Danielle's Story

about July, June, July of last year, I about July, June, July of last year, I started uh noticing that I had this a started uh noticing that I had this a started uh noticing that I had this a lot of pressure in my head and I'd wake lot of pressure in my head and I'd wake lot of pressure in my head and I'd wake up every morning with my eyes swollen up every morning with my eyes swollen up every morning with my eyes swollen shut. But the biggest thing was this shut. But the biggest thing was this shut. But the biggest thing was this pressure in my head that I couldn't do pressure in my head that I couldn't do pressure in my head that I couldn't do anything. It like made my life almost anything. It like made my life almost anything. It like made my life almost unlivable. unlivable. unlivable. I did turn to prayer because I'm a I did turn to prayer because I'm a I did turn to prayer because I'm a [music] very faithful believer. But I [music] very faithful believer. But I [music] very faithful believer. But I just felt like God are are you with me just felt like God are are you with me just felt like God are are you with me here because I am struggling and I would here because I am struggling and I would here because I am struggling and I would just be crying out to God and [music] I just be crying out to God and [music] I just be crying out to God and [music] I felt like I just wasn't like the Lord felt like I just wasn't like the Lord felt like I just wasn't like the Lord wasn't hearing me. wasn't hearing me. wasn't hearing me. >> Then I decided to join a small group >> Then I decided to join a small group >> Then I decided to join a small group with uh pickle ball cuz I thought that with uh pickle ball cuz I thought that with uh pickle ball cuz I thought that would be fun and I would have community would be fun and I would have community would be fun and I would have community in it. I said, "Okay, what can go wrong in it. I said, "Okay, what can go wrong in it. I said, "Okay, what can go wrong here? I'm going to a pickle ball Bible here? I'm going to a pickle ball Bible here? I'm going to a pickle ball Bible study and and I just got out of the study and and I just got out of the study and and I just got out of the hospital a week ago and I couldn't walk hospital a week ago and I couldn't walk hospital a week ago and I couldn't walk in the hospital, but here I am." in the hospital, but here I am." in the hospital, but here I am." [laughter] [laughter] [laughter] And I lasted maybe [music] And I lasted maybe [music] And I lasted maybe [music] 15 minutes and playing pickle ball 15 minutes and playing pickle ball 15 minutes and playing pickle ball before my heart rate and heart blood before my heart rate and heart blood before my heart rate and heart blood pressure was so high. I thought I had a pressure was so high. I thought I had a pressure was so high. I thought I had a diagnosis that had a really bad diagnosis that had a really bad diagnosis that had a really bad mortality rate [music] and I kept mortality rate [music] and I kept mortality rate [music] and I kept pulling into the doctor's office parking pulling into the doctor's office parking pulling into the doctor's office parking lot to just get [music] the test. And I lot to just get [music] the test. And I lot to just get [music] the test. And I pulled in probably three times into the pulled in probably three times into the pulled in probably three times into the parking lot and left, but I just parking lot and left, but I just parking lot and left, but I just couldn't go in. I have two kids and I couldn't go in. I have two kids and I couldn't go in. I have two kids and I didn't want to leave them alone and I

didn't want to leave them alone and I didn't want to leave them alone and I wasn't ready to not be here anymore. I wasn't ready to not be here anymore. I wasn't ready to not be here anymore. I told the group that I was struggling told the group that I was struggling told the group that I was struggling with trying to get the diagnosis. with trying to get the diagnosis. with trying to get the diagnosis. [music] Uh they they encouraged me and [music] Uh they they encouraged me and [music] Uh they they encouraged me and we did a prayer circle and I've never we did a prayer circle and I've never we did a prayer circle and I've never been part of something like that before. been part of something like that before. been part of something like that before. And I'm telling [music] you that God was And I'm telling [music] you that God was And I'm telling [music] you that God was in that room that day. He he heard our in that room that day. He he heard our in that room that day. He he heard our prayer because prayer because prayer because every day I was praying, God, just let every day I was praying, God, just let every day I was praying, God, just let these doctors, team of doctors figure these doctors, team of doctors figure these doctors, team of doctors figure out what's wrong with me so that I can out what's wrong with me so that I can out what's wrong with me so that I can get better. That prayer circle, it get better. That prayer circle, it get better. That prayer circle, it changed my life. changed my life. changed my life. And today, I am back to running. I am And today, I am back to running. I am And today, I am back to running. I am back to living my life. I'm actually back to living my life. I'm actually back to living my life. I'm actually able to work again. I'm living my life able to work again. I'm living my life able to work again. I'm living my life versus before I was just surviving. I am versus before I was just surviving. I am versus before I was just surviving. I am so thankful for my small group and for so thankful for my small group and for so thankful for my small group and for everything that they did for me last everything that they did for me last everything that they did for me last year. I couldn't have gotten through year. I couldn't have gotten through year. I couldn't have gotten through last [music] year without my small last [music] year without my small last [music] year without my small group. And I was praying by myself all group. And I was praying by myself all group. And I was praying by myself all the time, but I didn't see real movement the time, but I didn't see real movement the time, but I didn't see real movement until I had a group of believers that until I had a group of believers that until I had a group of believers that were praying with me. And [music] so were praying with me. And [music] so were praying with me. And [music] so join any of the small groups because it join any of the small groups because it join any of the small groups because it can change your life.