THE
BIBLE AND LIFE
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E
WALK
BY
FAITH
. . . #45
Written
and/or Retyped by Johanna Hobrath
[June,
2003] During May 18 through May 23, 2003, I traveled to Branson, Missouri
with the “Sonshine” Group from Bethel Temple Assembly of God, Parma,
Ohio. What a wonderful time we had! One day, during several
hours of travel in the bus, Marianne spoke to me about the tragic
occurrence regarding her daughter Cindy in the year 1995. During our
conversation, Dorothy, the wonderful coordinator for the Sonshine Group,
joined our conversation. Dorothy encouraged Marianne to permit me to
publish the awesome testimony of her daughter Cindy.
[To
read and/or view the photos of the Branson trip, please click http://www.haloministries.net/archives.htm.
The bottom of the
"Archives" Page enumerates many E-mail Newsletters. If you
click the E-mail Newsletter, "Issue 22 Page 3", you are then
directed to the page that features photographs that were taken during the
Sonshine Circle trip in May of 2003.]
On
June 6th [2003], Marianne stopped in my home and shared a copy of the
testimony for the purpose of my publishing the article onto the Halo
Ministries’ Website. And, here is the awesome story . . .
WE
WALK
BY
FAITH
. . .
THE
CHRIS AND CINDY CONNER STORY
as
told to Nancy Virden
"CHRISTMAS
2002"
Chris,
Cindy, Shauna, and Daniel
The
day was chilly and snow covered. The sun’s occasional peeks through the
grayish clouds were scattered by icy frosted windows. For most
of us, this was a typical January day. For Chris and Cindy Conner,
it was a memorable one. Chris brought a bright bouquet of flowers to
his wife and together they ventured to a movie for a long deserved
date. For January 25, 1996 was the first anniversary of the most
traumatic and miraculous experience of their lives.
Cindy,
then thirty, had been taking care of their seven week old baby boy.
At about 1:00 A.M. she had just placed him in his crib when she felt
excruciating pain in the left arm. Her frantic call woke Chris from
a deep sleep. Rushing to his wife’s side, he quickly determined
the seriousness of her situation and reached for the phone. The
ambulance arrived quickly as did Cindy’s grandparents who came to stay
with baby Daniel and Shauna, age two.
An
EKG in the emergency room proved a massive heart attack had taken
place. Nitro was ordered but never given. It became apparent
that Cindy’s heart was not responding; but, not realizing she had not
received the directed medication, another drug called “TPA” was
administered. Although Cindy complained of a terrible headache, she
appeared to be resting. Several hours after their arrival, Chris was
convinced to go home to get some sleep and to tend to their young
children.
“Never
would he have gone if he’d known what was really happening to me,”
Cindy stressed as she retold the story.
For
shortly after the injection of TPA, a blood clot formed and made its way
to Cindy’s brain. She had not been resting as had been supposed,
but rather had suffered a brain stroke and had quietly slipped into a
coma.
At
2:00 that afternoon the phone rang at their home. “She’s had a
stroke,” an urgent voice told Chris. “Come quickly.”
“I
knew she was gone,” Chris remembers. “As soon as I walked in and
saw the faces that were waiting for me - I knew.”
In
a shock, the young husband passed the small crowd of family and friends to
where his wife lay. Pastor Umbel [1995] met him and held him
close. Cindy seemed lifeless. Chris watched her silently,
unable to grasp the enormity of his grief, unable to cry.
Elsewhere,
other incredible scenes had been taking place. In one home, Elaine
Umbel wrestled in prayer for Cindy’s life.
Phones
rang in other homes, and young mothers and retirees dropped their chores
to lift their cries to heaven. In offices and cars, Christians all
over the area interceded in earnest for the safety of this young woman.
Later
that Wednesday evening, as brothers and sisters in Christ began to gather
at Bethel Temple . . . many were dissuaded by the Holy Spirit from the
family night dinner. One after another, people gathered in the
sanctuary. Services were canceled for prayer. In one accord,
fervent prayers were raised. The spiritual battle could be heard
that night. One could almost see the warrior with their swords
drawn. For three hours, the healing blood of Jesus was prayed over
Cindy’s life. Every few minutes there was a cry of warfare
followed by another, and murmurs of agreement. One in mind and
purpose, the army of the saints of God marched in prayer against the
prince of evil himself.
Back
at the hospital, a surgeon from the Cleveland Clinic arrived. He had
found himself inexplicably free. He agreed to operate because of the
family’s request. However, he informed them that her survival had
a 0-10% chance, and that, at best, her life would be vegetative. “If
you have anything to say to her, say it now,” he cautioned.
Cindy’s
father told him, “There's a physician greater than you; you won’t be
alone.”
Surgery
began about the same time the Christians were gathering at the
church. The surgeon lifted his tools as united intercessory prayer
was lifted to the gates of heaven.
Chris
remembers the huge grin on the doctor’s face following the
operation. For within minutes of the surgery’s end, Cindy had
opened her eyes. Immediately she was breathing on her own. And
she had spoken!
The
next few days and weeks were a painful mix of triumph and fatigue for
those closest to Cindy; but, never quite “out of the woods.”
Cindy suffered from medicinal allergy and paralysis of her right
side. For awhile, she didn’t remember she had a son, didn’t know
what year it was, and told the nurses she was twelve years old.
She
recalls an incident. “A nurse gave me the Bible, but I couldn’t
read it. The pages were a blur, and I couldn’t have comprehended
anything even if I could have seen it clearly. That was a very tough
moment for me. I just held it and cried.”
Two
months from the day of the heart attack, she was allowed to go home.
Chris took a leave of absence from his position as a member of the
facility management board at Bethel Temple. Every day he coached her
through a workout schedule to revive the use of her arm and leg.
The
workouts continue as do the prayers for a complete restoration. Pain
and short-term memory loss accompany the remaining paralysis. A
former secretary/notary, Cindy has retained proofreading and grammar
skills. The typing is therapy for her hand.
Her
faith in God, particularly from her tragic experience of 1995, has
sustained her thus far, and continues to help her to raise her
family. She also continues to attend Bethel Temple Assembly of God,
Parma, Ohio, and helps with the children’s ministry.
[Cindy
is a graduate of Evangel College, Class of 1984.]
“It
helps to reach out to others,” Cindy says. “I have to count my
blessings.” She continues, “The Bible says, ‘Forgetting what is
behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on . . . ‘ I think on
that.”
Chris
also has a favorite Bible Verse. “Therefore everyone who hears these
words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his
house on the rock. The rains came down, the streams rose, and winds
blew and beat against the house, yet it did not fall, because it had its
foundation on the rock.” [Matthew
7:25]
Early
in his wife’s hospitalization, Chris had told his parents, “We go to
church. We learn about faith. We talk about faith. We
sing about faith. I guess this is it. I guess it’s time to
walk it.” And walking it they are.
May
21, 2003 was their 15th anniversary of their marriage. The
foundation is laid, the house is firm. The Rock who is Jesus and the
love of this young couple will stand tomorrow as it stands today, and as
it has stood in the stormy past.
Typed:
June 2003/JH
PLEASE
NOTE: A portion of the above article entitled "WE WALK BY
FAITH" appears in the "TODAY'S PENTECOSTAL EVANGEL"
Archive. To view the "TODAY'S PENTECOSTAL EVANGEL"
Archive Article, please click
http://pentecostalevangel.ag.org/DailyBoostArchive/March_06/20060313.cfm.
At the end of that article, it is stated that for the complete story
click the URL address of http://www.haloministries.net/WeWalkByFaith.htm.
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