This is from Rico:
I would like to take this time to talk about God and his healing power. I am a living witness that God’s grace and mercy endures forever and that any person can overcome any physical impairment or disease if he/she believes. Thoughout my life I have been a very outgoing and fun-loving that despite being overweight. In 1998, I decided to give my life to Christ and it seemed to everything was beginning to fall in place. I was enjoying my career in law-enforcement as well as working with children as a substitute teacher part-time. The following year I became involved in a serious relationship with a young lady that I thought one day would be my wife. However, I came down with a condition called cellulitis which manifested into a disease called lymphedema. Lymphedema is a debilitating condition where the lymph nodes fail to carry the excess fluid away from the skin causing severe swelling in the affected area. It can cause great disfigurement in the affected area and I have it in my legs and thighs which make them look like tree trunks. As you probably can tell this disease causes great discomfort in the affected area which can limit a person’s mobility. Because of this, my faith began to sway and the disease began to take a tole on me not only physically, but emotionally, socially, and financially.
Between 2004 to 2007, I underwent various treatment from several doctors producing very minimal results eventually my condition grew worse. The relationship I was involved in ended in 2002 due to the stress and strain the disease was placing on the relationship. It was also placing a strain on my job as well. Just as I was about to give up a family member came to me to hold a prayer meeting and she reassured me that is all even though I am suffering, God still has a purpose for you he will never leave your nor forsake you.
The next day I received call from one of my therapists when she told me about a rehabilitative hospital in Chattanooga Tennessee called the Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation where I would undergo treatment for my lymphedema as well less weight management. As I recall this telephone conversation, I believe that God placed it on her heart to tell me about this program because she recalled me to consider gastric bypass surgery.
After undergoing a strict background and medical evaluation by the rehabilitative program and taking on the insurance bureaucracy, I was admitted into the Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation on July 21, 2009 and released on August 16, 2009. God has placed his Healing Hands on me because not only my lymphedema is in remission, but I have lost a 131 lbs. and I am getting stronger each day. I realize that some of you are experiencing great trials and tribulations at this moment but I am here to tell you that I am a living witness that for weepeth may endureth for a night, but joy, cometh in the morning.
If you have a testimony, I would love to share it! Please email it to me @ dschiele@radio-one.com
