butterfly hope

According to the American Heritage dictionary a miracle is: " An event inexplicable by the laws of nature and so held to be supernatural or an act of God." 

We invite you to share your miracles with others. It is our hope that by sharing your stories, it will inspire others to have faith that a miracle will happen in their life. There are no small miracles!

E-mail us at: miracles@butterflyhope.com

            Today my son drives his son to first grade

 My family has suffered through cancer with my beloved son. My Jeff was unsuspecting of any wrong goings-on in his young body. He suddenly developed shortness of breath while at work one beautiful summer day. He was rushed to the ER, then to surgery for life-saving removal of a large mass on his thymus gland. He made several trips in and out of ICU. There were numerous surgeries and later chemo and finally RT. This was a period of long suffering that no 35 yr old man is equipped for. Our family has so many stories of God's mercy and unending love for us all; as we watched our son and brother walk through his journey as best he could, often holding on to one of us. All of us holding on to our God for support and comfort during this dark time. I would like to report that mercifully, he has recovered, miraculously (he was given a 40% chance of a 5 yr survival). He works full time, he has a great life, has almost climbed out of the financial ditch and that was all only 5 yrs ago! He made it. He helped us all to learn about the positive power of hope. My son, at that time, had a 10 month old baby boy, his only child. Today he drives that same little boy to first grade! Yea God! Yea Jeff! Yea support group! I know for a fact that there is no greater healer than God and family and friends and the positively that goes on in group. We used traditional medicine, every alternative therapy that he could possibly embrace and the absolute positive power of giving it to God and letting him heal my son.

Gwen Carriere, ARNP, CHPN

Three Miracles for Ginger 

Miracle One

 In Oct, 1997 I was diagnosed with very advanced melanoma, stage 4. It affected my upper left arm and had spread to my lymph nodes. At this time I was 37 years old.

My primary care physician referred me to a wonderful surgeon. During the first of two surgeries he removed a tumor the size of a fist out of my arm. Two weeks after the initial surgery they operated again to remove all the lymph nodes.

Two weeks after the removal of the lymph nodes I was started on chemotherapy. The chemotherapy they prescribed for me was interferon; which at time was an experimental agent. I had to go to the hospital everyday for five weeks to receive the interferon through an IV. Each session lasted forty-five minutes. This was a very difficult time because the medication made me extremely nauseated and weak. During this course of treatment I became toxic and thought I was going to die. To remedy the situation they gave me a week off of the treatment. When the treatment resumed, the side effects did also.

After the initial course of treatment I received chemo shots three times a week for a year. The side effects of the shots made me feel as though I had the flu. The only time I managed to get out of bed is when I had a doctor’s appointment

My faith in God helped me get through this terrible ordeal. Fighting this disease was the hardest thing I have ever done. Without the prayer and support provided to me by my family, church family and friends from around the country, it would have been difficult to get through the year. I believe that God sent these people to assist me through this tribulation.

Two years later, I was discussing the surgery and cancer with a friend of mine that is a physician. He revealed that the doctors considered my cancer a very critical case. They did not think that I would survive. The physician was also surprised that I survived.

To me this is evidence that God is working in my life and has a divine plan for me. If I had known how serious the situation was I may have given up; but my God would have never given up on me.

                                          Miracle two

In October, 2000 I was on my way to my son’s kindergarten Halloween party, when I was hit by car that had ran a red-light. Initially I felt that I escaped the accident without injury. Later in the day a severe pain developed in my leg. I went to numerous doctors and had multiple x-rays and no one could find the cause of my pain.

As the last resort I was sent to the hospital for a CT scan. The orthopedic physician who reviewed the scan thought that I had bone cancer. After reviewing the scan, my oncologist arrived at the same conclusion. I was devastated.

To make the bad news worse, they said that my leg was also broken. They ordered me to be on bed rest for the next eight weeks. Then they told me that this would probably be my last holiday season. Christmas season is the season of miracles. Once again I turned to God. My friends and family prayed around the clock for eight weeks. I once again looked towards my God for a miracle.

The hospital made an appointment to see an oncologist/orthopedic specialist at Emory Hospital, in Atlanta, for January 2, 2001. I continued my prayer vigil as my husband and son drove me to the appointment. After the doctor reviewed the scan and took a new x-ray he told me that it was a stress fracture and massive bruising on my bone. To me, and my family, and friends this was a second miracle from God.

                                    Miracle three

In January, 2008, I started having some problems with blood in my stool. My physician decided to order a colonoscopy. The procedure revealed a large mass in my colon. Obviously, it was going to have to be removed.

This procedure was done on a Thursday. Even though I was upset, I decided to go to a spiritual seminar, with my friend Pam, the next day that was being held in Atlanta. This was a “Life Changing” seminar held by Dani Johnson.

On Saturday evening during the praise and worship portion of the seminar my life was changed. In the front of the auditorium they were holding a healing service. I estimate that there were three hundred people crowding around the altar. Pam looked at me and said, “You need to go.” In my heart I knew she was right.

It was the most amazing experience of my life. I truly felt the peace and love of God enveloping my soul. I know that there are many “phony healers” in the world preying on vulnerable people. But by watching Dani it was obvious that she was allowing God to work through her to transform people’s lives.

I knew if I could get down there I would be healed of this terrible mass. I was somewhat distraught because there were so many people in front of me. I was fearful that I would not be able to make it through the crowd.

As I am standing in line I am praying to God for His mercy, as tears streamed from my eyes. I was almost to the stairs, when two ladies in front of me turned and placed their hands on my head.  They started praying the most powerful prayer that I have ever heard. They asked that God’s healing hands touch me.

The two ladies ran their hands all over my body as they prayed. During this time I could feel a warm sensation gently spreading through my body. I knew I was healed!

They told me afterwards that they were compelled by God to pray for my body and mind. I so desperately needed prayer for both. Later, I discovered that Dani had anointed these two angels to go into the crowd and find a person that needed healing. I know now that if you set your mind on God all things are possible. I feel that my life has been changed forever.

The next week I visited my oncologist to discuss my options, He informed me that it was serious; but felt that it was something that could be handled. He also took the time to chastise me for waiting six months to report abnormal bleeding to the doctor. We scheduled the surgery for the next week.

The day before the surgery I professed to my Sunday school class how God was holding me in the palm of his hand amidst a mighty storm. Because of His love I was feeling calm and serene. I knew in my heart that God was going to see me through this. 

The doctors told me to prepare to be in the hospital for a week and if everything went well that I could probably return to work in six weeks. As I was being wheeled into surgery I focused on my hand. I asked God to hold me in the palm of His hand, to be my strength.

Coincidently, as I, was asleep, waiting for surgery, a physician that specialized in laser surgery of the colon was in the operating room. My surgeon decided to consult him on my case. The specialist agreed to take the case. The procedure took only fifteen minutes. I was discharged from the hospital that afternoon and was able to return to work in a week.

 Even though two physicians, after the colonoscopy, had felt that an abnormal biopsy indicated the tumor would be malignant; the test after surgery indicated that it was benign.

Some may think that these three incidents are mere coincidences. I know differently. I know in the depth of my soul that these are healing acts from a loving and healing heavenly Father. I know that I am alive today because God healed me. I feel that it is my obligation to tell all that a terrible illness does not have to mean the end. My God is powerful enough to heal everyone’s mind body and soul. If you are feeling ill or depressed, please, just take it to the Lord in prayer.

Submitted by Ginger Brock- Arabi, Georgia, on February 20, 2008