Apr 26, 2019
By Michaela Facemire
Job 23:10
Everyone always seems to say, “It will never happen to me.” If you have not said this, it has crossed your mind almost surely at some point when you have read the news. Because I am a planner, I sometimes feel as though I can control what happens in my life and my “Nevers” will always be “Nevers.” My plans were majorly disrupted my eighth grade year when I was taken to the ER at the Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh.
A couple weeks before, I began to notice that I was becoming stiff and fatigued. I went through a time when I questioned my belief. I was mad at God. I didn’t feel like He was with me and often felt like my life was meaningless and empty. I wanted the empty feeling in my heart to go away, so I started asking questions. With the help of my church family and parents I realized and knew in my heart that God loved me and I loved Him. I believe God helped me come to this realization at an earlier age to prepare me for what lay ahead.
During the month of September it was time to practice archery in gym class. I looked forward to this because I had practiced with the bow and arrow with my dad the summer before. But when the time came for me to shoot at the target, I couldn’t pull the string all the way back. My arms shook and they wouldn’t stretch. When I came home that evening I expressed my frustration to my mom. She showed concern and mentioned that my face looked swollen. As the weeks passed I noticed simple tasks, such as brushing the back of my hair, shaving my legs, putting on my socks and shoes, and bending down to get my school supplies out of my locker, became difficult. I didn’t have enough strength in my legs to climb the bus steps or walk a long distance without feeling a burning ache. What worried me the most was that I couldn’t fold my hands to pray. These troubles happened over a span of two months.
I did not tell my parents that I was struggling to do these things because I was unsure of what was happening. But my mom noticed some things that I hadn’t at the time, such as how my face and joints looked swollen. When I was taken to my pediatrician in November, he too was concerned after examining me and noticing that he couldn’t bend my arm to take my blood pressure and that my body was swollen and puffy. With his help an appointment was scheduled for me to see a Rheumatology Specialist the first of the year. My mom and dad decided to take me to the Children’s Hospital emergency room in Pittsburgh after I started having troubles swallowing my food.
Within an hour of being in the emergency room, I was diagnosed with Juvenile Dermatomyositis (JDM), Linear Localized Scleroderma, and Rheumatoid Arthritis in both wrists. One of the tests that was done to diagnose me was an MRI. The MRI was painful for me because I couldn’t keep my legs straight without them burning to get clear and accurate pictures—and I was so hot I felt like I was suffocating. But through the MRI, getting blood drawn, and receiving an IVIG infusion through the day, I knew God was with me. I was in pain and cried a lot, but I felt a sense of peace and comfort.
The MRI results showed that all of my muscle groups were inflamed. Because of this, I continued to need to have IVIG infusions, which made me sweaty and have to take frequent trips to the restroom. My mom had told me that our pastor might come and see me. I remember looking at her with confidence and said, “He will.” Later that week both the pastor and his wife came to see me. I was embarrassed over my messy hair and puffy face, but their kindness and laughter put me at ease.
I stayed at the hospital for a week before they said I was well enough to go home. I wasn’t allowed to go to school for a couple of months so that my body would have time to rest and my autoimmune system would have time to adjust after being weakened by the different medications. I had to go to physical therapy three times a week and go back up to the Pittsburgh hospital for IVIG Infusions every month for a year—which made me feel nauseous and have migraines. Many days were really rough and I struggled to understand why God was letting this happen to me. I couldn’t climb up my school steps, write fast, or participate in gym like everyone else. Instead I had to use the elevator, use a book bag with wheels, and have other accommodations made to fit my needs.
Around this time I watched the movie Soul Surfer, which was given to me as a gift. I don’t know what it feels like to have my arm bitten off by a shark—but I do understand the struggle of changing how a person goes about doing simple day-to-day tasks. I was inspired by this movie to trust that God will always be with me. After seeing how the nurses took care of me and other patients, I was encouraged to work on becoming a nurse and help others who are sick. Because of what I have gone through I can relate and have empathy for those who have health problems. I believe God has given me this gift to spread His word and love to others.
I am now a junior in high school and my autoimmune disorders have been in remission for three years! God continues to help me cope when I have to do some things at a slower pace than others. When you make plans for today or tomorrow remember God knows the way.