ABOUT ME

I have looked through many lenses in my short lifetime, the most recent lens has been as a patient. I am a survivor of mold and heavy metal toxicity; aka CIRS (Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome), and have been dealing with a long list of ailments that exploded in April of 2017. It is my prayer that God speaks through my personal testimony to give hope, direction and comfort, like He has done for me.

I want to provide a detailed timeline so that others may understand the link between so many things that seem separate yet are quite interdependent on one another.

In January 2014 I was in a rear-end collision while sitting at a red light. This began the ball rolling of a long list of health issues. In June of 2014 I had a partial thyroidectomy, in July a colonoscopy, in December 2015 I had knee surgery for a torn meniscus, in August of 2016 I miscarried, in February 2017 I began to vaginally hemorrhage for over 40 days, in April of 2017 it was discovered that my estrogen was over 1400 (normal levels for a 45 year old woman is 600); I then developed 5 pulmonary embolisms and was hospitalized in May of 2017. I had three surgeries by the end of the month, and two more surgeries by the year’s end. During 2016 I gained 100 pounds. All during this time I was unable to get enough sleep, my skin grew ashen, and my dystonic episodes were daily, sometimes while driving. I lost my sense of taste and my asthma was getting worse by the week. Narcolepsy had set in back in 2014, but I chalked it up to being fatigued. All this to say I did not recognize the “mold” in the place I lived nor in my workplace to be an issue; however, it was! I was bombarded almost 24 hours a day by environmental toxins and mold. It affected every aspect of my life till my body gave up: death was never a word in my self-descriptive vocabulary until it came knocking at my door in the spring of 2017. I did not answer it. I did not entertain it. I turned a deaf ear to it. I chose to gaze upon the only One who had ever been faithfully consistent in my life, the only One who had never failed me, nor forsaken me, the only One who truly knew my every need, want, desire, hope, fear and disappointment. I looked to the only Father I had ever known in my life, my Heavenly Father. He was my comfort and my hope.

He gave me a new talent in the darkest of my days, photography! There was a longing to move to the outdoors, to feel the sunshine upon my face. That desire motivated me to go outside into the garden daily. The strength it required to get up and go outside was enough to send me into a 4 to 6-hour nap daily, but I so desperately needed it. While in the garden, I would take pictures with my phone of the flowers, including close-ups. My vision had gotten so bad, that I could hardly see the images unless I enlarged them. When I did, the Lord would place individuals, groups of people, or an organization in my mind by name, face, or location. I would ponder this and then pray for them. As I prayed, He would bring passages of scripture to mind or lead me to places in the Bible later. I would type these passages of scripture onto the picture as a reminder to reflect on and continue to pray for. I did this all from my phone. I later learned that the sun was one of the best ways to help fight mold toxicity! It was a natural form of Vitamin D and mold doesn’t like it. I will always credit the Holy Spirit for nudging me out the door and into the sunshine. My visits to the garden were healing for me. Getting outside physically and outside of my head allowed me to connect with others through intercession. Today, I have shared my photographs with many. I have used the gift to raise money for The Agape House of Prescott, a local non-profit Christian organization that works to keep homeless families together. I have done personalized and custom orders, created books, journals, notecards, canvases and prints for many friends near and far from my home. This is a ministry I fondly have called “The KLOSet” these past few years, and has been a substantial part of my healing journey. When I am serving, I move outside my “woe is me” attitude and see the greater need unfold all around me. Oh, what joy it is to love when death is knocking at your door. This was truly the beginning of healing for me.

My desire in sharing my journey is for the message of hope to be shared with others who are walking this road, who may know someone who is, or who may someday be faced with it. “Merciful Mending” is the gift of hope that only the One who created you, loves you, died for you, and can heal you, will give!