I asked a friend of mine, Sarah Prairie, to share her story with us all because it is amazing. She is a beautiful young woman, inside and out, and I hope her story touches many!
—————————————————————————————————————————————
I hope that in sharing my testimony, I will bring some encouragement to someone, because there IS hope in whatever circumstance you are in.
My journey has not been easy, but I have learned a great deal from every experience, and I pray that I will never forget the ways that God has carried me through them.
I was 8 years old when I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. I started taking around 4 shots a day, and over the years it was up to 8 or 10 a day. I was in and out of the hospital due to complications of the disease and was put on and insulin pump at the age of 12. My dad passed away that year after a year long battle of health problems, and cancer that took his life at the age of 42. (He was also diabetic). My mom was left with 4 young children, and a life that she knew nothing of. As the oldest daughter, I suddenly became an adult caring for my family when my mom couldn’t, and doing everything I could for them. I quickly became severely depressed and was functioning off of other peoples energy, because I had none of my own. I was put on antidepressants, but only took them for a short time.
It wasn’t until about 3 years ago that I really began to suffer from other health problems. My diabetes was out of control, so much so, that my doctor told me that he was afraid I was going to have a heart attack. My liver was so swollen I could feel it through my stomach because of how high my blood sugars were. My doctor prescribed me medication for heart disease, blood pressure, another shot I had to take 3 times a day to help control my blood sugar, and medication for my thyroid. In the next 4 months or so I was diagnosed with Thyroid disease, Graves disease, and Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome.They found a lump on my Thyroid and did a biopsy on it, which was the most painful thing I’ve experienced. I felt like a 90 year old in my 22 year old body. My whole body would ache in pain, and I felt like sleeping at all times. I was irritable and lonely, because nobody knew how bad I was really feeling, and I was hating myself. I was put on antidepressants once again.
In the midst of all this, the guy that I had been in a relationship with for almost a year tells me that he is being sent to India to find a wife and marry her. There are no words to describe the amount of pain I felt at that time. I felt like I was suffocating and drowning in my sadness. I would fall asleep after crying for hours, and wake up with my eyes so swollen I couldn’t see. I had so much anger, and the depth of my pain was more than I could bare, and I wanted to be dead. I finally got enough strength to go for a walk and during the walk, I cried my heart out to God and basically told him that I was tired of being tired and sad and sick. I told Him I would rather be dead than live this way. If He could just bring me peace rather than hell, and joy rather than sadness, and if I could just rest in Him… that’s all I could ask for. I wasn’t even sure if He would rescue me, but I needed His salvation desperately.
That was almost 2 years ago, and I can’t even describe how much God has restored in my life since then. I am engaged to be married to the most wonderful man. God is so amazingly good.
I started taking Shaklee supplements earlier this year, and honestly have never felt better. (B-Complex, Vita-Lea, Herb-Lax, Vitamin E, Vitamin C and Optiflora). Since I started taking the supplements, I am no longer taking any of the medications that I was prescribed. In fact, I went to the doctor a week ago and he decreased the amount of insulin I was taking in half. (I was taking up to 80-100 units per day). My body no longer aches, and I have energy that I never had before. Sometimes you don’t even know how deficient your body is, until you give it what it needs.
God’s care for His children is so amazing. He is our rescuer, our Healer, and a refuge for us. He brings good news to our affliction, binds up the brokenhearted, and saves us when our spirit is crushed.
“I have seen his ways, and I will heal him, I will lead him and restore comfort to him and to his mourning.” Isa 57:18
– Sarah Prairie
