The Waiting Room

Four years Cancer Free.

Praise Jesus

From day one back in 2016 The Dr. comes in after a procedure and says Sorry to have to tell you Mike but You have Stage 4 colon cancer. My first response was... GOD is bigger than my problems Doc. What are You gonna do...! I knew that God wouldn't put more on me than I could stand and I was always very positive with my Wife Kim that I'm gonna make this a blessing for someone Lord Willing. I know she and the boys worried about me I know my church family prayed for me. But most of all. I know the Lord brought me through it. I'm blessed to say the cancer hasn't come back. I learned like Paul in 2 corinthians12;7-8.



"And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me."

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭12:7-8‬ ‭KJV‬‬



"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭12:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬





I found comfort in my time of Ailments. The thorn in my flesh allowed me to comfort others that suffered with the same thorn in their flesh. I thank God for his blessings on me. Bless You All.

Mike ...

Five months ago, life was a humming along. Fast paced, hustling to fit everything I thought I needed to do into a 24 hour day, and a 7 day week. I thought I was living. I was happy, but what was it I was happy FOR. The kids were all over the place in activities after school and it was tough to find time for family activities. Everyone was wore out. Then God flipped a switch. On March 14th, we met at work to give computers to folks so that they could work at home. Stay at home was beginning to take place. It was super busy at work, I mean exhausting, but that the little voice kept telling me, you're helping people, keep it up. So I did. Focus was now on family, work, and Christ, all at home. Church was now in the living room and online, or wherever we choose to have it. My Dad and I built a small greenhouse at the house and spent time together, outside, doing garden stuff. My wife, kids, and I have spent more time together, more meals shared together, and more laughs together. We were forced to take the time, when we thought we were living, because God flipped a switch. Am I saying God caused coronavirus? No, I'm not saying that. What I'm saying is when we took the time to spend together as a family, the things of the 'world' grew strangely dim, and we saw, and thanked God for our blessings that we do have. The love we have as a family, you see, Glory to God, it has a source. Rivers of living water, it has a source. God gave us an everlasting well, His name is Jesus. When you draw water from His source, you'll never thirst, the things that are important will be revealed to you through Christ!!! Go get you a drink, if you read this and need anything at all, if me or my family can help you my phone number is 276 275-1096. I'll pray with and/or help you in any way I can. You need a hand with something, or help finding work, or just someone to talk to, holler. I'll give you a drink from the cup given to me, and point you to the source where I got it from, Jesus, who will fill up your cup, and then you can share your cup with someone else and point them to Jesus. Love you all.

Many of you know that last year was the most challenging I've ever had.The start of it was being by my dad's side while he underwent heart surgery.That went well,but then another surgery for his bowels,and two bouts of aspiration pneumonia turned the table.Watching my strong,veteran dad turn into someone who couldn't do anything for himself was awful.I held on to my faith.Many of my church family made that possible.The messages exactly when I needed them was nothing but God.My Dad wasn't saved.The day before he died,Kelly was with me.Dad saw something so beautiful that the look on his face was like a child that sees Santa.We felt at peace with his passing.In June,not even two months later,I got a call.My precious niece that had fought demons her entire life was at the hospital.I know by the silence of the ER when we arrived,that she was gone.The effects of drug use had finally took her.I questioned God."Why now God,right in the middle of my deep grief?" It took a fight, with Satan in my ear,but I found my way back.No circumstance ever is worth my soul.Hold tight to your faith,lean on your circle and you will overcome.

On June 6, 2017. I recieved a call from an ICU nurse that no parent ever wants to recieve ever. My daughter was there and she was very sick. She had sepsis, an infection around her heart, septic emboli in her lungs and a uti. She was flown to Holsten Valley hospital where she was Intubated and never came off. She went into cardiac arrest on June 9th 2017. My story did not have a happy ending but through it all I knew God was with me. Because I knew what I had been praying for a year. I prayed it daily really. My daughter had depression and she used drugs. Oh I would talk to her try to give her encouragement, try to get her help, none of it helped. I prayed lord please don't let me find her dead from suicide or overdose. Please help me in someway. When I recieved that call my mind was racing, I couldn't breath at the time I worked with some very good people I was blessed they got ahold of my mom and sister who got me to the hospital and we were able to spend time with her and talked with her. My mom asked her if she wanted to pray she said yes. I will never forget that moment as long as I live. The sitting in the waiting room while they intubated her was the longest time of my life and then after that watching the monitor and talking to her knowing she could here me because you see I am a nurse. I worked at home health at the time but before that I was an ICU nurse. There has been things during that time and after that I know only came from God. One was she died in a way that I could handle I knew everything that could be done to save her had been done. The night before she died her dad came to the hospital (my ex husband) and said you have to sleep at some point. I will stay with her tonight. I had up until that point been in the waiting room or with her sleeping an hour here and there. So I agreed my mom and sister took me to the room in Wilcox hall to sleep at midnight. At 2 am my mom woke suddenly and went to check on her she was coding my mother called me on my cell phone which in itself was only God himself who woke me up. When I got there they were running the code. They wouldn't let me in and that was a blessing because I wouldn't have never stopped CPR. Afterward there where so many things that happened that I knew that god had his arms firmly wrapped around me unexplainable things that could have not came from anybody but him. About a year after or so my sister was struggling with her own grief she said I don't know how you do it how your faith is so strong after everything you have been through. All I could say was I know he is with me. So I started praying to help her with her grief that Sunday I came to church and there was an announcement about GriefShare meetings starting up at a church between Pound and Clintwood so we signed up it helped. The biggest help was a mother who had just lost her son in his 20's we bonded instantly and she to this day messaged me for advice and all I can say is you have to depend on God through it all and talk it over with him. It's the best advice I can give. You have to give it all to him and trust in him to show you the way. I will tell you my relationship with God was not the strongest before Sarah's death but after I wouldn't trade it for anything.

My dad was killed in a tractor accident on October 31st 2017. Losing him in a blink of the eye was devastating to our family. At that time I was not saved and could not understand why God had taken him from us, my Mother was inconsolable at the time and being a two time breast cancer survivor and recently diagnosed with Parkinson's disease she could not understand why dad had been taken from her. Both of them were saved years ago and attended Church at West Norton. I was lost and didn't know what to do or say to her and on the day of his funeral I was sitting on my couch at home and a feeling came over me and I broke down and just sobbed uncontrollably and I promised God that I would do whatever I had to do to take care of our family as my dad had, right then and there I gave my heart to God. Things have not been easy the last 2 and a half years but I know with God's grace and guidance we will get through it. I believe with all my heart that this is God's plan for me right now anyway and I'm doing my best to fulfill his will.

We always hear about cancer.Last year my 39 year old nephew was diagnosed.We always figured it was going to be a long drawn out battle.We thought Bobby had more time.He needed more time.He was a single dad.In reality,it took him out in a whirlwind in a bad turn of events.Hardest thing I've been through.He had so many prayers from people and churches.It was in God's hands,not ours.During this time I started having health problems.We were led to believe it was a brain tumor.I just knew I had a battle coming that Bobby had just been through.My faith and my mental capabilities were weak.I was physically in a lot of pain.I had my church praying for me.The final report was no tumor.This was also in God's hands.Never let go of God's hand even in the darkest hour or the lowest valleys.

I feel like God tries to get our attention when we least expect it...and sometimes when we very much need it...but we are human and still don't hear Him call us. This was me. Just living day by day. Taking care of my kids, family and working full time. I felt exhausted all the time. No time or energy for anything else. I was eternally exhausted and didn't know it at the time. Sometimes God has us go through hard times not to break us down and that's it...but to break us from our day to day ways with out Him in it...He wants us to come to Him...call Him whenever we need Him. Sometimes a prideful person or a tough person thinks they don't need anyone...even God. As much hurt as we may have to go through...He wants us to call Him and become closer to Him...draw ur strength from Him and let him build u back up again. I know this now because I've went through a couple of things in my 36yrs of life. And still goin through something even right now. Three years ago I had a miscarriage. One of the hardest things I have went through. Hard on my family, my soul, everything. And it was something u honestly never think u are goin to experience. God was there even though I didn't know it at the time. He was trying to call me home to Him to become closer to Him...to let Him fix my heart. But I didn't hear Him...not like I should have. I started out faithfully strong after my miscarriage but I strayed off of that path and got back onto the same day to day path I was living before. Now, today...sadly my husband and I of 15yrs have separated. It came as a shock to most. We were kids when we got married and had our 2 beautiful, amazing kids ourselves within the first 5yrs of marriage. Life happens and it happened fast. And I'm not goin. to get into personal detail on what happened and who's fault it is we separated. It was actually both of us. Marriage is work and it takes 2. And if u do not have God in ur marriage...then it will fail. I've had a very hard time dealing with the separation. Learning to be by myself at 36...figuring I'm goin to be alone the rest of my life because I don't even know where to begin. I am constantly worrying about my kids and how this effects them. And he has already moved on with someone else and I have had to face that head on. But...I've learned to face it head on with God. Don't get me wrong...that didn't make it completely easier...but it did make it better knowing He was with me and I could and will get through it. During all of this I gave my heart back to God on Feb 9th. And I'm still learning and even stumbling along the way. But thankful knowing I have a church home and family who care and who may have someone that's been in my kind of waiting rooms before...and maybe someone will benefit from my trials. #ECCnotalone

I was very shy in school and was made fun of because of this. I never went on a date. I didn't go to the prom. My two younger sisters were the very opposite. I was very lonely at times. In 1998, I met this guy and thought my dream

had come true. We got married in 1999 and had our son in 2001. In 2009, I found out he was having an affair. He denied everything and started getting involved in church again. It wasn't long until I started seeing things weren't right again. I would pray and cry myself to sleep most nights. On Christmas Eve 2013, I found evidence that he was snorting pills. He said I was crazy. I kept praying for God to show me what he needed me to see. In May of 2014, I found a card he had written to his girlfriend. I went to a lawyer in June and filed for divorce. I felt like a failure and my life was falling apart. The hardest part was watching my 12 year old son suffer. He started to adjust because my dad was there for him and dad had babysat him since he was 6 weeks old. Everything was getting better, until my dad was diagnosed with ALS in 2016 and passed away only a few months later. He said to me on Friday night before he went to Heaven on the following Tuesday "I pray all the time that God is going to put someone in your life to be good to you and Koby. I would get down at times but I always stood on that promise. My dad has been gone for awhile, but I'm seeing his prayers still being answered. In November 2019, a good Christian guy messaged me and I truly believe he is God sent and the answer to my dad's prayers. Keep praying and believing! ❤️

There are a lot of people that know my story but I have never publicly shared my testimony. It spans a few years so I'm sorry if it's long.



I began dating my husband in 2013 and it was a very dark time in his life. He was battling addiction and I was determined to help him through it. That did not happen the way I thought or wanted. I was pulled into that world too and it also became a dark time for me. In 2014 we both went to jail. I sobered up while waiting for my hearings and that is when God started talking to me. I was raised in church and knew what was happening. I was tired, unhappy, embarrassed, and my self esteem was at my lowest. I listened. It took just a little longer for my husband (we got married not long after) but he started listening also. We are now in recovery and have been for about 5 years.



But it was not over, in 2016 my husband was indicted by a federal grand jury for drug distribution and is now serving 8 years in a federal prison camp.



My sister, Ashley Arney ,introduced me to ECC in 2018 and I knew I had found my home church. I am not able to attend service regularly because of my work schedule but I watch each service on YouTube and I go to service when I am able. I was baptized in April 2018.



I have suffered from migraines since I was a teen but in 2018 they started to get progressively worse. I also started losing my hearing in my right ear intermittently. It would just come and go. I was treated for fluid on the ear for several months and then my primary care doctor referred me to an ENT. I work nights so it was very hard for me to call them and drive over an hour away when my hearing would suddenly go away. They needed to run tests while I was having the issue to figure out what was going on. It took a few months for it to happen and for me to actually be able to make it to their office. In 9 days I had lost 60% of the hearing in my right ear and he ordered an MRI which I had done right away. In Feb 2018 I went into his office for a follow up and he just hit me with the diagnoses. I had an Acoustic Neuroma, a brain tumor that sits on the hearing nerve at the base of the brain and uncomfortably close to the brain stem if the tumor is big. Thank God I had my mom with me that day. I was numb, stunned, and in disbelief. I was so stunned that I laughed when the doctor told me.

I was in a state of shock for a couple of days and I prayed a lot. On the second day I had a peace that came over me that told me everything would be ok. I just knew that He was in control and He would take care of me. You see He never puts anything on you that you cannot handle. From that moment on that is the attitude I kept. I didn't worry when I traveled to Duke Medical for treatment. I stood steadfast while I scheduled and underwent a craniotomy in June 7, 2018. I Had Him and my family by my side so I knew whatever happened it would be what He planned for me. The surgeons were able to completely remove the tumor 100% and it was benign. The residual effects can be irritating at times but are not as bad as they could've been and for that I am so thankful.

I went home 4 days later to start recovering. It still wasn't over though. On day 4 at home, I think, I went to bed with a headache and slept a couple of hours. When I got up I knew something was wrong. It felt like my brain was trying to push its way out of my skull by any means it could. I had never felt pain like that, not even the brain surgery hurt like this. My mom rushed me to the hospital with me asking the whole way if I was going to die. It sure felt like I was going to. I was in the hospital for a few days with Chemical Menengitis. It was my brain manifesting menengitis as a response to being invaded during surgery. It was trying to protect itself. It's a menengitis that is not contagious since it's manifested. I went home on a PICC line and underwent antibiotic treatment for 2 weeks I think with home health.

I knew that I was taken care of though, I knew that it was His will, and I knew with his strength I would be fine. I would have never made it through everything that I have been through without that faith and love. I am so thankful everyday that He saw more in me than I saw in myself and gave me the strength to fight addiction and then the faith to turn to Him through my medical issues. God is good and full of grace



#ECCNotAlone