when I was 100% healthy? To me that is a miracle. What about when a sweet neighbor stopped by because she felt she should to help me in a time I was in pain? That is a miracle to me. And how about my loved ones that surround me always in times of need? Miracles have not ceased.

Seeing the little miracles, or circumstances that happen which benefit us or simply things that we sometimes do not understand but that help us know God is watching out for us, is the key to being mentally IN this battle. I am so grateful for the miracles that I see every day through this fight. I hope we can all look for these miracles and that they can buoy us up in our times of need. Keep fighting. Keep mentally strong. Fight the Lyme is here for you!

Landon and I will never stop looking for the miracles as we are on this journey together.

Talk with you soon!

Maddie and Landon

References:

1. https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2017/10/has-the-day-of-miracles-ceased?lang=eng

1. https://www.lymedisease.org/lyme-basics/co-infections/babesia/