THE PHYSICAL ASPECT – No. 6

I’ve often been asked if I have any pain. The disease itself doesn’t cause any pain directly, but there are a few indirect ways that it does produce some discomfort. Only the motor neurons are affected, so although I can’t move like I used to, I can still feel everything as normal.

Muscle Cramps. I seem to be getting more of these since my diagnosis. They aren’t too intense and don’t last long, but happen quite frequently. I’ve discovered some supplements for muscle cramps that do help, so the cramps have become more of an inconvenience than a major ‘pain in the neck.’

Falling. As the saying goes, “Falling doesn’t hurt—it’s the landing that’s so painful!” Now that I’m no longer walking, I don’t fall anymore. But while I could still get around, falling was an ever-increasing risk. Along with muscle weakness came a corresponding lack of balance that led to quite a few falls. Add to that weakness in my arms that resulted in an inability to catch myself or break my fall, and you a recipe for lots of bruises and, on one occasion, five stitches in my forehead!

Pressure sores. Otherwise known as bedsores, they are the result of a lack of blood circulation caused by one’s weight on a certain area for a long time. Actively mobile people don’t get them because they are constantly moving or shifting their weight. Immobile people get them because they are unable to move around or shift their weight. I’ve only had one small one on my heel. That was a wake-up call for us that we needed to become proactive in preventing others from forming. I now have a daily massage to promote circulation and am careful to stand up every two hours or so.

So, you see, I have had some pain, but nothing serious by any means.

THE SPIRITUAL ASPECT – No. 10

A while ago I started documenting some of the incidents of how God has guided us, provided for us and spoken to us since my diagnosis in July 2006. I want to culminate this process by detailing what God has said about healing and why I am convinced that He is indeed going to heal me of ALS/MND. This journey begins all the way back on the day I was diagnosed and continues right up to last week.

In July of 2006, I heard for the first time from the neurologist that, after extensive tests, his diagnosis was MND/ALS. His exact words to me were, “Don’t delay, get your house in order.” Later that week, after obtaining a second opinion that confirmed the diagnosis, we met with the leaders of our church to fill them in. Obviously they were all shocked by the news, but one long-time and special friend was particularly devastated. He went straight home to cry out to God on my behalf. After a long time of prayer and weeping, he felt God lead him to a passage from the Bible in 2 Kings chapter 20…
1In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live.’” 2Then he turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the LORD, saying, 3“Remember now, O LORD, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. 4And it happened, before Isaiah had gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 5“Return and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD.
I hadn’t told them what the neurologist had said, so the fact that God had led him to a passage using the same words was significant. This was the first indication from God of His intention to heal.

Nicky also felt that God has told her that He is going to heal me. In typical fashion, it came about in a conversation she had with God shortly after I was diagnosed. We were on our way for a week’s break in the Midlands. I was still able to drive and Nicky was praying (No, not because of my driving!). She looked over at my hands on the steering wheel and noticed again how the muscles had atrophied. She then began a new monologue that went something like this… “God, how can you watch this happening to Bob and not intervene? But then again, you had to watch much worse things happen to your Son without intervening.” At this point God interrupted with the words, “But I’m going to heal Bob.” From that day, she has never doubted that healing is coming (although she has at times wondered why it’s taking so long!).

I’ve already written about the fact that God has led three independent people at different times to read Psalm 118 to me. The key verses say…
17 I shall not die, but live, And declare the works of the LORD.
18 The LORD has chastened me severely, But He has not given me over to death.

I’ve also written about the special events that have left me even more convinced that the healing will happen. Following is a summary of what I’ve come away with from those experiences …

I was stirred out of what had become a resignation to a seemingly inevitable process of degeneration.

I experienced a greater outpouring of love from God and His people than I ever thought possible.

I was inspired by the faith of those who are praying tirelessly for my healing.

I have been blown away by the love and compassion of so many people who are so desperate to see me healed and restored.

I am convinced that this illness is as much a test of the faith of our church (and the many other people praying for me) as it is a test of my faith.

I believe that every time an individual or a group prays for me, the healing is one step closer; but I also believe that the healing will be a spontaneous event not taking place amidst a lot of hype and fanfare.

It has reinforced my conviction not to look to any individual as the source of healing, but only to God.

It has made me even more determined to seek the Giver as well as His gift of healing.

And I became more certain than ever that God is going to heal me on this side of eternity!

Finally, and most recently, God has confirmed His intentions once again last week. After having two difficult weeks health-wise, including spending my first ever night in a hospital, I was feeling a bit low. Early last week I found that my faith for healing was beginning to waver. By Wednesday I was asking God to help me regain the strong level of faith for healing that I once had. Then on Friday two independent people made a point of coming to me individually and telling me how certain they each were that God would heal me of this disease. Message received!

I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord!

THE RELATIONAL ASPECT – No. 06

I’m going to continue down the same detour I’ve been following and honour two more people… Kaskile and Kika, my caregivers. Both of these men are committed Christians, and both are so valuable to us.

Kaskile has been with us since July of 2008 and has become like one of the family. He is a very skilled person and is confident and professional in his approach. He also has a great sense of humour and a broad smile that lights up his face. Nicky often hears us laughing and just has to come to find out what is so funny.

Kaskile generally works day shift and comes to work with us every day. He is quite literally my right-hand man. (and my left-hand man!) And he’s become very popular with the staff and the pupils at the school.

Kika works night shift, taking over at 5:00 pm. Although not as qualified as Kaskile, he is eager to learn and takes his work very seriously.

There is virtually nothing either of these two men wouldn’t do for me. I rely on them both in almost everything I do. And the load it has taken off of Nicky is invaluable. Nicky and I have so much more quality time together now that I have 24/7 care.