Dear Family and Friends,
As many of
you know I injured my knee on May 17, 2014 during our soccer outreach, that we
have done every Saturday, for months. My back was in excruciating pain on May
24, 2014 from walking on my messed up knee for so long. I returned to America
to get medical treatment. They told me in Belgium, they thought I injured my meniscus
and I would need an MRI for my knee. They couldn’t get me an MRI in Belgium for
a month. As for my back they believed it to be a bulging disc since they didn’t
have an MRI machine they just guessed. So they sent me home with three
different kinds of pain pills and a muscle relaxer to take 4x a day. Belgium
could not provide me with the good health care that we have in America. It is
nationalized health care.
When I returned to America I went to the
chiropractor the first day I returned. It wasn’t a bulging disc but my pelvis was
out on my right side and my sacrum was twisted. He popped me back into place
and told me I needed to come back three times a week for pain management. It
wouldn’t improve till my knee improved. I got the MRI and my ACL was damaged
and I had a bone contusion. I was given a back brace and knee brace.
Additionally, the doctor put me through physical therapy for a month, three
times a week , for my back, knee, and hip. I developed a inflammation on the
bursa of my hip because of my knee and walking on it weird so they told me to
do physical therapy and gave me a cortisone shot. For the first two months of being
home I was in a lot of pain.
Then I still had surgery on my knee. They drained
excess fluid off my ACL due to a severe ACL sprain. My back hasn’t improved greatly,
but my chiropractor has told me to give it time. I am praying for recovery
because I have back spasms most nights when lying flat. I haven’t been able to
sleep well in months unless I take a pain pill. If my hip doesn’t improve they
are going to have to do surgery on it as well. I am still doing physical therapy
exercises at home for my back, knee, and hip. I am improving slowly. My knee is
almost feeling normal. Currently, I can’t
do a lot of what I used to. But there is hope of improvement over time.
I wanted to tell you guys that I am not returning to
Belgium this year or any time soon. I loved my time there and I felt privileged
to be there for a season. However, I have medical bills up to my eye balls WITH
insurance from surgery, physical therapy, and specialists. Insurance only covers
a limited amount of things and I have to pay for the difference. I can’t leave
America with this kind of debt. I have to make monthly payments.
Sometimes we don’t understand why things happen the
way they do. I am still unsure why I got injured doing God’s work overseas.
However, God is still good and has amazing plans for my life. I didn’t lose my
leg or break my back this is just a temporary set back. I would have told you
all sooner but I wasn’t sure the verdict until now. I was hoping to return.
I am going to
get a job, once my back gets back to normal(my previous job was in Belgium). I
am hoping to take a class or two at Arkansas State University online and work
towards level two certification in American Sign Language. God, one night, when
I was trying to sleep gave me a glimpse of a chess board verses playing cards
and I felt like I heard game change. This is a game change in my life. I now
have to think of things more methodically and everything is slower like a chess
game. It doesn’t mean it is bad it is just slower. When things slow down and I
get time to think I realize more that God’s grace is sufficient and we can be
world changers wherever we are. I don’t want anyone to feel sorry for me. God has
a purpose in everything and He has His hand on my life. He hasn’t forgotten me
and sometimes healing that isn’t instantaneous teaches us something about ourselves
and others.
‘No,
in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. And we know that in all things God works for the good of
those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.’ Romans 8:27-28
I look forward to see what God is
going to do in this next season.
Much Love and Many Blessings,
Cami Lynn Woodruff
