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My name is Marlene Werning and I met Vestal Goodman on May 15, 1999. At that time I had liver cancer and was divinely healed when Miss Vestal prayed for me. However, I’m getting way ahead of myself so let me go back to the beginning of my story and let you know what my God has done in my life. |
I am one of the oldest living diagnosed hepatitis C patients in the world. When I first became ill the doctors had no idea what was wrong with me. I am a nurse so they ruled nothing out. They did a whole array of tests including something new called ARC. Everything came up negative but they did conclude whatever I had somehow involved my liver. I was put on chloral hydrate for pain, the drug of choice at that time for hepatic illness and then I was sent off to specialists.
I spent the next 2 years in and out of hospitals and doctor’s offices. Some told me it was all in my head and sent Psychiatrists to speak to me. Finally I was told a diagnosis had been reached. I had what was called hepatitis non A non B. Unfortunately there was no treatment, no cure, and no one really knew what to do about this strange disease. I was told by my doctor to continue with blood work.
My liver enzymes were shooting through the roof and it wasn’t long before my doctor and trusted friend pronounced a death sentence over me. He told me that I only had about 3 months to live. I had been raised in church but I was from a denomination that didn’t recognize the gifts of the Spirit for today. My nurses training had taught me to respect doctors as “gods”. I thank the Lord He gave me a mother who taught me the importance of negative words. As soon as my doctor had told me that I would die in 3 months my reaction was “No! I haven’t done nearly what I want to do so that can’t be possible. I absolutely refuse to believe that.” At that time I had no idea that I was instituting a Biblical principle.
Time passed. I got very sick and then somewhat better. During this time my doctor passed away and I was fortunate to find another well versed in hepatitis. By this time Naomi Judd had come forth and educated the public on this disease which now had a name - hepatitis C.
Soon I was able to start a new treatment called Interferon A. I began this within a couple of weeks of FDA approval. The specialist I was seeing told me I would die of this disease or with it. Those were my options. It would eventually turn into liver cancer or cirrhosis. A liver transplant was discussed and my parents were in favor of this but I was adamantly opposed to this option. No one understood my decision and I could give no explanation. I only knew that it was not an option for me but didn’t know why I felt that way. Now I see that the hand of God had been on me throughout this entire journey.
The Interferon therapy put me in partial remission for close to 5 years. I was able to work but remained extremely tired. My immune system was suppressed and I caught everything going around. My blood work was better but still far from normal.
During this time I had strayed far from God. My belief system was intact but my thoughts and actions weren’t . I no longer went to church and seldom read the Bible. Just when I thought that nothing could get any worse my Mom passed away. My father needed a lot of help during this time and I needed the strength to be able to provide that help. As I helped my Dad and mourned my Moms passing God not only sustained me but brought me back around to His saving grace. For the next year I worked as a nurse in a prison and was still able to help my Dad.
Just as I was starting to get sick again three things happened. A new treatment for Hep C had been approved, my specialist passed away, and I met the man God had sent to be my husband. I was sure that I would beat this disease. Two doctors had told me there was no hope and they had both passed away. I loved them both.
As I walked into the hospital with my fiancé and my Dad to meet this new doctor I had all the hope a person could have. I had just put it in the hands of earthly physicians instead of The Great Physician. That was purely out of ignorance.
I met my new doctor who was by far the most difficult physician I’d ever met and that’s saying something coming from a nurse. It was a struggle to get him to agree to the new treatment. He didn’t believe in it, told me it wouldn’t work, told me nothing would work and on and on. I pretty much became like the lady and the unrighteous judge. I wouldn’t give up and kept going through all the testing he was asking for to try to discourage me.
Finally he agreed to the treatment and here’s where the impossible starts - impossible that is for anyone but God.
I became so sick during this treatment that I was having seizures from the pain. Chloral hydrate was now off of the market so I was tried on every kind of pain medication available. Finally I found that percodan worked the best. It didn’t stop the pain but it did take the edge off. The seizures continued nearly every night. My husband would stay awake all night and help me through the seizures. I could keep nothing on my stomach most days. I counted it a good day when I was able to keep down 60cc of green tea. I was sick, I was weak, and I asked God to just take me home. I couldn’t get out of bed for 3 months and needed much help to go to the doctors every month. My husband closed his business and took care of me full-time.
I had always had a dream of meeting Miss Vestal and one day the mail came with an autographed picture of her along with one of her trademark hankies. I still don’t know how my husband arranged that but after seeing my reaction and seeing excitement come over me for the first time in months he really went to work.
We found out that The Gaithers (along with the Happy Goodmans) were coming to Massachusetts in the next couple of months. My husband, Mark, arranged for us to go along with my Dad and Uncle. My sight and hearing had been affected by all the medication so we needed front row seats. God's so good! Mark was able to speak to someone and he had front row tickets right away.
Days before the concert I went back to the doctor. He was right about one thing. The medication didn’t work. He told me the only thing left to do was to go into the hospital and they would try to control the pain. He showed me the tests - liver cancer! But don’t you know that God had a different report?
I decided that the hospital wasn’t for me and told the doctor that I’d rather go home. He told me to come back when the pain got to the point where I couldn’t handle it. All during this time I had also been seeing my regular physician who had suspected liver cancer for awhile. I was literally sent home to die and I was so sick I welcomed death.
But God……and that’s always where everything turns around.
The morning of the concert I told my husband I couldn’t go. It was a hard day for us. We had said our goodbyes to each other. I thought of all the time he had spent making this concert special. Finally I asked him to help me get ready and I’d try to go. I was so weak and so sick that I needed help with everything. He bathed me and washed my hair, got me dressed and then told me I was going to meet Miss Vestal. I was so excited.
Mark helped me into the Civic Center and for the first time I wished he hadn’t gotten great seats. I had no idea how I was going to make it down all those steps even with help. Well I made it. Mark carried me and I was so happy I seemed to gain new strength. The concert started and soon Mark told me we were to meet up with Rick Goodman and go see Miss Vestal.
Again, I needed a lot of help to walk and Mark had one arm while Rick had the other arm. Soon Miss Vestal was in front of me. She asked me how I was and I told her not well. Then she asked what was wrong and I told her the doctor had pulled the chemo. I remember she had a glow of white light all around her and she went into prayer. Then she cast the spirit of cancer out and went right for my liver. She battled Lucifer and then she told me that I was healed. I was raised and attended a church that believed Jesus healed a long time ago but not necessarily today so this was all new to me.
However, right about this time the most incredible thing happened. I felt Jesus pick me up in His arms and for the first time I audibly heard Him. He told me that He loved me. I cannot in any way convey the love I felt from Him but I knew I wanted to stay right where I was forever. However, it wasn’t my time.
Miss Vestal was talking to me and discipling me on how to keep my healing. She told me Satan would come back and how I was to rebuke him.
As I began to walk away Miss Vestal called to me “Stand up straight honey, you’re no longer in pain.” For the first time in years I was pain free and didn’t even realize it.
One further thing happened. Mark and I have always had something special between us. He always gave me one red rose, never a dozen, just a single red rose. No one knew this or the significance behind it. As we were leaving Miss Vestal called us back once again. She handed me a single red rose and said she didn’t know why she was giving this to me but I would know. Mark and I just looked at each other with tears in our eyes. God is a God of details! I RAN back to my seat and then decided that I wanted something to drink. I climbed all those stairs that just a short time before looked impossible. The rest of the concert was wonderful and I asked to go out to eat when it was over. My family was shocked as I sat eating a plate of food.
I went back to my doctor for tests as Miss Vestal told me to. My leg muscles had atrophied from being in bed for so long but that would take care of itself with exercise. My doctor just looked at me and told me the next time he saw me he thought I’d be in a casket. I told him about the power of God and he looked at me and said “So you’re saying that my Boss healed you?” I said yes and asked for the tests to be repeated.
Praise God! That was just over 5 years ago - the tests came back negative and I’ve been well ever since. We have left the cold for sunny Florida where we’ve continued to grow in the Lord. I give God all the glory and I also thank God for the obedience on the part of Miss Vestal and my husband, Mark.
One last note - my husband and I “caught” the healing anointing from Miss Vestal. For the past 5 years we’ve had so much happen. We are now ordained ministers and are in the ministry full-time. At our speaking engagements God always shows up and there have been many miracle healings.
God bless you and remember…He IS faithful!
Marlene
