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A Caregiver's Testimony: Prevailing with God through our lifes storm The story of Carl and Sherri Johnson drew among the highest number of readers of any story which ever appeared in ColumbiaMagazine. Many people have asked for a follow-up. This is Sherry's own testimony, written earlier this year, which she has graciously agreed to share By Sherri Johnson This article first appeared in the January 2006 Trinity United Methodist Church Newsletter The morning of August 9, 2005, I read Genesis 35. I highlighted this in the commentary; Many people believe that Christianity should offer a problem-free life. Consequently, as life gets tough, they draw back disappointed. Instead, they should determine to prevail with God through lifes storms. Problems and difficulties are painful but inevitable; you might as well see them as opportunities for growth. You cant prevail with God unless you have troubles to prevail over. Little did I know when I read that around 6:00 a.m. that my chance to prevail would begin in just hours. The call came around 3:00 that Carl was at the hospital and might have had a heart attack. I expected a little chest pain and a series of tests, maybe some medication. As most of you know, Carl had a massive heart attack that usually kills most people. He spent 45 minutes in code status and has suffered what the doctors call a severe diffuse (meaning all over) anoxic (from the lack of oxygen) brain injury. The doctors had given us very little hope for Carl, but God has kept encouraging me to not give up. . Over the past few months, Carl has progressed. It is slow, but it is progress. As I look back and think about those first weeks at home, I am thankful that I no longer hear the children say, Mom, Dad needs suctioning. Carl is much more comfortable now and is quite healthy except for the brain injury. He still isnt walking and talking, but his balance is much better and he can sit up much easier now. The therapists are working with him on standing up, rolling over, moving his fingers, tracking objects with his eyes, and relaxing his muscles. He had learned to swallow and had been doing very well until he had to be put to sleep to have his feeding tube replaced, but I am hopeful he will regain that ability and get his feeding tube out for good someday. He still communicates mainly with eye blinks, but is also learning to stare at objects or words for communication. Everything has to be relearned. The thing I miss the most is regular conversation. . Life has changed drastically for all of us. I miss the old days as Connor puts it, but Im also thankful for so much. I have never felt so cared for and loved by so many people. I could write a whole article on what I have to be thankful for, but the thing I am most thankful for is that God is in control. God really is in control. It sounds so simple. I know that God knew this would happen. He may not have caused it, but I know he prepared me to handle this. I think he prepared Carl, too. I am looking forward to the day that Carl can tell us his perspective. . Carl and I have been together most of our lives. We were high school sweethearts and married in 1985 here at Trinity. I love him too much to give up on him and too much to let him give up. As I look back at my life, I see how God has been preparing me to this task (or test). . Our decision to move back home: God knew I would need the support of family, church and friends to help us through this storm of life. . Some rocky times in our marriage: Carl and I have overcome some difficult situations before. I have no doubt that God has brought us through them to help strengthen the bond that we share. We celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary in 2005. . My career choice as a dietitian: My days were spent seeing patients who were at the end of life or had found themselves on a very broken road of life much earlier than they anticipated. I enjoyed helping them and comforting them. My mind goes to the husband whose wife developed Alzheimers in her 50s (He spent every day coming to the nursing home to see to her care); the girl with spina bifida who had lived most of her life in an institution but always had a smile on her face; the young father who suffered a traumatic brain injury from a car accident and was one of my tubefed patients. Do you think God was preparing me for this broken road of my own? . My childhood: It wasnt your ideal situation, but I wouldnt trade it for the world. It has made me who I am today. I learned a long time ago that All things work toward the good for those who love the Lord Romans 8:28. Sometimes things seem very clear when you are further ahead in life and can look back and put all the pieces together. God knows what lies ahead. We just have to trust Him. . We have a saying on our refrigerator at home. It reads, Good Morning, this is God. I will be handling all your problems today. I will not need your help, so relax and have a great day. If we truly believe and know that God is in control, then why do we have anything to worry about? This has been easier said than done for me lately, but Im learning. Many times Ive had to let go of this problem of ours and remind myself that God is taking care of it. I have heard it said that God is too wise to make a mistake and too loving to be unkind (Pastor John Hagee). God knows exactly how heartbroken I am right now. He knows how I yearn for my children to have their father back in their lives, really participating in their care. But somehow, He gives me the strength to go on each day, taking care of Carl. Jeremiah 29:11 says, For I know the plans I have for you, they are to prosper you and not to harm you. They are for hope and a future.. Why was Carls life spared? God is in control. Only He knows. Was it a coincidence that the vehicle Carl was driving was within sight of the hospital when he had his heart attack? Just hours before, he was at home on the treadmill. Why didnt that plaque formation break off while his heart was pumping more rapidly? Why did he have to suffer a brain injury? Why cant he talk to me yet? Why? Why? Why??? . Joel Osteen has said that the enemy hits you the hardest when he knows Gods got something great in store for you. God is in control. He loves us. He is for us. Period. . I have found comfort in many places, but none has comforted me quite like the story of Job. Jobs storm makes Carls look like a little high wind. This man truly suffered. He lost his children, his possessions, his status and his health. When this first happened to Carl, I read about Job again, but I just read the beginning and skipped most of the middle to get to the happy ending at the end. Since we are currently in the middle, I just recently went back and really studied the entire book. I love Job. I cant wait to meet him some day in Heaven. He is an awesome, faithful servant of the Lord. I found comfort in the fact that he too questioned at times. He wanted to die. Ive felt that way too. Its only human to feel like wanting to escape when your world falls apart. But Job knew just like you and I know that God is in control. Job said, Shall we accept good from God and not trouble?. Ive got it so easy compared to Job. Ive got Gods word. The entire Bible. Job didnt have that. Ive also got Jesus to intercede for me. Ive got the best friend in the world that anyone could ever have. Ive got Jobs story. Every day I thank God for his word and for Job. These are some commentaries from the book of Job that have comforted me: . God is capable of rescuing us from suffering, but he may also allow suffering to come to us for reasons we do not understand. It is Satans strategy to get us to doubt God at exactly this moment. If we always knew why we were suffering, our faith would have no room to grow. . Life is not given merely for happiness and personal fulfillment, but for us to serve and honor God. . When you find yourself doubting God, remember that you dont have all the facts. God wants only the very best for your life. Many people endure great pain, but ultimately they find some greater good came from it. When youre struggling, dont assume the worst. . The worth and meaning of life is not based on what we feel, but on the one reality that no one can take away Gods love for us. Dont assume that because God truly loves you, that he will always prevent suffering. The opposite may be true. Gods love cannot be measured or limited by how great or how little we may suffer. . In the broad scope of time, God executes justice. We have his promise on that. Dont lose hope. Wait upon God. He notices your right living and your faith. . I am still hoping, praying and believing for a miracle in Carls life. Many may think I am crazy. Who ever heard of a person with an anoxic brain injury being healed? But our God is all knowing and all powerful. He is the same God who put the stars in the sky (as he reminded Job). He is the same God who raised Lazarus from the dead, the same God who healed Barbara from a rare tumor, the same God who made Carls body and brain. I have no doubt he can do it. I accept Gods will no matter what happens. I will always love Him and do my best to serve Him, but Im not giving up hope. I hope that you, too, will continue to keep Carl in your prayers and dare to believe in our God for a miracle in his life. James 5:15, And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well: the Lord will raise him up. Thanks to all of you for your prayers and help during this time. . Sherri Johnson Related link: The Carl Johnson story with photos and comments This story was posted on 2006-03-07 13:57:32
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