God Made Me Blind So I Could See!

Has there ever been a more powerful and sentimental statement ever spoken? If so, I have never heard it.

During a recent chat with a dear friend of mine, who is suffering from two severe medical challenges, one of which is a brain tumor and the second a severe inhibitor known as claustrophobia. This condition prevented her from receiving timely treatments to correct and treat the tumour. Claustrophobia is something hardly understood by the masses, but far to often made fun of by the same. Claustrophobia is an anxiety disorder in which someone has an intense and irrational fear of confined or enclosed spaces. A person who suffers from claustrophobia may break into a panic when inside an elevator, a bus, an aeroplane, a room with lots of people or any confined space.

The required treatment for her brain tumor was first two surgeries to be followed by 30+ radiation treatments, with a particular and terrifying twist for my friend that she would need to wear a full and enclosed face mask, while at the same time being strapped to the treatment table for each of the 30+ treatments. For her, This was like and by compared, a Hannibal Lector scene in The Silence of the Lambs.

Have you ever been given a choice to do something, where your fear of that something was so powerful, that even thinking about having to make a choice to ensure you lived made you so sick, it was still more frightening than the thought of dying?

My friend was there, and had decided not to do her treatments, because the thought of being strapped and face tied to a table was more terrifying than dying, despite all medical warnings that death would be eminent without that tumor gone! She was simply too terrified to go on.

My friend took some time to weigh the options, and upon a decision to at least try the treatment, she was met with the realization that it would not happen for her; the claustrophobia would seemingly rule the outcome.

Three months went by, and quite suddenly my friend lost sight in her second eye, she had already lost complete vision in her left eye a year previous. The right eye vision loss was practically over a few days, and a strong message was seemingly sent. An immediate bell went off, and it became quite apparent for her and necessary for her doctors that the treatment would happen, and more sooner than later. If for no other reason, it would likely serve as a life preservation measure, even if sight restoration may not be in her future.

Sadly, three more months worth of delays would happen before her specialist and the cancer centre could co-ordinate pre-treatment tests, schedule 30+ treatments and get things in place. By that time, the optic nerve had become quite compressed and any hope for renewed vision, seemed more hopeless.

Finally, five weeks ago, A second attempt at treatment began, and was successful insofar that the claustrophobia was not hindering the progress. An old adage seemed to prove fruitful, "If Your Eyes Don't See It, Your Heart Won't Feel It". It seemed now that the vision loss aided in a rest of peace in the fears caused by the claustrophobia. By not being able to see, it became easier for my friend to accept the treatment.

Today begins her sixth week of treatments, and despite many very low days, this trooper has expressed a valiant effort in becoming well. , After six months of no sight, my friend is now showing some great signs of regaining her lost vision in her left eye, or at least part of it. More importantly, it now appears the treatment is having a very big impact on the tumor, this is welcomed news indeed. At last, there is hope, said my friend, “I believe god took my sight, so I could see”.

What spirit, what testimony, and strength in a belief must a person possess in order to first feel the power of a stronger being, but secondly, to be able to use it in such a time, while facing a personal challenge that for most would have to be created by a darker force.

Conviction and a belief in the power of god, of love, of family and of self can allow to hold overwhelming weight in your heart and hands. Just when you believe you can't you will. Today we believe, if we lose our job we'll starve, our house, we'll freeze, our toys, we'll be bored. Do we not live in a world full of temptation and heart felt contempt for fellow humans to often?

My friend taught me a very valuable lesson, that lesson is, when you see danger or sense fear, simply close your eyes, but open your heart, your mind and your faith. God will take you the rest of the way.

Keep the faith!

Brudder