Last month we introduced you to Heidi.  She and her kids have lived their entire lives with autism.   She was living in Washington when God began to soften her heart to move to Alaska.  Heidi felt led here, but she did not know why.  One thing was clear, God had closed doors in Washington.  She had many medical issues, no answers from doctors, no medical insurance and fell through the cracks for care.  Her condition kept her from holding a steady job, but she was unable to receive Social Security. Heidi battled depression.

She moved to Anchorage in June 2010 with her two children.  She knew this was where God wanted her, but she still could not hold down a job.  She needed help. On July 19, 2010, a staff pastor at Calvary Chapel South Anchorage, was praying.  He was burdened to help the poor and needy.  He recalls how amazingly the Lord was speaking to his heart through Scripture when Heidi called.  She asked for money.  He felt he should give a certain amount of money, which was beyond what she asked for. Another church also responded.  It was exactly what she needed.  Calvary has watched how the Lord has been with Heidi, meeting her needs.  They could do so because Heidi became part of their church body. 

God continued to show Heidi why He brought her here. In Alaska, she was able to get medical care. Doctors found what they thought was thyroid cancer, which she had had for least 3 years.  Heidi described what happened next.  "My reaction was what do I need to do?  I wanted it out of me.  They removed the mass and discovered it was hard as a rock and attached to the actual thyroid."  They cut out the entire right side and part of the left side of her thyroid. 

"We started to pray before the first surgery that God would take the cancer away," Heidi reflected.  There were risks; surgery could take her ability to speak.  God saved her voice.  Her tone was humorous as she spoke to me over the phone.  "Obviously I've come a long way since then.  That was my first miracle."  God's miraculous healing continued, when between the CAT scan and the time of the surgery, the cancer disappeared from the affected lymph nodes and the tumor moved down from the vocal cord, which made safe removal easier.

Tests on the mass they removed led to her diagnosis of cancer and three weeks later, another surgery removed anything else that might be affected.  They removed a muscle in her throat too.  She could not move her neck or swallow.  Once she healed from that surgery, they started preparing her for radiation, including rehabilitation and a special diet.

That was what she was heading into as you read her story last month.  The day after the newsletter went out she began three days of radiation treatment, followed by isolation at home for a week until she was no longer radioactive.  As of Friday, February 18, she is considered cancer free.  Heidi has her trust in God, and with very good reason.

For Heidi, the miracles are many.  There are more than she could list in this article, but here are a few of the blessings:  He has given her a supportive church home and doctors to find and treat her cancer. Love INC connected her with Alliance Bible Church to provide financial relief. Faith Christian Community sent presents at Christmas. Through Hope Community Resources, a family brought bags full of presents for her kids, Steffen and Allana. Romig Middle School adopted them.  Neighborhood Gift provided Christmas dinner. Family and friends have cared for her children while she recovered from treatments.  The American Cancer Society sent her a $200 card.  The Cancer Alliance is sending her another $100.  The YMCA helped financially as well.  She has been able to pay for and fix her car.  She is current with chiropractor and medical bills and purchased much-needed home furnishings. Another miracle for Heidi is that recent events have finally led to her receiving approval for Social Security. "I've gotten all the help I need here."

So what is next?  Heidi would love to share the rest of her life story about what God has done with others.  "I want to be a testimony.  You have heard God won't give you more than you can handle.  But that's not true.  God does give you more than you can handle. Because when you figure out you can't handle it, then the only thing that you have left to do is fully trust in God, that God can take care of it. And that is when you see Him move and miracles can happen."

By Heidi Kelly and Darlene Wiesinger