Patients, Parents and Peers

She was a most attractive child, just twelve years old.  Sweet, like her Mom; insightful like her Dad.  Such flawless beauty and tenderness of heart could only come from a Loving God.  But, then the report came from her teacher.  A routine examination of her back indicated a slight curvature of her spine.

Her local physician suggested a visit to Pediatric Orthopedic Specialists of Mississippi to see one of the best in the country, Dr. John Purvis.  The visit was scheduled, the trip was made, x-rays were taken, and, as expected, the diagnosis was scoliosis.  Dr. Purvis’ years of experience were evident; his kindness, obvious.  He spoke in an authoritative, yet comforting voice. “Let’s watch it for six months to see what might happen; it’s a 12 degree curvature now.”

How can hope and concern occupy hearts and minds simultaneously?  Her parents had not faced anything like this before.  Sniffles, sneezes, and ear aches were the daily fair for her parents, Bob and Val.  Why would God allow a perfect child to become a crooked child?  Did He care, or was He just busy with other matters more important?

Six months later, the room was dark, when Dr. Purvis displayed the latest  x-ray next to the preliminary one.  Bob and Val’s heart sank; the increased curvature was obvious.  Val spoke first.  “Dr. Purvis, what do you see?”  “What do you see,” was Dr. Purvis’ response.  Tears came to their eyes.  Apparently, God must have been way too busy for their little girl; the curvature had now increased from 12 to 18 degrees. 

“You have three choices: you can do nothing, which I do not recommend, I can insert a rod to straighten her back, or we can have a custom brace fitted to her small shape.”  The room was quiet.  Bob and Val held hands.  Emotions flooded their innermost parts.  Then Bob, Julie’s dad, spoke.  “Dr. Purvis, I’d like to take a few days to pray.”  Julie looked at her dad; she could hear the concern, the fear, veiled behind his attempt to sound brave.

For the next three days, Julie’s parents prayed.  Bob read through the Gospel of Luke, knowing that it was authored by a physician.  There he discovered a truth that he’d not previously seen.  In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus healed the sick when the PATIENT that needing healing believed that He could, and He that would heal.  Jesus also healed the sick when the PARENTS of the person who needed healing believed that He could, and He that would heal.  Finally, Jesus healed the sick when the PEERS of the person believed that He could, and He that would heal.

God’s answer was evident, God’s will was clear.  Bob entered Julie’s room that night.  She was just twelve years old, but she trusted her Daddy when he told her that he and mom had decided that they should give Jesus a chance to straighten her back.  Fighting back tears, Bob explained what he’d learned from Dr. Luke.  Did she believe that Jesus could, and would heal her?  Was she willing to give Him a chance?  They caressed, they cuddled, they cried, and they committed.

But there was more to be done.  Now that the PERSON needing the healing believed, Bob and Val, as PARENTS, made a commitment to pray each morning that God would stop, or at least slow the progression of the scoliosis.  Bob then prayerfully selected twelve individuals, twelve of his friends to join hm and Val in prayer each day.  Bob and Val now had PEERS praying for Julie’s curving spine.

Ninety days later, Julie and her parents returned to Dr. Purvis’ office.  The x-ray was taken.  While the curvature had increased to 30 degrees, Dr. Purvis’ words were comforting when he told Bob and Val that he’d expected the measurement to be 42 degrees or greater.  “I would still suggest the brace, even though there has been a slowing”, was his advice.  “Doc, I think we will continue to pray for another 90 days,” was Bob’s answer.

For the first time in months, Bob and Val left with a glimmer of hope.  Could the Lord actually be slowing down the progression?  Back in their hometown, they spread the good news among their prayer partners.  Everyone committed to continued prayer and anticipated God’s continued work in the life of a precious little girl now 13 years old.

Ninety days passed quickly.  In the past, Bob and Val dreaded the trip, the wait, the x-ray, and the consultation.  Now there was excitement; there was anticipation.  What was God going to show us this time?  Bob, Val, and Julie arrived at the doctor’s office; Bob and Val waited in silence, as Julie was x-rayed.  This time, the report was simple.  The curve had changed by a mere two degrees.  Julie’s spine curvature had gone from 12 degrees, to 18 degrees, to 30 degrees, to 33 degrees.  Could it be that God was going to stop that bending completely?

The group forged ahead in prayer, more determined than ever.  The next visit showed the curve had not changed; it was divinely arrested at 33 degrees.  God had stopped the scoliosis.  The long-awaited day had finally arrived.  The prayers of thanksgiving flowed.

Only two questions remained for Bob and Val, that being, what should be done about the curve, and was God finished with her healing.  Dr. Purvis had repeatedly told Bob, Val, and Julie, that the curve would never decrease.  But, as the prayers of the saints continued, God began to restore Julie’s curved spine.  On their next visit, the x-ray shocked everyone in the room.  It read 27 degrees curvature, a negative 6 degree change.  Immediately, a new x-ray was ordered for Julie because something like this had never been seen.  Within 30 minutes, the new x-ray was viewed; the results were conclusive.  God had not only stopped the progression, but had reversed the impact of the disease on Julie’s spine. 

A few more years passed before Dr. Purvis declared her cured, but Julie’s testimony of her healing continues today.  She was active in the healthcare field in High School, becoming a Mississippi State Officer in the student health organization known as HOSA.  Upon graduation from High School, she received a four-year scholarship in nursing from William Carey University. 

Julie continues to serve people today in a healthcare related field.  Julie C. Lightsey is Director of Operations for LIFEGUARD Medical Alerts, Inc., and I am proud to call her my daughter.  Call on her.  She understands both the purpose of medical care, and the awesome power of the Master’s Care.