A Miraculous Stroke

I had a stroke.

 

Or possibly, the doctors said, a TIA (which stands for Transient Ischemic Attack).

 

Most likely a stroke they say. The problem is, they sigh and furrow their doctor brows, it has completely resolved so they can’t pinpoint what it was.

 

Although I understand their position – wishing they could clearly identify the cause, source and solution – all I’m really hearing is “completely resolved, no brain damage, no residual evidence in my brain of the stroke, no physical changes to my body as a result of the stroke.”

 

Baruch Hashem! Miracle in da House!

 

10 days earlier I was at my Chiropractor’s office for my bi-weekly massage, physical therapy and adjustment for a lower back injury I’d sustained earlier in the year. The back of my head started hurting after the massage. I was very clumsy during physical therapy and, by the time I was laying down for the adjustment, my right arm was shaking so much I mentioned it to the doctor. When I sat up, my world changed.

 

The next days merged into a continuous stream of doctors, blood tests, more doctors, various brain scans, emergency rooms, travel to more doctors for more tests, recovery from side effects of tests, and one very real conversation in which the doctor told me “Buying life insurance quickly would not be a bad idea.” The time was punctuated with prayer, and for the first time in my life, being humble enough to ask for prayer from many others for me.

 

And then, the conclusions from the doctors – “You’ve had a stroke, but suffered no damage.”  

 

If you’ve followed along with my somewhat sporadic articles this last year you may have gathered that Hashem has been providing me many opportunities for engaging my emuna. Finances, health, relationships, emotions… I’m now beginning to see, and benefit from, the stretching and growth that happened due to those challenges last year. The stroke may have been the most intense situation of the year but the miraculous recovery was the emuna exclamation point on the year.

 

And now, at the start of a new year and about month after the last of the weekly follow up, just to be sure all levels are back to normal, I find myself able to, perhaps a better word is willing to, start learning from that lesson. Drawing out the emuna-strengthening aspects as I realize and internalize the fact that Hashem loves me…

 

He really does! He loves all of us! He shows it every day. We don’t need an emergency or life threatening situation to request for and look for miracles.

 

I’m breathing – that’s a miracle!

 

I can walk – that’s a miracle!

 

I can see – that’s a miracle!

 

Hundreds, no, thousands of miracles – beautiful gifts from the Creator – are given to us each and every day.  The stroke was a gift and the recovery was a gift. And, as I’m learning in Rabbi Arush’s new book – The Garden of Miracles – in both situations my response is now “Thank You Hashem! This is for the very best!”

 

 

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Jennifer invites you to participate in a regularly held Noahide on-line study group that reviews the garden series books of Rabbi Arush. You can contact her at jenniferjwoodward@gmail.com to be added to the weekly newsletter for dates and times. Visit the blog at noahidenews.blogspot.com.