MY TESTIMONY
By Patty Newton


I have had what could be termed by some as an easy life. I never had to have any kind of surgery or broke a bone in my early years. The only time I was in the hospital was for a week with walking pneumonia when I was 13. All that ever happened to me was three stitches in the bridge of my nose from hitting the bottom of a swimming pool when I was 16. I was raised in a loving, Christian home and married a wonderful, God-fearing man. Together we were active in our church and felt a call into the music ministry for the Lord. During the next four years we had two healthy and beautiful daughters. But late in December of 1980 my life came crashing down.

Doctors at a large hospital told me I had a benign brain tumor that was the size of a lemon, probably caused by the accident I had at the age of 16. They needed to do surgery as soon as possible, which would involve shaving my head. I could always wear a wig so this didnt upset me, but when they told me there was a 90% chance it would paralyze the right side of my faceI cried. Since this upset me so much, they told me I could wait a couple of weeks to get used to the idea, but I didn't want to wait.. The sooner I had it done, the sooner I could get better. I was only 23.

The doctor told my husband, Michael, that I had a 50/50 chance to survive through the surgery. The hospital policy was not to tell the patient when the odds were this close. Sometimes it could make the difference between life and death by lowering the patients will to live. Even if they had told me, I dont think it would have made any difference. I had been raised firmly believing in Gods healing power. I was certain the doctors wouldnt find anything or would only find scar tissue where it had been. It doesnt always work out exactly like we expect.

The doctor called Michael from the operating room and told him that he was so glad I hadnt waited. Instead of the lemon size expected, it was the size of a softball. It was so large, it had stopped up the drain for fluid in my head and had started building up pressure. Within two weeks the pressure would have become so great the tumor would have burst. I would have then gone into a coma and he could do nothing further for me.

The surgery left me violently ill for the next two months where I couldnt even walk without staggering. I had double vision so intense that I couldnt tell which was the real picture until I closed one eye. I had to learn swallowing and coordination movements such as writing over again. Since music had always been a major part of my life, no longer having the ability to sing or play the piano was a truly devastating blow.

I dont understand why God didnt instantly heal me, but He was still with me. The surgery was done at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Even though this is such a large hospital, my surgery and recovery was the main item talked about everywhere. Perfect strangers would come up to my mother or husband when they were in the cafeteria and ask about me. God helped me have the shortest stay in the hospital of anyone whod had that type of surgery performed by my surgeon. They thought they would have to sew my right eye shut because I couldnt close it, but they were wrong. I closed it just enough to prevent this. They said the right side of my face would wither as if Id had a stroke, but it didnt. My singing and playing were gradually restored. We also added a bouncing baby boy to our family.

For some reason my complete healing was not in Gods perfect plan. I asked my father-in-law, a wise minister rooted in Gods word, to help me understand. He told me he couldnt give me all the answers, but one thing he knew. God could just have easily delivered the three Hebrew children from that fiery furnace. They didnt have to go into the fire and they knew God could deliver them from it. But God knew the best way was to deliver them out of the midst of it. I want God to use my experience the way He used that experience. For His glory!

I dont know what God has in store for you, but dont lose hope. Just because God doesnt always answer your prayers exactly like you think He should, doesnt mean He doesnt hear or care. Dont question why, just ask how you can use this to better serve Him. God doesnt ask for you to be the best, He just asks you to do your best. If my experience can help one person, it has all been worthwhile.

Sure, Im not completely healed and might not ever be. Im totally deaf in my right ear, the right side of my face is still paralyzed, and Im really klutzy because my balance is off. If God doesnt restore this until heaven, I want Him to use what I still have. Even if God doesnt visibly alter your circumstances, trust Him to know what is best for you and dont lose hope.

I pray these few words have blessed you and God will meet your need in the best wayHis way. If we never meet in this life again, I plan to see you in Heaven.

With Love in Christ,
Patty Newton,
The Newtons