By Shelley Echtle

Years ago after sudden widowhood, my friend Brenda asked me, “What are you going to do with your life now? Do you have professional goals?” I blinked, staring at her like she spoke Martian gibberish. I told her I wanted to be a speaker, an encourager, then as years rolled by, forgot my simple statement.

Years later, after graduating from college, I was really ready to take on the world of computers and corporations. But fibromyalgia struck, actually crawled onto my career goals. Slowly the sour pains of reality hit, and I found myself disabled.

Marrying again, I moved to a strange new town to be with my husband, and rebuild my life. But the fibro-monster kept lunging forward, first stealing my brain, then my energy, and finally my sleep. My husband suggested I find a support group.

I found one, with two other people. Then it was about to dissolve, and I feared being alone in my weakened state. I agreed to “Take over.” What? With one other known person? But that didn’t hinder me. I posted on the website in place and then posted on other free sites. I found Kijiji, and Craigslist and so many other venues. I then scheduled my first meeting. Fifteen people showed up to listen to my acupuncturist’s discussion.

The group grew. Some people needed more encouragement than others. Some were beaten down by not having a supportive family, or lack of knowledgable doctors. Some were alone. Some were new to the Fibrofog and other health issues. I kept posting. Soon we reached 50 members, then 100.

Since October to July, we have 205 members and keep growing. We speak words of encouragements, pray for one another and now have almost weekly meetings. As I prayed recently for a member, I realized how much she depended on our group to encourage her. Then God whispered those words of long ago… “I want to be a speaker, an encourager.”

God fulfilled my dream by providing me with this “career.” I didn’t necessarily choose it, but it chose me. I know now, more than ever, even after widowhood and single parenting and all the challenges I have faced, that God is faithful to fulfill his purpose in my life, and provide the sparkling fulfillment of my own!

Thank you God! May I live up to the expectations you have put before me!

Shelley Echtle is 48, living in the Dallas area to the wonderful Bear who helps and supports her devotion to the North Texas Fibromyalgia Meetup & Support Group. With 3 grown children, she is enjoying a new life with her husband, a new grand baby and the fulfillment of her dreams. Her support group has members nationwide.

When Lorilyn adopted her daughter from Nepal, she didn’t realize the medical ordeal she would face. Read more about the filming and Marisha, at Lorilyn Robert’s blog.

By Lorilyn Roberts

“I feel a pulse,” one of the medics said.

The paramedics worked feverishly on Manisha to make sure she was still alive. My beautiful seven‐year‐old daughter from Nepal lay on the floor unconscious at the O’Connell Center of the University of Florida.

“Has she ever had a seizure?” another one asked.

“No, no,” I said in bewilderment. Manisha rolled over and vomited.

One emotion consumed me: Fear. The enormity of single parenting hit me like lightening. I cried out, “Where are you, God? I feel so alone.”

After hooking up stabilizing IVs, Manisha was whisked off in an ambulance to Shands Teaching Hospital. I found a pay phone and called my mother. Her first comment was, “Do you know what day this is?”

I remembered—September 19. Four years to the day and almost to the hour, my father had died of a brain tumor. It was about 5:00 p.m. My shattered world continued to close in on me. A short time later my worst fears were confirmed.

“There is something on the CAT scan. We have a called a neurologist,” I heard the nurse say.

“No, no, no,” every cell in my body cried out. “God, you can’t let this happen. Not again!”

But God was silent. The next nine days of hospitalization were filled with tests—MRI, gallium scan, spinal tap, TB test, HIV test, numerous blood draws, and too many questions and not enough answers by doctors doing their daily rounds with medical students in tow. Manisha had what in medical parlance is called a “zebra.”

As the days passed in the hospital, I asked God for two things that humanly speaking seemed impossible. I prayed first that the doctors would not have to do surgery. I couldn’t bear the thought of seeing Manisha’s beautiful thick, curly black hair shaved off. The ugly scars of surgery still lingered in my mind from my dad’s brain surgery. And I prayed that whatever was in Manisha’s head would not be cancerous. I had asked God to heal my father of a brain tumor and he died. Could I trust God for Manisha’s healing?

It was critical that the doctor’s make the correct diagnosis. The wrong treatment could kill her. Did she have a malignant brain tumor or a worm inside her head? Manisha had been adopted by me from Nepal at the age of three—old enough to be exposed to the extreme poverty of Nepal and lack of clean drinking water. 57.1 percent of the water in Nepal is considered unsatisfactory for human consumption, contaminated with feces.

Manisha’s condition turned out to be caused by a tapeworm infection of the brain—the most common parasitic infection of the nervous system. The larvae can travel anywhere in the body—the muscles, brain, eye, and other structures. The condition, known as neurocysticercosis, is still relatively rare in this country, but is appearing more on the radar as part of the differential diagnosis for seizures.
Thankfully, twelve years later, Manisha is a healthy, well‐adjusted 19‐year‐old finishing her A.A. degree at Santa Fe College—six months ahead of schedule.

International adoptive parents and travelers to the developing world should seek appropriate medical care upon returning to the U.S. if they have been exposed to poor sanitary conditions or contaminated water.

In spite of the trials of single parenting, the years following that dreadful day of September 19, 1994, have been filled with life and joy. Manisha soon will be leaving home to make her own way in the world and I reflect on her middle name Hope—with God, there is always hope, and for that I am thankful.

The book, Children of Dreams tells the complete story, available at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and your local bookstores.

Lorilyn Roberts graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Lorilyn Roberts graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Alabama and is currently working on her Master of Arts in Creative Writing from Perelandra College. As a Certified Court Reporter, Lorilyn has made contributions to the National Court Reporters Association Journal. She provides realtime broadcast captioning for television. Lorilyn’s first book, The Donkey and the King, is a beautifully illustrated children’s book. She also coleads Word Weavers in Gainesville, FL. When not writing, taking graduate classes, or closed captioning for television/web, Lorilyn homeschools her younger daughter, Joy. Enter a drawing for a free copy of Children of Dreams on Lorilyn’s website and blog. The drawing will be on September 1, 2010. :

I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in 1994, and Fibromyalgia in 1995. I was diagnosed with arthritis in my twenties. I had just remarried in 1992 at 47. Not a very good beginning.

I didn’t feel all that good, but thought it was my job (which I loved, by the way), but I had to work rotating shifts. We changed every two months, which I thought wasn’t all that bad, but some of the shifts were split shifts: two days/3 swings for example or two graves/3 swings. Some were 5 days straight or swings or graves straight, but still rotating.

After 5 years of doing this, I was offered a job in the main office. My new husband, thinking that the shift work was what making me so tired and achy, thought that this offer would be good for me. It was something I liked to do, and just knew I could learn with one arm tied behind my back.

Wrong, oh so wrong. My co-worker/teacher threw things at me without really teaching me, and my supervisor was oh so nice and very helpful. During this time, I was diagnosed with the CFS and then the FMS, and still they worked with me. I became so frustrated, until the time came that I literally could not get out of bed to go to work.

I stayed home “ill” two days. Finally dragging myself into work, I talked with my supervisor about how I felt, then went into begin my morning work. About 20 minutes later she called me back into her office, and said that she thought that I should go home and stay there until I was well.

That was over 12 years ago!

In that time I finally found a doctor who listened to me; got me on some medications that helped alleviate some of the pain; sent me to see a Naturopath who recommended massage therapy which my doctor approved. Things began to improve.

I know the Lord was with me every step of the way. He was holding my hand most of the time.

My physician was so concientious that ever time I saw him, he wrote down whether I had on makeup or not, how I acted/felt; etc. so that when I finally filed for my disability his records were so complete, I had no trouble. (I had the ordinary rejection and reapplied, but it went through quickly.)

In these 12 years, I have–like so many of your readers–have had more time to spend with the Lord. This is such a good thing.

I was flying around too much, and not thinking of Him enough. Now I have the time to pray, and praying for others is such a gift; and reading His Word; and studying His Word gives me so much. I have learned so much.

Neh. 8:10 speaks to me: The Joy of the Lord is your (my) Strength. And, I’m able to call on that strength so often. He is always near.

My hubby has been a blessing too. He has stayed true and helpful. My kids are grown, and are helpful, and the grandkids are such a joy. The Lord has truly been good to me. I am 63 yrs. old, married, live in the Tacoma, WA area. I love the ocean, camping (we just bought our first motorhome). We’ve always had a trailer. I love to read. And, of course, I love those grandkids.

I have been a type 1 diabetic since I was 2 years old, so 22 years I’ve lived with this “illness.” Growing up it was hard to be different and not be able to share in the birthday treats and have “fun” food for lunches. Sometimes, I had to go to the nurses office to take shots. A very embarrassing thing when you’re 8 years old.

As I got older and more mature, I was able to take control and be responsible for checking my blood sugars and taking my insulin shots. As I hit high school I let it all go and had terrible control of my diabetes.

As a girl having a blind dad with many ailments because of his inability to care for his diabetes, you would think I would have learned a lesson. My dad was at peace with his diabetes but I being inexperienced in my faith, didn’t think it was worth praying about. Why would I? I’d had it before I came to know the Lord, why would it change?

I saw the diabetes as controlling my life. It took me several years after my dad died and trying to find the answers to my life in other places, and even worse control of my diabetes, to see that I needed to make some changes. It wasn’t until I got married to a wonderful man who had this amazing outlook on life that I finally decided to get an insulin pump. (The point of my story)

It was a scary thing, as I had not had good experiences with a pump and my dad. But I tried it and it was amazing. It totally changed my life. I thought my life wasn’t so bad before, but not having to take shots and having this amazing tool just blew me away.

Life was so great. It might sound cheezy, but I was so happy. Then in August of last year, I was introduced to a new product to help make my life even easier. It was called a glucose sensor. It was a little device that checks my blood sugars for me and then sends the data to my insulin pump! It’s not a hundred percent fool proof, but it’s enough of a new technology that it’s amazing. I can sing its praises from here to next week.

It had greatly changed my A1c so much, that I have added so many years to my life. On top of all that, it came to me only a month before I became pregnant. A very signifigant tool when you’re a diabetic and pregnant. My biggest fear in being pregnant was that I would cause harm to the baby because of my diabetes. Turns out, the only problem I will have with my pregnancy is not because of my diabetes but a shorting cervix.

All I can say, even at this stressful time is, Praise God for the new technology He has created to help people like me get through the tough times.

I am a 24 year old, (now) stay at home wife, growing a baby. I have been married for 2 1/2 years to a wonderful man that only God could have created for me. I enjoy reading, scrapbooking and being outside. I have 2 wonderful energetic beagles named Boston and Montgomery. I have now been a diabetic for 22 years and will tell anyone who will listen about the insulin pump, glucose sensor and what it was like to be a child diabetic. If anyone has questions, please feel free to email. StephanyVassar@yahoo.com

By Jeff Kenyon

I am a 40 year old male in California who lives with Severe Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome TYPE II, Neuropathy, Failed Back Surgery Syndrome, Chronic Back Pain with severe muscle spasms with total R. Leg severe spasms and Chronic Pain. This started in April of 2004.

Six months prior to my illness, my wife and I lost our baby boy in labor, October 23, 2003. He was stillborn 3 weeks shy of 9 months. He (Elijah) had facial features of Down Syndrome. My wife and I prayed and asked God to give us a child. We wanted a child so bad! Four months later she became pregnant, with our now 3 year old, Adie. She is more than we could have asked for and is such a blessing.

Three weeks after Adie was born, (12/2004), I (Jeff) had my first of 12 surgeries on my back. From January of 2005 until 2008, I was having surgery about every two to three months. My wife went back to work as a nurse when Adie was 3 months old. God gave me an opportunity to build a special relationship with Adie by being a stay at home Dad. I proudly and humbly made the right choice.

As hard as it was, and still is, God has given me His strength and Grace to fulfill His will for my life. Having experimented and still are experimenting with many different drugs for my pain, I do not allow it to take me away from that special relationship I have with my daughter. I think about all the Dad’s that are out there, that have the opportunity to have that special relationship with their children, but the world drags them into the world of things and “It’s all about me.”

Everything has seemed like a blur at times. Doctor appointments, side-effects of medications, surgeries, difficulties with my implants, living with constant pain for over 4 years straight, let alone trying to keep up with serving and doing God’s will, being a good father and husband and taking care of myself. But, WITHOUT CHRIST, none of this would be possible for me to do.

God is pruning and shaping me for the service He has for me. I can humbly and honestly say that even know my life has changed like I never would have imagined, I would not want anything different. May sound strange, but if I was like I was, prior to my illnesses, I don’t believe I would have the spiritual mindset, focus, or motivation that I have now.

I truly am in awe of how God is using me, through my illnesses to reach others in need. I found Rest Ministries by praying that He would find me the right Christian pain support website. Well, He gave me so much more. He showed me what my ministry is and to spread God’s love, encouragement and truth to others who suffer with pain.

Today me and my daughter have the best relationship. And I have the best position a man could ever ask for, (Stay at home Dad!) It has been an honor and a blessing far beyond what my mind can comprehend. When people ask me what I do for a living, I tell them I am a happily and blessed stay at home dad. God has shown me to not look at the “worst” in the worst, but look for the “best” in the worst of times. Pain is no longer the focus of my life.

Ministering to people in pain, regardless of what type of pain and reaching out to as many people that I can, who need someone to walk with them through it. I give God every bit of thanks for what He is allowing me to do. The one thing that I did was make a choice. A choice to say yes to God and no to self. It’s not always easy but the alternative offers no promises.I want to thank Lisa for all her encouragement, faith and her perseverance.

Imagine if she would not have answered God’s calling, we would be missing out on this awesome ministry He has given Lisa. I am so thankful that God led me to serve through Rest Ministries. With so much love and gratitude to you all!

Jeff was born and raised in California. His working background was Law Enforcement, Undercover Retail Security Agent, Hotel Security and a home school graduate of a top Private Investigation School. I currently reside on the coast of Central California.

Hi, My name is Heather and I came to Rest Ministries web site in hope of finding support from others dealing with similar things.

Right out of high school, I became very ill and we found out it was Mono and CMV. It was such a horrible time of my life for several reasons. I was a very active person, I wanted to move out soon, and I hurt so badly that I was in bed literally for a year. Then I still wasn’t getting better so I went to 9 different doctors, some who laughed at me, and was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue.

I have always struggled with depression, but it got very very bad around this time! It was years before they could find the right “cocktail” of medications to make me feel more NORMAL. I don’t even know what that is! But I finally was able to function okay.

I was so angry because of all of this and then at 23, I was date raped which caused much more anger which I bottled up. Then I decided to stop feeling sorry for myself and realized that I wouldn’t get any better laying around so I went back to college. I didn’t finish, only because I changed my major to photography and the rest of the program was about studio photography and I wanted to do on-location photography.

I began having a lot of problems with my knee and finally went to an orthopedic surgeon who found something in an MRI and did surgery. He found very strange stuff behind my knee which come to find out later, it was psoriatic arthritis. By this time, I was not letting my illness define me and I was doing well by the Grace of God. But I still had a lot of anger and undealt issues from the past. Just this last year, a minister at our church about my age, took me through INTENSE counseling because he could see me going no where in my life, in my relationships, in my relationship with God until we got to the root of the problems and BOY DID WE!

It was the most difficult 4 months of my life but we got way down deep and delt with the many layers of issues, hurt and anger. Since then, I have been able to live a grounded Life in Christ and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I always knew He was there but I wasn’t able to trust Him until I delt with things!

I don’t like to be labeled religious because I am not. I am just a girl who is a sinner and lives in God’s Amazing Grace day by day. On Face ook not to long ago, a lady wrote me and we began talking and she has a radio ministry and she is the coolest, most real person! Very soon after we began talking, I was telling her how much I struggle to read the Bible by itself without any other studies. Her ministry is to teach people how to read the Bible without anything else so there it began a wonderful mentor/friendship between the two of us even though she is in another state.

I have learned that the Word is God’s heart and I want to learn and know God’s heart so badly. I am doing good right now besides going through a bout of depression. They have just added on a new antidepressant last week and I truly can already feel it helping. I have been in such a place where I do all of my photography editing on my bed. I watch TV in my bedroom, I read in my bedroom, I do everything in there.

I don’t want to clean or do laundry. I don’t want to take a shower. This is where I am at right now and with me being a photographer and working at home, makes it worse.

ANY SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!

That is my story in a nutshell. Sorry it was so long but I appreciate you letting me share it! Blessings, Heather

Heather describers herself as “A fun loving 31-year-old girl who lives for God. I may have illnesses but I do not let them define me. I couldn’t live like this without God holding my hand all the way!” Visit her photography web site at http://hdstokesphotography.com . Both her photography site and her blog are cheerful and upbeat. You will see her sparkle!