For the last several months, many have been praying for Betty Lou Mitchell, wife of Pastor Dave Mitchell of the Waipio Grace Brethren Church in Mililani, Hawaii, as she went through surgery and recovery for removal of a brain tumor. Here is the good news:
Dear, dear friends and extended prayer warriors,
My heart is filled with gratitude, comfort, and blessings that words seem inadequate to express how I appreciate all your prayers and loving concern for me during my recent brain surgery and continued recovery. The Lord’s awesome presence has been so evident throughout this trial. I felt the Lord’s peace and grace as never before. His comfort wrapped me as a blanket and I was not fearful as I was held in His everlasting arms.
At my pre-op visit I asked my surgeon, Dr. Madauss, if he prayed before performing surgery. he replied, “I do. I pray every day and ask the Lord to guide me.” Praise the Lord, He arranged which surgeon I should have ! (Not real a surprise — God does things like that for us.) Also at that office visit Dr. Madauss told me the embolization of the tumor (the day before the surgery) and the surgery could produce a stroke, blindness, deafness, seizures, and difficulties with speaking, walking and memory retrieval.
I have not experienced any of these problems (well,maybe a little of the memory thing — I think I had that before, but can’t remember..LoL). I do continue to have strange headaches sometimes with “lightning flash” pain, but that is a normal part of healing and it is fleeting and not debilitating.
Thank you so much for upholding me in prayer and extending the request to other saints. To those of you I have never met personally, how blessed I was to receive your encouraging notes and e-mails. It is truly a privilege to have such caring friends and I cherish your friendship so much. I appreciated all the e-mails, calls, cards, letters, flowers, and gifts that have been such an encouragement and blessing to me for my pleasure and healing. Thank you all for your faithfulness in expressing your love and concern.
Praise to the Great Physician who never leaves our side, understands everything we are going through, and keeps us in His care. Our lives couldn’t be in better hands. To God be the glory.
Lovingly in Him,
Betty Lou Mitchell