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Mary Gary's TESTIMONY
My name is Mary Gary and this is my testimony.
Years ago, I was diagnosed with asthma, emphysema, and cronic obstructive pulmonary disease. I was on oxygen for a few years and still have to use a nebulizer and inhalers to help this.
I am 58 and an only child; my father passed when I was only 9 years of age. In 1984, my mother passed at the age of 79. In 1985, I lost my husband at the age of 43 who had severe medical problems and passed away due to asphyxiation. In 1986, I lost a grandson at 4 months of age due to crib death. In 1987, the baby's mother (my middle daughter) had a brain aneurysm and we were told that she had less than 50/50 chance of living; and then the chances of her returning to normal were very small. Today, you would never have known she had such as she is well and has no problems whatsoever from the incident. In 1988, her husband was diagnosed with cancer and gave up on his chemotherapy treatments. Today, he is doing fine and there has been no sign of the return of cancer. The Lord gave me much strength during those trying times, but it does not end there.
In 1996, I was diagnosed with lupus. In January of 2001, I had a light stroke. And less than three months later, I had a major stroke, leaving a blockage in my neck. Today, I walk on my own, talk and still have a good mind. God again blessed me and gave me strength. In August of that same year, I had to have gall bladder surgery. Afterward, even the smell of food made me sick. I went from 150 pounds to 87 pounds, making it necessary to use a feeding tube. A few months later, I was able to have it removed after getting my weight back up to 101 pounds. In October of the same year, my daughter (mentioned earlier) and I were involved in a car wreck that witnessess said we should not have survived. My daughter lost control of the car and ran off the side of the road after over-correcting and spinning four times into on-coming traffic and then flipping nose-over-end twice before coming to rest on all four tires. The car had minimal scratches but the rear axle was broken. I was rushed to a hospital in an ambulance, but all I had were a few bruised ribs from the seatbelt and a bump to my forehead. My daughter walked away with only two small cuts to her head where her sunglasses had cut into it. I was blessed again as God was riding with us that day.
Again, my blessings do not stop here. I know this is long, but I can't help but tell just how good the Lord has been to me. In 2003, I started to lose weight again, this time with blood loss as well. After an endless series of tests, they said my red blood cells were not functioning properly. I began transfusions of blood and iron. They were still not able to determine what was causing the internal bleeding. I received weekly injections but I kept losing the blood they were giving me in transfusions. In 2004, my lung doctor found a tumor in the top part of my right lung and tried to do a biopsy. But because it was so small and hard to get to, he was not able to draw enough off to tell if the tumor was cancer. He sent me to a lung surgeon who told me that if it was cancer, he could not remove it because that would require him to remove most of my right lung, and with my breathing problems, I would not be able to live with just one lung. He performed a biopsy and managed to get enough to test for cancer, but a portion of my right lung collapsed while doing so. The biopsy came back negative, but they were still unsure and said that they wanted to keep a watch on it. I told them, that's fine; you keep a watch on it and I'm going home and give it to God; and this is what I did.
Three months later, and after still another scan, the tumor remains. Although it has not grown any smaller, it has not grown any bigger either. My next scan is in February and if it be God's will, it will remain dormant. In the mean time, they have found where the internal bleeding is coming from, and at this point, there is nothing they can do but continue with the transfusions until God gets ready for them to know what to do. As I've said, I've given it to God as only He knows when my time shall be up.
This is my testimony. Long though it may be, I never miss a chance to tell it wherever I go, and witness to people just how the Lord has walked with me and blessed me. I sing praises to His name every day. And every day, I am blessed with someone to share my testimony and my love for God and His Son. I thank you for giving me the opportunity to share with you my testimony and just how great God's love and powers are.
Mary Gary
January 12, 2005