Tender Mercies through inspiraton

Many tender mercies blessed our family as my daughter (and oldest child) fought angiosarcoma found in her spleen in January 2015. She underwent a splenectomy after that Christmas for a large, symptomatic splenic cyst. At the time, her four children ranged from age 2 to 13 years old. A quick background story to understand her faith and character: Lindsay and her husband, Ryan Page, were to meet with the surgeon for what they’d supposed was a routine conversation postoperatively. When the surgeon arrived, Ryan still was not present because the relief society dinner was a little bit late. Lindsay encouraged the surgeon to go ahead and discuss the news with her, thinking that Ryan would be there shortly. At 37 years old she was stunned with the news of an aggressive cancer. She waited alone for her husband for an hour, and being a registered nurse, she thought to investigate angiosarcoma. However, she quickly reconsidered, and instead decided to study gratitude in the Scriptures.
Fast forward through multiple rounds of chemotherapy, qualifying for experimental miraculous therapy to slow the growth of her cancer, surgeries, and many manifestations of the Lord’s tender mercies, to May 2022. I went on a short golf trip with 4 foursomes, including Elder Jeremy Jaggi. Before I left for home, I had a few moments to speak with Elder Jaggi, and complimented him on his October 2020 conference talk. It had special meaning for me because he mentioned his brother dying of cancer. I explained that my daughter had cancer, and her son was serving in the California, Los Angeles Farsi-speaking mission. When I told him that my daughter had angiosarcoma, he responded that this was the cancer which had killed his brother. His next words to me were, to make sure her missionary gets to see her before she passes away. I was strongly impressed that this was more than a suggestion, but rather inspired guidance from a servant of the Lord.
Now, I had a problem. My faithful son-in-law and I did not know when to accomplish this. Elder Jack Page was loving his mission and the people. In addition, his mother and he “had crossed the Rubicon” prior to his mission. Neither of them thought it was the right time for him to come home, even though Lindsay could have passed away at any time.
The mission president and Ryan were in frequent contact, and it was decided that Jack would come home to see his mother Saturday morning, July 23, 2022. Lindsay awakened bright and alert that morning, and embraced her son at 9 AM. They hugged and cried and giggled together. He was able to anoint her with oil, and give her a beautiful priesthood blessing. Lindsay struggled to stay awake, but precious moments were shared. With help she sat up for the last time at her bedside to bid him goodbye. Elder Page left Sunday night, less than 36 hours after he had arrived, to be back in his Mission for transfers on Monday. Lindsay passed away early Tuesday morning, July 26, 2022, less than 36 hours after Jack left.
I reported to Elder Jaggi thankfully for his guidance. He responded that “it was no coincidence that we got to talk together that day. I consider it a blessing to have met.“
Our family is exceedingly grateful for faithful servants of the Lord walking among us.

~ David Tensmeyer

President Russell M. Nelson - Power of Prayer April 2003 General Conference

Sister Bingham told this story at the 2018 Spring/Easter Fireside of Collegium Aesculapium.  She mentioned that she had seen this blog.  She also spoke of the importance of recognizing and sharing such experiences......   Pres. Nelson said:

"Personal Experience with Prayer

Many of us have had experiences with the sweet power of prayer. One of mine was shared with a stake patriarch from southern Utah. I first met him in my medical office more than 40 years ago, during the early pioneering days of surgery of the heart. This saintly soul suffered much because of a failing heart. He pleaded for help, thinking that his condition resulted from a damaged but repairable valve in his heart.

Extensive evaluation revealed that he had two faulty valves. While one could be helped surgically, the other could not. Thus, an operation was not advised. He received this news with deep disappointment.

Subsequent visits ended with the same advice. Finally, in desperation, he spoke to me with considerable emotion: “Dr. Nelson, I have prayed for help and have been directed to you. The Lord will not reveal to me how to repair that second valve, but He can reveal it to you. Your mind is so prepared. If you will operate upon me, the Lord will make it known to you what to do. Please perform the operation that I need, and pray for the help that you need.”21

His great faith had a profound effect upon me. How could I turn him away again? Following a fervent prayer together, I agreed to try. In preparing for that fateful day, I prayed over and over again, but still did not know what to do for his leaking tricuspid valve. Even as the operation commenced,22 my assistant asked, “What are you going to do for that?”

I said, “I do not know.”

We began the operation. After relieving the obstruction of the first valve,23 we exposed the second valve. We found it to be intact but so badly dilated that it could no longer function as it should. While examining this valve, a message was distinctly impressed upon my mind: Reduce the circumference of the ring. I announced that message to my assistant. “The valve tissue will be sufficient if we can effectively reduce the ring toward its normal size.”

But how? We could not apply a belt as one would use to tighten the waist of oversized trousers. We could not squeeze with a strap as one would cinch a saddle on a horse. Then a picture came vividly to my mind, showing how stitches could be placed—to make a pleat here and a tuck there—to accomplish the desired objective. I still remember that mental image—complete with dotted lines where sutures should be placed. The repair was completed as diagrammed in my mind. We tested the valve and found the leak to be reduced remarkably. My assistant said, “It’s a miracle.”

I responded, “It’s an answer to prayer.”

The patient’s recovery was rapid and his relief gratifying. Not only was he helped in a marvelous way, but surgical help for other people with similar problems had become a possibility. I take no credit. Praise goes to this faithful patriarch and to God, who answered our prayers. This faithful man lived for many more years and has since gone to his eternal glory."

Miraculous healing

We are introducing this new page to collect stories and experiences about faith in medicine from medical professionals.  Please share your experiences with the association in a brief email to swoolley@collegiumaesculapium.org and after review they will be posted here.

 

Dr. Johnnie Cook (submitted Nov. 2017) - In 1999, I had a 4 month old baby boy named Ryan in the hospital. He had seen me in the office and was steadily, slowly getting weaker and sicker. He had gotten to the point he couldn't swallow. Our consultants were unable to find the cause for his sickness. One night, I  prayed fervently for guidance and went to bed. At about 2 am, I awoke with the words in my mind, "The Child has Infant Botulism". Now I'm embarrassed to say that at the time I was familiar with the adult version of botulism commonly received by eating spoiled food.  I'd had some involvement with an older couple both hospitalized after their homemade salsa went bad. But I must have missed learning about the infant version commonly acquired when the clostridium tetani bacteria is aerosolized by nearby construction or less commonly by eating unprocessed honey; Ryan's family lived near a new subdivision going in and the earth moving had caused his infection. I awoke, did a little research, called the resident caring for him and said, "Ryan's got Infant Botulism". She said, "What's that?" To make a long story short, he was transferred to Primary Childrens Hospital where he spent over a month on the ventilator. Just recently, I did Ryan's mission physical, and as I think of his having his life preserved to now serve as an Ambassador of the Lord Jesus Christ, I am so grateful for divine intervention and answers to prayer!!