Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Who says miracles no longer happen?!?!

Well, folks, I am SO excited!!!! I have something truly amazing to tell you about. Let me give a little background first so that the magnitude of this announcement is understood.

Dodi and I were married about 4 or 5 years when he was diagnosed with diabetes. It runs in his family so it wasn't a horribly big surprise, but it was a bit of a shock non the less. Dodi is a large man....he stands a little over 6'3" and was maybe 40-50 lbs overweight. But we thought we were doing a pretty good job eating healthy foods and avoiding those foods that weren't good for us. So I dove in feet first into researching all I could find out about diabetes and how to control it with as little medications as possible. So we modified our diet and worked on more regular exercise....although with Dodi being a coach, he got quite a bit of exercise to start with.
For close to 5 years we controlled his diabetes with mostly diet and only 1 pill a day. Then, with time, it started to get harder and harder for that 1 pill to control the sugar levels. For the next 15 years his blood sugars were controlled with diet, and increasing amounts of medications. This was frustrating to us, but what could you do?! The doctors kept urging us to follow the American Diabetic Association's diet  plan... but there was something about that plan that really bugged us. So we developed our own plan...one that cut down on sugars unless natural sugars found in fruits and veggies, using honey for sweetner in cooking, ect.  I continued to track research in diabetes and we tried various diet programs trying to get on top of this insidious disease....to no avail. His blood sugars kept going up. So this past summer our family doctor referred us to a Hematology Specialist. (specialist in blood issues). The specialist was horrible! I think I posted on his attitude of  "well, this is what happens when you poison your body and don't do what you should." (Needless to say, since I do the cooking, I was NOT a happy camper with his attitude or his words!!!!) This same specialist told us there was nothing else to be done but to begin insulin shots. I asked about some new glucose inhibitors I'd read about and was told "you're not a scientist, you couldn't possibly understand what you're taking about". (red hair now standing on end!!!!) Then he ended the visit with "You will begin with insulin and your only choice is whether you want 1 shot a day or 4 shots." We explained we'd just started a new diet plan, and a holistic approach to the diabetes. He told us it would do no good and we had to follow his advice. So in June, Dodi began his insulin shots everyday. He hates them, I hate them, and I absolutely despise what the insulin has done to his energy levels, his well being and the frequent 'crashes' when his blood sugar drops down below 50! 

Well, the first of September we had to choose our insurance carrier for this new school year. Our previous carrier was going to charge us $600 a month for Dodi and Little Critter to have insurance! Plus $25-$50 per Dr.'s visit and they would only pay a portion of  Dodi's meds. This meant our medical/insurance bill was going to go from about $150 a month to closer to $500 a month. So we looked thru the choices the school district gave us, and changed insurance carriers. This meant we had to change doctors also. (Our family doctor retired effective 9-1, so we'd have had to change doctors anyhow.) The new doctor believes in holistic health. She also ordered new blood work and further tests on Dodi. Today we went back to see her. (this is where the amazing thing comes in.....keep reading!)

It seems that Dodi's HDL (good cholesterol) is a little low, so she suggested he start eating a few almonds daily. OK, easy enough to do. Then she said his LDL (bad cholesterol) was fine, blood counts were good, prostate looked great, ect, ect, and then...Oh, this isn't good. We asked what wasn't good and she said his A1C. (This is an average of his blood sugars for the last 30 days...the blood cells keep a record of the sugar amounts in them for 30 days. Isn't that amazing in itself?!) Well, the A1C was 7.1 which is wonderful when you consider that back in June it was 13.8!!! (Over about 10 or 11, the sugars in the blood stream start damaging internal organs, eyes and extremities.) She showed us where his A1C needs to be 6.7 or below, but agreed that to pull it down almost in half in less than 4 months was pretty amazing. Then she looked at his log of blood sugar counts for the last 2 weeks, we told her about the several 'crashes' he'd been having and she said the most amazing and miraculous thing....she said "Stop taking the insulin".We both said 'Excuse me!?!" And she said, she could control his blood sugars with pills instead of having to use the insulin if we'd continue on the diet plan we're on. We follow a Biblical diet!!!! So our miracle is that the doctor has taken Dodi OFF insulin!!!! Dr's NEVER take diabetics off insulin....they always increase the amounts of insulin. But Dodi is OFF insulin!!!!! Oh, I am SO pumped!!!!! I  am happy dancing all over the place!! I realize this doesn't mean Dodi's diabetes is cured.....yet. But my next goal is to refine our diet to the point he IS cured and no longer needs to even take oral medication for diabetes. It's a big goal, but I know that "I can do ALL things thru He who gives me power." Phil 4:13

For those who don't believe this is a miracle....well, I'm sorry to disappoint you. But for those of you who have diabetes, know someone who does or understand diabetes, you'll understand. And we owe it all to Papa. In Genesis 1:29, Papa tells us what He prepared for us to eat. Then in Leviticus 3:17 He added that we should eat neither fat nor blood....ever! (Those belong to YHWH) And in Leviticus 11 YHWH tells us in fairly plain language what is acceptable to eat and what is not acceptable. We are finding that if we follow those instructions, we do not look or feel as bad as we did before we started following Torah. In fact, we have more energy and accomplish more than some of our kids!!! Papa  knew how He'd designed our bodies and what they'd need to efficient operation....so if we follow His instructions, miracles truly DO happen!

I pray you will find your miracles awaiting  you in His Love Letter to you, dear friends. I thank Papa daily for each one of you and lift you up to His throne each day during our time together. Be blessed, know you are loved and experience His love. Shalom, Spitfire

13 comments:

ABNPOPPA said...

Off the insulin all I can say is wonderful and PTL!!!. I must read Leviticus perhaps that a little more faith and a biblical diet might help my high LDL's.

A absolutely great and fantastic story.

Pops

NoReply said...

This is truly wonderful news indeed! I know how worried you have been :0D

I think this is a most wonderful example of how Emunah and Bitachon work together - EVER!

The Local Malcontent said...

Reading about your Miracle has started my day off Wonderfully~!
And I agree- it is a miracle, Spitfire.
Great news~!

Keep up the diligent work, be always prayerful, and just watch how our Creator responds to you in Love.

Bests to you all, and Shalom!

RaDena said...

WOW, hon! I'm so happy for you both! This is amazing news and it is indeed a miracle.

As for that so-called specialist, he's so filled with admiration for his own delusional brilliance he doesn't have time to be nice to anyone else. Methinks he needs our prayers. I'm sure his patients need them too.

God has blessed us all with a brain, girlfriend. Some of us use it and some of us don't. You have utilized yours well! :)

Skippy/Cochise said...

Hello my little sis. I finally made it to the comments section, along with signing in as a follower. I'm a little slow, it comes with age, I'm intitled. Anyway, I am so happy to hear that the Lord is working on Larry. The highest my Ac1 has gotten is 10.2, that was a couple months ago. Been taking some classes and learning a lot about diabetes. A few weeks ago my Ac1 had dropped to 9.0. Got one more class to go to next month and I'm praying for at least a 8.5.
My BSL (blood sugar level) has been droping considerably, use to average 350 it is now down below 250 with an occational spike. Anyway, I am so happy for you and Larry, yes, and you too Luke. Love you all Skippy

nanc said...

HE NEVER ceases to amaze me! WHAT a great miracle - keep us updated on the progress - we could all stand to eat a little more healthily.

Most Rev. Gregori said...

Spitfire, I hope you can forgive me for this one, but when you posted about believing in miracles, it reminded me of something I heard several years ago.

A preacher was holding a revival meeting when an old man came up to him. Now this old man was severely crippled and he was also very poor. As a matter of fact, he was so poor that he could not even afford a decent pair of crutches. He was using tree limbs as crutches.

The preacher laid his hands on that old man's head and asked him, "My son do you believe?" The old man answered "YES!" The preacher asked again; "Do you really believe?" The old man answered; "YES, I really and truly believe!"

Well, suddenly there was a great sound of thunder, a few flashes of lightening, then a real miracle happened right then and there. Those tree limbs suddenly turned into REAL CRUTCHES!"

But, just so that you know, I do believe in miracles, our Heavenly Father has performed quite a few in my life.

The Local Malcontent said...

Shalom, goodbye.

WisdomFromTorah said...

Some Doctors think their as smart as Yahweh. Other just play "GOD", yet others don't believe in anything outside of medicine.

Yahweh is good. His mercy endure forever. "And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto YHVH; because he is good, for his mercy endures for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised YHVH, because the foundation of the house of YHVH was laid." Ezra 3:11

Baruch Atah Yahweh

ABNPOPPA said...

Spitfire,

Sorry to be late but forgot to wish you a happy holiday.

Pops

The Griper said...

he just smiles and gives a thumbs up.

nanc said...

may your name be written in the book!

blessed and peaceful yom kippur to you and yours.

Always On Watch said...

Spitfire,
As you know, this household needs a miracle.

Mr. AOw has been on oral diabetes meds for years -- with good result. Now, of course, the hospital has him on insulin. With his one hand paralyzed, I don't see how he can later manage to give himself insulin injections.