Michele Nickerson's Testimony
The Healer's Hands
My name is Michele. I was born in December
of 1974. What should have been a happy time for my parents
really wasn't because I was born seven weeks premature. I'm
not quite sure why I was so anxious to come into the world,
but I can tell you for sure that I can't wait to go through
the gates of heaven and greet my Father!!! When I was seven
weeks old I got pneumonia and had to be hospitalized. Due to
medical mistreatment I have cerebral palsy and rely on the
use of a power chair for independence. I was diagnosed with
cerebral palsy on my first birthday. My parents were told
that there was no way to know what the outcome of my life or
my abilities would be. At that time some of my family
members suggested that maybe I should go to some sort of an
institution. Although life has not been easy for me I am
certainly glad that I was not put in an institution.
Today, I am very independent. I have my
driver's license and my own van. I am a successful college
senior majoring in social work at a Christian college in
Minneapolis, Minnesota, which is a long way from my home
state of New Hampshire. After graduation, I am planning to
get my master's in social work.
My mother, my best friend, and I became
born-again Christians in September 1993. Two months later
the Lord showed me the power of His love and the power of
His healing hand. I was at a revival/healing service at
Faith Christian Center. After being prayed for I felt like I
wanted to try to stand. Being a new Christian, I was scared
because I had no idea what I was talking about or what was
going to happen. I was also very apprehensive because I knew
that I am not capable of standing at all unless I have A LOT
of support. I was able to stand but only for a few seconds.
This amazed me as well as everyone else because my mom only
had ONE FINGER under my arm and my friend had her hand
lightly touching my back. Through the years the Lord has
given me these healing times where I could stand but only
for a few seconds. Although I wasn't able to take any steps
that was okay because I knew that things happen in His time.
I have always had a heart for missions but
I never felt that I could do it because of my wheelchair and
accessibility issues. In March of 1997 something changed in
me and I decided that I wasn't going to let my disability
stop me. I was going to go on a mission trip no matter what
it took! Within thirty minutes of that decision, the Lord
blessed me because I took twenty-five steps with only a
little help. Four months later, I went on my first trip to
Las Tunas, Cuba. Forgiveness has also played a part in what
the Lord has done for me over the past few months. I had
never met the doctor who caused my disability. To me he was
just a name without face. He was the man, the doctor, who
somehow didn't do his job. He had his independence, a life,
and things were easy for him. For me, I had cerebral palsy.
Life was not easy by any means. Some of the little things
like putting your hair in a ponytail or putting on nail
polish were and still are impossible for me to do
independently.
In March of 1998, my mother's office
hosted a conference about Physician Assisted Suicide and the
impact is has on the disabled community. I had already
decided to go to the conference when my mom informed me that
the doctor who caused my disability was going to be one of
the speakers at the conference. She asked me if I still
wanted to go. I told her that it was going to be hard for me
to do, but that I would still go.
At the end of the conference I went up to
the doctor and asked if I could speak with him. He said yes.
When he turned to talk to me he said, "You look really
good...." (I was surprised at that statement because I
didn't think he knew who I was.) I asked him if he did know
who I was and when he said yes I started to cry. This man,
this doctor who had been faceless to me for so many years,
now had a face. He and I talked for a long while. I got to
ask him "why". Even though he couldn't give me a concrete
answer, I still felt better because at least I got to ask
the question that somehow I've always wanted to ask. I got
to share with him my recent struggles, my joys and my hopes.
Most importantly I got to share with him the incredible love
and forgiveness that is found in knowing Christ. At one
point in our conversation, he said, "I understand if you
hate me... I said, "No, I don't hate you. I can't hate you.
I am a Christian. I may not understand everything, but I
don't hate you...."
I was also able to look at him, say that I
forgave him and give him a hug. Not only did I give him a
hug but we said I love you to each other. I told him about
my past mission trip as well as my (then upcoming) second
trip to Cuba. I am happy as well as very thankful to him
because he financially supported part of my trip to Cuba.
Somehow you always hear, in one way or another, that
forgiveness can give you breakthroughs in many situations. I
am now one of those who can say that this is true. Even
though the Lord has brought a slow healing to me over the
years, He is now working over time on me! On May 30, 1998,
two days after I got home from Cuba, I went to the Women of
the Word conference. We were in the morning worship service
and my body started feeling strange. After praying with my
mom and a friend, I decided to stand. (Now, remember that
I've only been able to stand a few seconds and then I would
start to fall.) Well not this time! I stood for 5 MINUTES
with absolutely no one holding me!! Praise God. Our God is
an AWESOME God!!
Since the conference He has continued
working in me. On June 9th, I took a few steps at my Bible
study. I was only holding hands with the person in front of
me, which had been IMPOSSIBLE for me to do before. Nine days
later, I took 150 steps while holding hands with my mom. On
July 12th and July 19th I walked up to the altar during
offering with one of my friends holding his hands. PRAISE
GOD!! Walking up to the alter was such a special moment for
me. Not only was I walking with a friend, but I was walking
up to give the Lord my offering. I had given an offering
before but usually my mom would bring it up for me because
it is easier than trying to get through the crowd with my
chair. Ever since I was a little girl, I have wanted to be
able to walk with crutches but I was unable to because I
didn't&have the strength in my legs or arms nor did I have
the coordination that is needed to use crutches
successfully. Two weeks before I left home to come back to
college, the Lord put the desire in my heart to use crutches
and He gave the vision to a friend of mine. Within a week I
went to the store, picked up a pair of crutches and called a
friend of mine who had been my physical therapist in the
past. After meeting with her and explaining what had been
going on, she decided that yes, I was ready to try the
crutches. Within five to ten minutes of my therapist showing
me how to use them, I was using them on my own without her
holding me!! I am still working at it, and I know that it
might take me a while, but every time I use the crutches
even if it's only for five minutes, I was getting better and
better. Some day soon I know that I am going to be running
and jumping and after 24 years, IT'S ABOUT TIME! AMEN!
In closing, I would like to encourage all
of you. Trust God. He WILL do things in His time. Before I
became a Christian I never thought I would be telling this
story and even as a baby Christian, I didn't think I would
be either. God knows the desires of your heart and He who
has began a good work in you will be faithful to complete
it! (Philippians 1:6)
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