As we continue to look at God’s goodness in our lives, we wanted to share a story from Barbara Belyea.
Back in 2013, Barbara was scheduled for a physical, so about a week before, she went in to do her lab work. The doctor called the next day and said, “This is not good.” Her white blood count had risen to 317,000 – normal is about 10,000. He advised her to get to St. Joseph Hospital right away. Immediately, Barbara felt strongly that God was with her. “I just knew it!” God’s love was also tangibly expressed from those in the church who came around her to pray and to support her.
After seeing five doctors over a period of three days and having a bone marrow test, all doctors agreed that she had acute leukemia, for which there was no acceptable treatment. One daughter asked how much longer Barbara would live and a few other questions. Barbara experienced an incredible pain in her chest and began sobbing. But her older daughter asked, “Are we going to sit here and cry, or are we going to get on with life?” Barbara immediately chose the latter.
Barbara was scheduled to leave for Boston for her son’s graduation and asked if she could still go. The doctors said firmly, “We would not recommend it.” She learned later that they were worried about acute infection or a hemorrhage. But Barbara went anyway. She was on steroids and in a wheelchair. Click here to continue.
A week after returning from her trip (about 4-5 weeks after the diagnosis), her doctors were surprised when her white blood count started to drop. They had been expecting to do a blood transfusion. And after a month or so of going back and forth to the City of Hope, the new diagnosis came back. “You do not have acute leukemia. You have lymphoma, and it is treatable.” Barbara shed a few tears of gratitude, but by then was grounded in her belief that she would live one day at a time, to stay in that day and accept it.
For six months, she received a course of heavy-duty drugs, and two years of less strong ones. She couldn’t work for the first six months because she had no strength. Barbara still goes for treatment today about every six weeks and experiences a loss of energy each time.
Barbara says, “I’m convinced that God changed that diagnosis! I was always a go, go, go person, and I wonder if he just wanted to slow me down.” Barbara experienced God’s goodness throughout a difficult diagnosis and journey and continues to be an encouragement to others experiencing trials in their lives.