Visa transfer at a crucial time
I was discharged from the hospital and was on outpatient IV antibiotic treatment for Sepsis but had only a week left in my medical leave. My company’s HR bluntly told me that he cannot extend my leave any further and terminated me in mid-December. This complicated my situation as I had to find a new job within a short time to transfer my H1 visa to stay in the country legally (Hiring in the US is usually very minimal in December and January). I was very weak and medically not fit enough to travel back to India. We waited patiently trusting on the Lord and on 11th Jan when the deadline to transfer my visa was fast approaching, I got Psalm 128:2 as my New Year’s promise from an evangelist who had no idea that I was desperately looking for a job.
Office
I got a job offer the same day and my visa was transferred to my new employer enabling me to continue staying in the US legally. When I started going to work again, I realized that my body didn’t have the strength to go to work after 1 month of TPN and IV steroids). I had to undergo physical therapy regularly as I had difficulty walking, opening doors etc because of muscle weakness and joint inflammation. That’s when I got a “Praise and Worship” CD which had this wonderful song:
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases
His mercies never come to an end
They are new every morning
Great is Thy faithfulness
It gave me new strength and I played the song repeatedly in my car until I reached work. Amen!! The Lord strengthened me with His word:
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
James 1:2-4
God’s promise and miracle
In Aug 2007, I declined a good job offer as I was bleeding severely due to another flare-up. A Colonoscopy was scheduled on 17th Aug to assess my condition. I was very angry as my symptoms were affecting my life significantly and felt that its high time that I took control of my life. I seriously considered undergoing surgery to remove the colon so that I don’t get flare-ups anymore. I read a lot of articles about Total Colectomy but learned that people were leading a miserable life after surgery and venting it out in online forums.
When I read the Bible that day, the passage was about the Israelites who complained that they didn’t get meat in the wilderness after the Lord had delivered them from the Egyptians in the Red sea. God’s message to me was very clear. Not to grumble and remember His great deliverance from the jaws of death (Sepsis). From that day onwards, I learned to carry my cross without complaining.
The Colonoscopy results showed severe inflammation throughout the entire colon and I was asked to increase my steroid dosage to the maximum limit. My church friends were fasting and praying for my recovery. By that evening, the bleeding stopped completely without the need to increase my steroid dosage and my symptoms were under control (I was never able to stop bleeding without increasing the steroid dosage even in the following years). Our loving Lord, re-affirmed His promise with this miracle and from that day onwards I never considered opting for surgery (Total Colectomy). The Lord strengthened us with:
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful, I know that full wellPsalm 139:14
India Trip
We finally planned for a vacation to India in Dec 2007 and it was good to see our families after a long time (It was our first India trip after our marriage/diagnosis).
This was our prayer before our trip:
Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, O Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. 18 Give ear, O God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.19 O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.”
Daniel 9:17-19
I consulted an Ayurveda doctor and prayerfully underwent a 3-week therapy. By God’s grace, my body responded well to the treatment and I was able to get off steroids for 2 months. Unfortunately, I had a flare-up after I reached the US and had to take steroids again. When I increased my steroid dosage again, I had severe joint pains right from my wrists to my ankles and could hardly walk. A bone density test showed that I had Osteoporosis (thinning of bones) due to long term steroid usage and my spinal cord had a moderate to high risk of fracture at 2 spots. Our source of strength was Psalm 34: 20 and the Lord has protected by bones without a fracture until today.
After 6 weeks of vacation in India, I couldn’t take medical leave again and somehow managed to work though I could hardly walk. Again, it was the “Steadfast love” song that kept me in good spirits!!
Amidst all the trials and tribulations, the Lord blessed us and my wife became pregnant in May 2008. We were very excited to start a family but had another setback when my wife had Pregnancy complications and was advised bed rest for 2 months as there was a high risk of miscarriage. Both of us were on medical leave. The Lord strengthened us with:
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11
My project contract got over in July 2008 but I was unable to take up a new assignment as my symptoms were worse and I couldn’t work anymore. We decided to travel to India to attend my sister’s wedding and undergo the Ayurveda treatment again during the vacation.
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