Laura Young
ECB Publishing, Inc.
The Monticello Community Prayer Breakfast was hosted on Nov. 3 by Christ Episcopal Church of Monticello, bringing together about 65 mostly lay people from a variety of local Christian denominations to begin their day with a hearty breakfast, fellowship, song and testimony.
Gary Wright, who began organizing these prayer breakfasts in 1994, welcomed everyone, and Rev. Stephen Pessah gave the blessing over the meal. A delicious buffet prepared by members of the host church was enjoyed by all!
Mike Grisham of Gideon's International led the group in song. Prayers were lifted up for the sick and distressed, and then it was time for testimony from guest speaker Samantha Cooksey Strickland.
Stickland, a life-long resident of Jefferson County, shared about being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) two years ago. Although MS is a progressive, neurological disease for which there is no cure, Strickland was able to find peace with her diagnosis within a few hours and make a plan to move forward with it. She says that since being diagnosed with MS her life has actually been better than it ever was before.
“Two years ago, I lost vision in my left eye,” says Strickland, “and after a whirlwind afternoon of appointments and tests I got diagnosed with MS.”
She describes how MS is an often debilitating disease of the central nervous system. As an auto-immune disease, the immune system attacks a person's nerves and damages the protective coating around them, disrupting communication between the brain and the body. People with MS can experience numbness, tingling and cognitive issues. They may become unable to walk, see, swallow or speak. MS can present differently for different people, depending on how many lesions they have on their brain and spinal cord, and where exactly they are located.
“Initially I felt punched in the gut by my diagnosis,” says Strickland. “I was fearful it would prevent me from being the mother my children needed and heartbroken that life as I knew it was over. So I prayed for peace and understanding, and within a couple short hours I found that peace.”
Strickland was reassured when her husband, whose mother has MS, told her that "MS has taken a lot from my mom, but it has never affected her ability to love me." She knew then that nothing could take that from her either. As these and other questions started getting answered, she was overcome with thankfulness.
“I decided that day in that hospital bed that I was going to be okay,” Strickland recalls. “I knew I couldn't control the multiple sclerosis, but I could control my attitude, my healthcare decisions and my personal choices. I knew if I did those things right, I could change my outcome. I began to focus more on my health, adjusted my priorities in life, cut stress everywhere I could, found a community of others who live with MS, and my life changed in so many positive ways – including my health, which is better than ever.”
Strickland says she feels very fortunate with her experience of MS and has become an advocate for other MS patients who have not been as lucky.
“Sadly, I’ve learned that MS isn’t only a physically debilitating disease, but it’s financially devastating for many people. It takes away their ability to work and earn a living. One year’s prescription for an MS medication is nearly $100,000. Many people are forced to stop taking their medicine and roll the dice if they’ll have a relapse due to costs. As a person living well with this disease, I feel it's important to speak up for those who aren’t as fortunate as me and build awareness about this disease so we can find a cure.”
Strickland hopes that people will understand that her story is not one about overcoming MS, because she still has a long road ahead with it. Instead, she hopes her story will help people see that what may seem like the worst news in one moment can become a blessing in the next moment.
“My life is better, richer, happier and healthier today than it was the day before I got diagnosed with an incurable disease,” she says. “If ever confronted with that type of news, I hope in the moments after others will seek peace with it and the faith that everything is going to be okay.”
The next Community Prayer Breakfast will take place on Thursday, Dec. 1, at St. Margaret Catholic Church, located at 1565 E Washington St. Sharon Carraway is scheduled to speak.
Wright invites the whole community to join in! For more information, email him at Lgwright39@embarqmail.com or call (850) 933-5567.
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