In a world where there is so much suffering, and so many things are out of our control, we need success stories to reaffirm our faith. I have shared the intimate details of my family’s struggles with inconceivable and mysterious medical challenges to help others who are dealing with difficult circumstances in their own lives. While I cannot heal or solve other patient’s problems, I can share how my faith in God helped restore health to my family. I turned to the bible for wisdom and guidance. I needed motivation. I needed hope for healing. I needed to know there was a greater purpose for my life and the life of my child.

It is written:

Lamentations 3:25-26 (NJPS) The Lord is good to those who trust in Him, to the one who seeks Him; it is good to wait patiently till rescue comes from the Lord.

Psalms 119:114, 116 (NJPS) You are my protection and my shield; I hope for Your word. Support me as You promised, so that I may live; do not thwart my expectation.

Alternative verses: Lamentations 3:25-26 (NKJV) The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. Psalm 119:114, 116 (NKJV) You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word. Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live; and do not let me be ashamed of my hope.

Suffering does not discriminate by religion. May our suffering be for a blessing.

How do you stay in faith when the people you love the most are suffering and your life shatters before your eyes? How do you stay in faith when your family is hit with one crisis after the next with no end in sight? How do you stay in faith when you have a child afflicted with rare disease that the medical community cannot explain? 

Meet the Jonases. We are NOT your average family.  My family and I endured sixteen surgeries over an eight-year period. My life and career changed forever. My husband, Doug, was diagnosed with a brain tumor ultimately requiring three brain surgeries. My oldest son, Jacob, had multiple rare disease diagnoses with a prognosis of a life of unending pain.  My younger son, Bobby, had a rare neurological condition affecting his optic nerve and his visual processing.  A legal battle ensued to get him a proper education.  I also experienced many medical issues.  How could so many problems plague one family? Just when we thought we were at the end of years of suffering, operations, and medications, we discovered a common denominator, and it wasn’t our water supply. 

Our diagnoses may be unusual, but our story will resonate with those who struggle with faith when faced with devastating medical challenges. Life was impossible and traumatic all at once. Barriers were everywhere and bad days were unending. God held my hand, gave me peace when there should have been none, and ultimately restored health to our lives. Despite our problems, we recognized each day as a gift, and attacked our trials with faith, love, and laughter.

I created a private blog to communicate to family and friends about my husband’s brain tumor, surgeries, and fight to return to normalcy. The blog went viral and people I barely knew would stop to talk to me about my life, and share how I inspired them to conquer whatever was going on in their own lives. It felt like my husband became a minor celebrity. Many people told me they laughed and cried, felt inspired, and motivated by our story and my faith. The response was unexpected, flattering, and motivated me in return. Friends told me I was the strongest person they knew, but what they actually saw was my faith in action. God was my rock, and I believed that all things were possible with Him. I was compelled to continue writing and share the rest of our insanity.

I am a C.P.A., on inactive status due to my family’s circumstances, and have obtained multiple degrees achieved with honors. Painting is my hobby and my original artwork appears on the cover of my book. Formerly in the field of structured finance, I embraced the need to marry pragmatism with faith. I utilized all my skills coupled with a strong conviction, optimism, and a passionate belief that all things were possible through prayer, action, and trust in God, to help my family through inconceivable times. More than one rare diagnosis, treatment, and outcome from my family’s research and persistence have sparked interest in publication in medical journals. It is important to me that something positive ensues from our experience.