A Journey of Healing: My Story
Life often unfolds in unexpected and sometimes painful ways. My story begins in September of 1995, when I found myself living in Nashville, grappling with a diagnosis that would change everything: chronic ulcerative colitis. This autoimmune disorder, notorious for its devastating effects, attacks the colon and can lead to excruciating, dysentery-like symptoms. Unfortunately, I experienced the full brunt of its wrath almost immediately.
Fast forward to October, and I was in a state of crisis. I had lost over 40 pounds, unable to consume solid food; every medical intervention we tried seemed to fail spectacularly. Eventually, I was hospitalized, and it was during this time that I met with a surgeon. Faced with the prospect of surgery to remove my colon, I felt the weight of despair settle heavily upon me.
I was utterly miserable, wasting away in a cycle of pain and fear. The thought of undergoing major surgery in my weakened condition was daunting. In those dark moments, I turned to prayer. I reached out to my friends, asking them to lift me up in prayer as well. My hope was to find solace and strength to face the surgery that loomed ahead.
As the date for the surgery drew near, I received a phone call from a dear friend, Ruth Okediji. Ruth had been a guiding light during my time in law school, leading our Christian fellowship. Today, she is a respected professor at Harvard Law School. I will never forget the first words she spoke to me: “It’s over,” she said firmly. “The Lord has healed you.”
Initially, I felt a rush of frustration. I was mentally preparing myself for surgery, and what I craved was encouragement grounded in reality, not what I perceived as false hope. As a Christian, I have always believed in the existence of God and the power of miracles. Yet, I had never considered that a miracle could manifest in my own life. My prayers had been conventional, focused on asking for wisdom for my doctors and courage for myself to face the impending surgery.
Ruth, however, approached prayer differently. She boldly asked God for healing and declared that He had answered her prayer. In that moment, a glimmer of hope began to emerge amidst my despair.
