My husband, Lionel and I thought we were living our best life during our dating days and early marriage. We were partying several nights a week, hosting parties, attending parties, drinking heavily and living life to the fullest, we thought. In 1997, Lionel suddenly started having some very alarming symptoms indicating something was wrong. His leg started dragging, he would have to lift it into the car, slurred speech, and left arm weakness. I was working at a clinic as a nurse and the doctor I worked for at the time ordered an MRI of his brain. The results came back; lesions on the brain. This started an array of tests and doctors appointments. He had to have several spinal taps but they were inconclusive. The neurologists he was seeing were having trouble figuring out what was wrong with him. Thankfully, the symptoms subsided after several weeks.

Lionel finally went to a neurologist in Birmingham. He did his own testing and two months after we were married, he was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). He was started on a treatment that was a weekly shot. It was a love/hate relationship. We were so thankful for a treatment option but every week he would experience flu-like symptoms for several days, fatigue, fever, chills, and body aches. He was on this medication for 13 years. When he would go to his doctor for follow ups, his doctor would tell him he was the poster child for the drug. We knew it was the work of our Heavenly Father, our Great Physician. Those 13 years were not easy on Lionel. Even though he felt bad the majority of the week, he never complained. At times, he would even mow the yard while having the flu-like symptoms. He has always persevered through the tough times.

After 13 years of taking weekly shots and feeling bad, he was ready to try a different medication. He has been on an oral drug for the past 10 years, and has certainly felt better on this medication. He has yearly MRI’s to look for lesions. Several years ago, the MRI showed an increase in lesions on his brain and upper spine. After being stable for so many years this was concerning to our family. However, the neurologist told Lionel he still did not have as many lesions as most people have upon diagnosis. Lionel had then been living with MS for 20 years. It was humbling and overwhelming to us that the Lord had been protecting his health for all these years. 

Lionel has been struggling with some challenges related to MS the past couple years. He has recently been diagnosed with gastroparesis, partial paralysis of the stomach. It is a disease where the stomach can not empty itself of food in a normal way. It causes a lot of pain, bloating, and a feeling of fullness after eating.There are a couple of  treatment options but Lionel is not a candidate for either. In typical Lionel fashion, he has altered his diet and is learning how to adapt to this new diagnosis. He is also having some significant eye problems. He struggles with iritis, inflammation of the iris or colored part of the eye, at least once a year. Currently, he is also having swelling of the retina. With the new challenges, I fear his disease is progressing. He has another MRI the first of the year that will confirm whether or not there are new lesions. Until then, we continue to pray and praise our Lord.

We know Lionel could relapse at any time and be blind, have a feeding tube or be in a wheelchair. We praise God for carrying us through each day and for the health that Lionel does have under these circumstances. He never complains about his pain or suffering. I see his pain and suffering and I am amazed by his daily endurance. The Lord has been and will continue to carry us through this disease process. From those early partying days to now, I see how the Lord used Lionel’s diagnosis as well as some other big events in our lives that I will share later, to shape who we are today. We are no longer big partiers or heavy drinkers but are fulfilled by the grace, love and mercy of our Lord. He is transforming our lives day by day. 

If you are living with a chronic disease, know that the Lord is with you and will never leave you to fight on your own. You may endure pain and suffering but His Word says, “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged”. Deuteronomy 31:8

Thank you for following my life journey. If you know someone that can be encouraged please feel free to share my blog. Let me know where you are seeing the Lord’s Presence in your life.