Faith Did Not Make it Easy, Faith Made it Possible
By Sister Michelle Facey
I woke up and saw a clear blue sky, tree's swaying, birds chirping and giving praises to the most high God. I got up being thankful and had my conversation with God, thanking Him for another day!
I felt so empowered spiritually and physically to start my day. Nothing or no one can ruin my day, or so I thought. After being unemployed for two years I was on cloud nine. Orientation was over and it was now time to show my employer I was the right person for the job. Then my morning was interrupted by a phone call as says John 10:10: The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
She identified herself as a nurse calling from the Black River Hospital. She was calling on the behalf of my sister Debbie and said I should come to the hospital as soon as possible. I remembered asking if Debbie was dead, to which she replied, "she was very serious." All this time I still did not ask what was wrong – I had a brain freeze and there went my spiritual empowerment for the day.
Five minutes later, the nurse called back to say Debbie was being transferred to the Mandeville Hospital, “we are unable to assist her in this condition” the nurse told me. I informed my eldest sister and the rest of family; we all reached our breaking point physically. I went to the hospital and looked at my sister’s lifeless body, plugged up to a life support machine. I stood at her bedside crying. Suddenly, I heard a voice say “pray.”
I was at the hospital and read Joel 2:12-14: Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your God? I cried out to God on her behalf.
The doctor came and told me that they knew she was pregnant and this was the condition they received her in. Debbie was hemorrhaging and four arteries in her brain burst. They let my sister have her baby naturally instead of performing a caesarean section and her pressure was high. The doctor told us to pray and prepared us that she might not make it. When the doctor was about to leave she said, "go closer to her she might just hear you." I did and told my sister to fight with all she had.
While at home praying that Debbie would make it through the night, my phone rang, waking me up at 4:00am the next morning. The doctor from the hospital called. My sister was having a seizure and we had to get all of the family to the hospital now. The hospital CT scanning machine was not working, and in order for my sister to make it, we needed to have the money needed to take her to a private lab to have it done. I had a panic attack and I tried my best to pray through it. This was my prayer: Jesus, Jesus have mercy.
I called my eldest sister and informed her and our aunt and uncle came also. We cried and prayed together, still hopeful our God would surely deliver. After the CT scan was done the doctors were able to start treating my sister. However, she was still in a coma, having just birthed our nephew, a healthy baby boy, which my sister had no idea. My eldest sister and I were my nephew’s first mommy and we were running from one hospital to the next. What could go wrong with all the struggles?
My eldest sister had a dream about one of our aunts so she told our mom, who told us to let our aunt know about the dream. Now she prayed with us as if everything was okay. After we told her the dream, my aunt broke down in tears, thanking God for the answering her prayer. She was diagnosed with breast cancer, but did not want my sister and I to worry just pray. We now had both family members to pray for and believing for, which wasn't easy.
I would have conversations with my sister, Debbie, while she was on life support – telling her that her kids were okay and letting her know about my job, as if she was responding. After 10 days in coma, my sister finally woke up, calling my name first! I shouted to the nurse, “she is awake!" Debbie looked around and saw our niece, nephew and a friend of the family and called them by name. We shouted praises to God the most high. The doctor came, ran more tests and said she might not remember what happened in her life. Which God proved to us He is God the healer and still is in the healing business.
In spite of everything happening, I still find time to worship, be in His house and still have my praise. The next thing we heard, with our mother by her side, was that Debbie would never walk again. When a financial situation prevented my sister’s 11-year-old from being able to visit, that was the motivation my sister needed. After spending three months in bed, my sister requested physical therapy so she could walk again. Debbie proved to the doctors and nurses that God is real and left the hospital, not in a wheel chair, but walking. To God we give the glory.
My aunt did not need chemotherapy, though she did have a mastectomy, and she is a missionary spreading the gospel to people in Africa. My two sisters now have a relationship with God.
Did the situation made my faith easy? No, it made it possible!