The Recovery Process and a Glimpse of My Hand

God amazes me! He can take something small, and bless it to be exactly enough. That’s how I feel about my left hand. My whole life, I’ve only been able to use the one finger on my left hand, but He has blessed my abilities to exceed my disabilities on any given day. And now He has blessed me with more. Now, I have a thumb.

Today, I can move my thumb outward as well as inward, and spread my hand. This morning I couldn’t move it at all, so I removed the bandage myself. Yeah, I know it’s not Friday, but I won’t tell my doctor if you won’t tell. :) I just had to see if I could move my thumb at all. After a few minutes of concentration, determination, and prayer it moved—and my heart was overjoyed once again. Now the muscle is so sore. It has reached exhaustion on several occasions today, but I continue to move it. Why? Because I can. With the pain of moving it comes the joy of seeing and feeling it move. 

I can’t even express the gratitude in my heart. God gives me enough of everything that I need. During my darkest moments, He always gives me a spark of hope. And He will do the same for you. 

As I was driving home from work today— I declared myself healed this morning and decided to get back to work—I thought about how there is more than one way to do things. For the last few weeks, I have pushed my boundaries and discovered so many new ways to do every day things. When we really try and explore our creative side, we will amaze ourselves. I tried to never use the words “I can’t” during my healing process, but instead I focused on discovering new ways. So often we poison our mind with our words and limiting beliefs. I have learned through out my life, when determination meets with faith, however, anything is possible. 

Here is a before and after of my hand. For anyone who wants the medical terminology, my doctor did a release of complex syndactalized thumb and index hypoplastic digits with full thickness skin graft on me. 

Before

After

In other words, he reconstructed my hand and gave me a thumb. :)

Blessings, 

Candida

Why Patience is the Key to Success

How many times have we wanted to give up or have actually given up, when the blessings was right around the corner? It happens to us all. Most of the time we want instant gratification for our efforts. While that may occur occasionally, it usually takes time to see any fruits from our labors. Waiting and working, and believing that it will happen can be so difficult. But patience plays a big role in our success. 

It took me seven years to get published. During that time, I wanted to give up on many occasions. My mind struggled to believe in the process. In my heart, I knew that if I worked hard and did not faint, when times became hard, that God would bless my efforts. Still it wasn’t easy. A few times, it seemed hopeless and my mind encouraged me to give up—move onto something else that would actually be profitable. But my heart always had a tiny flicker of hope. 

It was that tiny spark of hope that helped me to continue going, when I really wanted to quit. Because when we do something of importance and value, we will struggle with the process. Our focus, however, needs to be on what we have to gain—if we don’t give up.

I had two books released on the same day. Even through the years of rejection, I continued to write and believe. And when the time was right, God blessed my efforts. He taught me so much about patience through the process of writing and waiting. The journey created a memory for me. Now when I’m struggling with something difficult, and it seems that it may never happen, I go back to that journey and remember how He took care of that situation for me. The memory gives me hope and renews my strength. 

It took me three years to write my book, Despite Your Circumstances. It took almost a year for me to write it. Then my publisher asked me to rewrite parts of it. And that process took another two years. I was so frustrated with the book that I wanted to rip up my contract and just forget about it. However, I finished it, and it won a Book of the Year Award. 

God wants us to be patient. Things will not always happen when we want them to, but when we persevere despite the obstacles and trials, God will reward our efforts. 

It’s the same way with a healthy lifestyle. We often start with big expectations, but when we don’t immediately get the results that we desire, we quit. If we would continue, however, and realize that it takes time and a daily effort, then we would be able to get the results that we want. 

When we are working toward a goal or waiting for a prayer to be answered, then we need to remember these three things. 

1. God always does what it best for us, even though we may not understand it at the time. 
2. Everything has an appointed time.
3. God is faithful.

Have a wonderful day!

Candida

Living with Amniotic Band Syndrome: How One Doctor Gave Me Hope For My Scars

Sometimes when we least expect it, God surprises us. Yesterday at my doctor’s appointment, I received the surprise of my life. I went to the doctor because of my elbow pain. Six weeks after my fall, it still hurts and my range of motion is limited. So my primary care physician scheduled an appointment with an orthopedic specialists. 

Yesterday morning, before my appointment, I prayed that the physician would have compassion on me. So often they take one look at my scars and assume that my every ache and pain is caused from Amniotic Band Syndrome and dismiss me with the standard, “I’m sorry, but there is nothing we can do for you.” 

After the doctor examined my elbow and took a few more X-rays, he concluded that it was fractured, but healing well. No cast. No surgery. He did, however, encourage me to start moving it as much as possible, and said that it should be completely healed in another three weeks.

He then moved on to my scar on my right arm caused from Amniotic Band Syndrome. He examined it and then asked me to tell him about my hands. He wanted to know what kind of problems they cause for me. When I told him that it’s hard for me to write, drive, and type, he rolled his chair over to me and asked to see them. He picked them up and took pictures. After a few minutes, he looked and me and said, “I believe I can help you. Do you want me to fix your hands?”

It just so happens that the elbow specialist is also one of the greatest hand surgeons around. He specializes in congenital hand deformities and nerve reconstruction surgery. I will never be able to express how I felt in that moment. No doctor has ever given me that degree of hope before. Usually they tell me that nothing can be done to help my hands, and they will continue to get worse. 

After he reviewed my X-rays he talked to me about what he could do for me. He believes that he can separate all of my fingers on my right hand, and give me a thumb on my left hand. The difference that this will make in my life is astounding. He believes it will eliminate most of my pain. 

One of my concerns is that I will not be able to tolerate pain medication after surgery, since I’ve had so many allergic reactions in the past. Perhaps I can do it without any medication. I’ve lived most of my life in pain. I’ve had a fractured elbow for six weeks, and I’ve not taken one drop of medicine. I also know that this is something my Lord can help me through. 

Yesterday, as I sat in the room and listened to the doctor explain my options there was such a peace that filled my heart. I felt as if I was right where God wanted me to be, and this is just another part of His plan for me. 

This morning all I can do is cry. To receive this type of gift is priceless. God has seen my every struggle, He has heard my pleas for help, and He has had a plan for me all along. Through my darkest valleys, when I didn’t think that I could possibly take it another moment, He always encouraged me. When people or my circumstances would threaten my hope, He would always give me a glimpse of a better day. And I could never fully express what those little glimmers of hope have meant to me. 

My God is so wonderful! When we go to Him with a broken heart, He hears our prayers, and He bottles them up for just the right moment. 

Psalm 37:4-5 (KJV)

4 Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

Whatever your struggle, don’t give up on the Lord. He has grace for our every need, and He knows the desires of our hearts. 

Have a wonderful day!

Candida