For the past several months I have been extremely encouraged and very challenged by an amazing wife and mother of two very handsome boys Zach and Dawson. Her name is Diana. I had the privilege of meeting her and her family (minus her youngest son who wasn't in the picture yet) while my family lived in CO. She and her husband (Cam) are the type of people that you instantly like and want to hang out with! About 9 months to a year ago I was able to reconnect with her on face book and her blog. Her journey over the past months has been one amazing ride and still continues to be. She is letting God use her in away that most of us would see as a awful thing that we don't deserve. She is letting the awesome power of our Father shine through her and through that I have been challenged, encouraged, and convicted. Her Living testimony is touching peoples lives and will continue to touch peoples lives for a very long time I am sure! May we never forget that the awesome, powerful, loving God that is working miracles in Diana is the same awesome, powerful, loving God that we serve!
Here is just a glimpse at Diana's journey.....
Nov. 5, 2009...
It began about 3-4 months ago. My body just didn’t feel “right”. It started out as twinges of pain. Nothing to make a big deal of, just something to keep an eye on. So, that’s what I did. Until I went to meet Cam for a Broncos game. It started out what felt like a side ache as we walked into the stadium. Having “run” into some friends we chatted for awhile before we took our seats. (In a stadium full of thousands of screaming fans…go figure my hubs found a big group of people he knew…it never fails!)
We watched the game and walking back it got worse. I barely could drive myself home. Morning came and into the ER I went. Here’s someone who has NEVER been to the ER and has never had any issues…it freaked me out a bit. Anyway, I couldn’t sit up or lay down and you better not be poking around or you’d find me screaming and getting ready to punch, just out of sheer protection. X-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, blood work and a bunch of other testing to then have them send me home and tell me “there was nothing wrong they could find”. After 3 of these visits and a mix of visits to various doctors…getting no answers I started on my own research via the internet!
There were a few different symptoms that matched up with some diseases, but nothing I could pinpoint. So, I waited once again. Well, that’s when it went downhill, and at a very fast pace at that. I started dropping pounds a day and my skin and eyes were very yellow…that with a mix of other things I won’t gross you out about! My doctor sent me home and told me I’d be okay and that I should make an appointment with a gastro. specialist, but that it may take a few weeks to get in. With the urgency of some family members and friends and not wanting to get the same response I had gotten previously, I went to another ER. Within minutes they had me tested for all sorts of things and admitted me into the hospital right away. They said my liver was next to not functioning and all my tests done on my liver were “off the charts abnormal” they quickly had me in a room meeting with a bunch of surgeons.
They stated that if I had waited any longer…I would be no more. Those are some sobering words when just a few hours before that I had a doctor tell me to wait it out and get an appt with someone a few weeks down the road. Those “few weeks” wouldn’t have been there. Well, long story short I had a few operations. The first was a temp. stint that was put in my main bile duct coming out of my liver. They thought it was an issue with my gallbladder as well too. Their reasoning seemed legit at the time. So, we had that stuff done.
Nov. 13, 2009...
So with good reasoning at the time and a great “guess” from the doctors they removed my gallbladder as well too. Thinking that was what was blocking my main duct. I recently had that surgeon call back and basically tell me that my gallbladder was healthy and fine and not really needing to have been taken out as that was not the real problem.
Well, I’d been home for a bit after these surgeries and I felt pretty bad still. I had mentioned to the doctors if they thought it could be celiac disease(severe allergy to anything with wheat, barley and oats)…due to the links I had found up to that point and the dire pain that came every time I put something in my mouth with that in it.. They laughed and looked at me like I was nuts. I had hoped they were right about that as I LOVE to cook and LOVE to eat everything. Anyway, back to being home and still not feeling well….. I decided despite the doctors laughing at me to eat gluten/wheat free anyway. I have quickly come to realize that sometimes it’s best to stick with your “gut” feelings. I stumbled upon a website that links up celiac with atrestia (blockage/closing of your main bile duct out of your liver) and in very few cases has the person not been diagnosed with celiac. Hmmm….too many symptoms were linking up way to quickly, not to mention the fact that it causes multiple miscarriages because your body cannot absorb nutrients when you are eating wheat (it kills the villi in your intestines that absorb everything “good” for you) as many of you know I had two m/c in the past year. All of these, plus an abundance of many more side effects to someone with this disease. LOOOONNNNGGG story short, it is what I have. I am happy to report that as long as I’m eating how my body needs me to eat (wheat/gluten free) I feel the best I’ve felt in a VERY long time. My symptoms are mostly gone and now it’s just the time I need to recover fully.
Did this whole process stink…oh more then you know and more then I’ll say. Is it all over, no it has simply just begun. Celiac is an autoimmune deficiency and can effect a lot of areas of the body. There are many other issues that can arise and I have the next few weeks ahead full of testing on all sorts of things. However, I’m so grateful to God that it is as simple as a diet change and time, to heal my body. I know this is an opportunity to help others battling and know that God is leading me somewhere in the middle of all of it. I’m curious to see how God will use it all. One thing that I always praise God for is that He never allows to go through hard times (whether it’s health, finances, relationship issues) without using it for good. I find comfort in knowing that the trials in life will help and be of great use to someone/something else down the road. It’s a building block, used to help us see our need of more of Him in our life. And also to help someone else come through and fight their battles too.
Thank you so much for your prayers and support. Still need them, so keep em coming! I’ll keep you updated on the progress!
May 19, 2010...
Wow, I'm always amazed at how fast time goes by. As I round the corner of the "death sentence" my doctors gave me back in December, if I were to take their "chemo" route...I'm humbled and so grateful to be feeling as marvelous as I do, there is no chemo in this body. Please don't misunderstand, I'm not downing that form of medicine, I just knew it would never be for me. God placed in my heart very long ago that the miracle that would happen wouldn't be from any medicine, or special treatment, but that it would be solely from Him. It's nothing short of a miracle, one that I am so grateful for every time my eyes open up in the morning.
As some of you know I had some tests done before we moved back to Colorado. It was the same test that Doctors gave me back in November when I was diagnosed. My CA (Cancer Antigen) levels were at 10,000 (normal readings are 0-35) with this finding came the news of how much time I had "left" which was 3-6 months. Three months if I took any other route or none at all. Six months if I took their suggested route of chemotherapyy. I never blogged about the results we got on that test in April, I asked for your prayers in the matter and can't thank you enough for all your support.
The results were astounding. My doctor wouldn't even let me see the paper...she started talking about other things and then I thought I saw 28,000. Here's the conversation from there...
Me: Did I just see 28,000?
Doctor: No, no (grabbing both my hands) you didn't see 28,000
Me: What is it then, what are the numbers?
Doctor: What is on this paper is a lie, Diana, it's a lie straight from the enemy (she is an awesome Christian woman). I don't want you to pay attention to these numbers, I don't want you to even think twice about them.
Me: What does it say?
Doctor: You didn't see 28, 000 you saw 280,000.
Me: What?
Doctor: We don't see anyone alive with these kinds of numbers, which is why I don't want you to even think about them. We are solely going by what your body is telling you and how you're feeling.
From there I was numb for a few minutes...then I just started to laugh. What else are you going to do? Crying wasn't going to help the situation. Then the pictures of all your wonderful faces filled up my mind as God kept gently reminding me...you are a miracle. This isn't just for you, but for you to share with the thousands that are watching and praying.
See, everyday is miracle for you, just as much as it is for me. You wake up breathing...every moment is a miracle.Your prayers and the amazing power of such an awesome God as the One we serve is the only reason why I'm still here!
Miracles do happen! When you look in the mirror, you're looking at a miracle. You. And because of you, when I look in the mirror, I get to see a miracle to.
I couldn't wait to turn 28. I new it was going to be a new beginning. But just before I turned 28, as a matter of fact May 2, 2010 was a day I'd never forget. I had just gotten back from the hospital and desperately wanted to go to church that Sunday. The news at the hospital wasn't very promising and being referred to "hospice" from here on out for pain medication etc....are not words anyone wants to hear. I was sent home with lots of pain medication and not promising news...it's a good thing man's opinion doesn't sway the God that I serve! Having been down this road a time or two now, it really didn't matter what they said. God hadn't changed, even though my circumstances may have, He didn't.
Here comes the story I will try to shorten for you. Back to Sunday...May 2, 2010.
We were talking with some our cousins after church and were one of the last cars in our dirt parking lot. We were loading up the family when a man approached our car and tapped on the window. My father-in-law started talking with him and then I heard these words...
"My name is Peter and I'm from South Africa, God drew me over to your car, is there someone very sick that I can pray for here?"
At that point we were all heading over toward him (my heart pounding inside as I wanted to scream Yes! Yes! Me!!!!!) Cam briefly described my situation and he asked if he could pray. We all gathered around and repeated what he prayed. After we were done, Peter then told us how he "got around". He hitch hikes. He was wearing slacks a very crisp white shirt and a red tie and carried a jacket. That was all he had and he did not have the appearance of a typical hitch hiker. All I can remember were looking in his eyes, that were as clear as glass. Chrystal blue!
Long story short, he needed a ride to 1-25 so we said we could take him. Five minutes later, and the most jaw dropping conversationn later we dropped him off in this little dirt field about a block from the highway. His departing words are the words I cling to today.
"Cancer isn't a big deal, it's not a big deal to God and it shouldn't be to you either. We've prayed, now all you need to do is have faith and believe. And wait for your miracle."
He gave to most sincere goodbye, whistling and waving goodbye. We pulled out of the little dirt lot and Cam looked back in his rear view mirror and he was gone. No, I'm not joking with you. Just to make sure he truly was "gone" we flipped the car around. Peter was nowhere to be found.
Here's one of the best parts for me...we went to grab a bite to eat and as we were sitting there Cam and I were in amazement at what had just gone on just talking out loud...Cam was pondering where he could have gone when Zach, piped up, mouth filled with pizza and so casually said in a matter of fact way.
"Dad, he's an angel he just went back up to heaven, you know, to be with God."
We've not had a ton of conversationn with him about angels,...so for him to so matter of factly state that was all the more amazing to us.
Well, since then, I've not had to have one pain pill. I hiked up to the top of Red Rocks just yesterday and I'm so excited!
I'm feeling great and I without a doubt believe that God will heal me. It's already begun...I'm doing things I've not been able to do in six months! I've added in a little fish to my diet and am eating more "regular" foods now, ones that couldn't go down before.
We topped off that week by yet another huge blessing...getting together with the elders of our church to pray. Amazing moments, ones that I'll never forget. The prayer started off with the same few sentences as the prayer Peter prayed...
So, here I am, feeling the most humbled I've ever felt and so incredibly blessed. I hope this bring you much joy and a smile on your face. And more then anything else, that you are inspired to ask God to show you Who He is. If you ask, He'll answer. Just because you don't get it the moment you ask, doesn't mean He's not able or willing. He'll show you just who He is in the perfect timing...just be willing to watch and wait.
If any of you would like to keep updated as to what is going on and read some of her other posts (you may have to sign up for a membership, but it really easy to do and you will not get a bunch of mail from them! I only get updates when she posts something new, and I think I may have gotten one or two others, but that's it.)
you can go to http://www.carepages.com/carepages/dianahummel
