Speedy Recovery For Brother Faced With Life-Threatening Health Conditions
I want to take a few minutes to tell you what a blessing you are in my life and share what God has accomplished in the lives of my family members.
A few months ago, my brother, Shawn, contracted Guillain-Barré syndrome (a serious autoimmune disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks the nervous system) in Laos. He was refused treatment by several hospitals in Laos and Thailand. They said he was far too advanced in the disease and that there was nothing they could do for him. He was finally able to receive treatment in a government hospital in Udon Thani, Thailand. But while there, he developed further complications and contracted three strains of pneumonia and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
I flew all the way from the United States to Udon Thani in Thailand and when I saw Shawn, he looked like a man hours from death, almost completely paralyzed and hooked only to a ventilator. He could only move his lips and head a bit.
I quickly pronounced God’s protection and provision, and called upon the grace and mercy of God to deliver us. Within twenty-eight hours of my arrival, Shawn was transported via aircraft to a private hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. He was admitted directly to the intensive care unit (ICU) where, after the first day, he was able to move his arms.
His condition improved so quickly that all the doctors and hospital staff were in shock and awe. I told them that the miracle was from God. Even my sister-in-law, who was a non-believer, saw what God was doing and wanted to know this Jesus. In fact, she gave her heart to the Lord in the hospital! She had learned so much about the love of God during that time that even her family members began asking, “Who is this Jesus?”
On the sixth day after his admission, Shawn was moved from the ICU to a private room and his condition continued to improve. It wasn’t easy as he had severe pain and sleepless nights, but God was there every step of the way. Throughout the day, I would lay hands on him and pray over his body. Folks back home in the United States were also praying continually.
This was war—a battle like I’d never imagined. I rarely left the hospital room and I prayed continually. Every morning, Shawn and I would talk about the Lord and what He was teaching us. I also read Shawn bits of Joseph Prince’s book, Unmerited Favor, and encouraged myself in the Lord through the Word and through Joseph’s book.
Joseph’s book was a source of strength. Prior to Shawn’s illness, I had been devouring Joseph’s daily broadcasts and literature. I learned so much during that season and it prepared me for this battle. Through the healing process of my brother, I learned to lean on God and to know that He is good and always delivers. Healing is always available to us—sometimes instant, sometimes a process, but always available through the broken body and blood of Jesus.
Even though the typical recuperation time for this syndrome is between six months and three years, Shawn was already walking one month later. Four months after, he was able to drive and to lift nearly 300 pounds of weight. Six months later, he went back to work full-time and was also completely delivered from depression, something he had been dealing with for a long time.
Thank you for staying true to the message of grace. It’s all about Jesus and His COMPLETED work on the cross. Hallelujah! Please know that you are making a difference in the lives of so many and we are just a few among the millions who have been touched by your message of grace and truth. To God be all the glory!
Alaska, United States