After being diagnosed with a blood disorder called Ideopathic Thrombocytopenia Purpura, a low platelet count, I wanted to become an oncology nurse. When I stopped treatments and got stronger, I started back to college and fulfilled my dream. I had never enjoyed school but once I started nursing school, I loved it. I would even turn down going out to party on the weekends to stay home and study. God was sanctifying me and I did not even realize it. My first nursing job was at the hospital working midnights on the oncology unit and I worked there one and a half years. My oncologist/hematologist kept telling me “Kim you have to get a day job so you can find a husband”. I loved my job but nights were so hard. I listened to my doctor and changed jobs to work at the pain clinic. I worked there for four years and during that time met my wonderful husband, Lionel. My passion was always oncology so after four years at the pain clinic, I went to work at The Center for Cancer Care. It was the most rewarding job. To be able to be there for those patients during the scariest time of their life was such an honor. I made friends with all of my patients and whether they went into remission or not, being able to either help them to get better or help them to accept their own death was the greatest privilege. 

At some point while still working there, I had several family members come in with a low platelet count to see Dr. Dang. He diagnosed them with a blood disorder called May Hegglin. It is a very rare, inherited blood disorder. So, I asked Dr. Dang if he thought that was what I had and he thought it was very likely. After reviewing my blood under the microscope, he determined it was indeed May Hegglin.  Previously, I had gone through a splenectomy, chemotherapy, and numerous treatments for ITP and now, 10 years later, I found out I did not have ITP but a different blood disorder called May Hegglin. With this disorder, there are no treatment and while some patients have some bleeding tendencies many go through their lifetime without any bleeding problems. I was so excited. I had no bitterness about the wrong diagnosis. If I had never been diagnosed with ITP, I would have never been an oncology nurse or I would have never understood life and death and experienced God’s Peace. God’s Word says in Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” I believe God is sovereign. He was in control when I was diagnosed with ITP and His timing was perfect when I became Dr. Dang’s nurse. May Hegglin was so rare that he had only seen it once before while in residency and my oncologist had never even heard of it. It was a miracle that I got the accurate diagnosis by Dr. Dang and only God performs miracles, He orchestrated it all.

Several years ago, I started having problems with my eyes hemorrhaging. I went to numerous eye doctors and tried different things to stop the bleeding. I had platelet transfusions, had to sleep with goggles, and tried many different eye drops. Years ago, I participated in a clinical trial for a drug to increase the platelet count. It was approved by the FDA and seven years later  Dr. Dang put me on it to see if it would stop the hemorrhaging. Thankfully it did and I have been on it ever since. The one thing I had always wanted to do if I got my platelet count up was to skate, so on my daughter’s 13th birthday, we skated together. It was so much fun. Today, my platelet count is stable at 153,000. I no longer have to live in fear of serious bleeding and can enjoy some activities like skating, biking, and water sports.

Over the last 30 years, I have had numerous health challenges, but I have never let them define me. People used to ask me how I got through it when I was so sick, my response would be, ” I would just look around and there were so many people much sicker, it made my pain and suffering less”. But as I have gotten older, when I am suffering with pain or a trial of any kind, instead of looking around at other people, I look to the Cross. The worst suffering that ever happened took place to Jesus on the Cross. So when I am in pain and suffering, I think about that and it lessens my pain knowing He suffered for me so that I can live with Him Forever.

Friends, I know many of you are suffering from many different trials during this long hard season of the pandemic, but I encourage you to keep the Faith. My life verse is Hebrews 12:1-2 “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God ”. Jesus is on the throne intervening on our behalf. Thank you for following Holy Interventions and keep looking for His Presence in your daily life.