I never want to "miss God" when it came to life events. When they happen, I want to record them like a stack of memorial stones.
I think this particular event began when my wife, Julie, and I were contemplating a move out of California that had been corrupted by evil governance. I consulted with God with, "where should we move?" I didn't even ask whether we should or shouldn't— just "where". We checked out several other states, but none gave us any spiritual confirmation.
I finally asked God after several months, "Should we?" His answer was (much to the dismay of my wife) "Stay put." Not long after, I got a local job that I had been wanting for some time. Even after forced retirement, I still had a few good years of work left in me. Then Julie got a job with the City with a short term retirement goal and my daughter also was able to secure a dream position where I was now employed. My son, David, then got a part time position at a grocery chain, then later in a local restaurant. Everyone was employed, our home is here, my chiropractor, doctor, podiatrist, my favorite church within driving distance... all seemed to point to "staying put" being cemented in our current situation. We had no idea how this would be part of a larger plan.
Not too long after my son David became employed at the restaurant, he came in and confessed that for many months he had been having trouble swallowing his food. We were puzzled, yet seeing his frustration, I decided to take him to see my doctor (my best friend for decades and loves Jesus). He examined David, prayed over him, yet could not resolve the cause or treatment. More information was needed, so he suggested taking him to a gastroenterologist group for a series of tests. I was hesitant because David had no insurance and tests were expensive. We waited a few weeks to see if it got better on its own. Unfortunately, it got worse.
The doctor gave us a referral and, thankfully, it was only 20-minutes away. We had to wait a few weeks for an appointment and we were prescribed to have a Barium Swallow test. Basically, this is a drink that can be seen in a series of Xray photos to see just where the stoppage occurs. That was in another location, and again, only 20-30 minutes away. We had to wait another couple weeks for that appointment.
The results gave the prognosis of Type II Achalasia... Achy-what!? It is a rare disorder that tightens the muscles of the esophagus. Think of it as someone grabbing your food-tube just above the stomach and squeezing. Food can go in, but lodges just above the stomach, and must then be spit out. At various times, some food and liquid can get through, but the majority could not.
It is here that I must identify a few moves of God's hand. First, we live in a town that is less than a half hour away from where we needed to test. Second, my doctor knew exactly where to send us for tests then immediately diagnosed the problem with the help of specialists. On a support group site, we had read horror stories of children having to go through test after test, racking up bills, and no one could give a proper diagnosis.
There was another test that needed to be done called an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy . Simply put, a camera down the esophagus to see just what was going on. When Achalasia was confirmed, we then sought a specialist and we "just so happened" to be within an hours drive of an uber-specialist named Dr. Chang down at UC Irvine—the best surgeon for this procedure in the entire west coast. However, to even qualify for his service, they needed another test. This time it was an esophageal manometry test to study esophageal motility (or motor function). Another few weeks for that one.
Understand that with every test, David was losing weight—fast. He is 5' 7" tall and weighed in initially at 102 pounds. At another interval, he had dropped to 95 pounds. We stopped checking when he reached 84 pounds because it was distressing Julie considerably because he was looking like a holocaust survivor with sunken features and clothes hanging on him like a scarecrow. I had to seek God through it all, but humbly. This was because a few months prior, I had challenged God regarding His lack of concern or care for David. I got what is termed, "A whoopin' from the Lord" and vowed to never do that again. I had to keep up the faith that God had everything under control.
Another test was required by UCI, a Single contrast upper GI. When all the tests were completed, the confirmation was complete that David needed a surgical procedure called a Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy or POEM. This was to take a camera down the throat, cut a hole through the first layer of the esophagus, proceed between the layers, and sever the muscles holding the area tight. The hole is then sutured together using small metal clips. It had struck me later that the Bible states that "we are His workmanship". The word workmanship in the original Greek is poiema, where we get our word poem. God used the medical acronym POEM to remind me that David's workmanship was in His hands.
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| The procedure. |
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| David's closed esophagus. |
Here is where my "waiting for God" came in. Because David was losing so much weight at each delayed interval, we were able to put him on "urgent status" for the nearest possible surgical slot. The good news was he got on the list! The bad news? Almost 4-months in early March 2024. It is here that I must note another of God's hand moving. One-month after David received the procedure, Dr. Chang officially announced his retirement. We got THE specialist, with years of success and experience, only weeks away from him putting down his surgical tools for good. Had David not lost all that weight, his procedure would have been extended by months.
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| David awaiting POEM surgery. |
I am so pleased to brag on the Lord for so much guidance and lessons in faith. David got through the procedure with flying colors. No nausea from the anesthesia, very limited pain, maintained the proper post-operative diet, and is now showing a renewed love of good food.
I could go on and on regarding how God provided the funding for the surgery, the timely advise from co-workers, and especially the many that prayed for David. Thank you all so much! To God be the Glory!
A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God. – Ecclesiastes 2:24
