A Perilous time
I was living and working in Jakarta for an Indonesian company with my wife and 2 children in the early 1990's after the first Gulf War. I had a very busy life as a Project Manager for a major industrial complex with a ten-figure price tag that would eventually employ over 1000 people. In spite of these pressures with 12-hour days 6 days per week and a hectic international travel schedule to Japan, South Korea and the USA, I found time to meet for a home group Bible study. At this time I started to really delve into scripture, often reading the Bible on my 1-hour plus chauffeured commute to work in the mornings, that is when I was not working in the car. I was drawing closer to the Lord, but then suddenly my life changed, and not for the better.In early 1993, I started to feel quite fatigued suddenly with low energy and drive. I saw the local Indonesian medical staff but they could not find any problems and just assured me it was overwork and to take more vitamins and rest up. But this tiredness, fatigue, and at times strange thought patterns persisted for months. Eventually I saw an Australian doctor who diagnosed Mononucleosis, I was told to rest and just wait it out. However, after months turned to a year I was still tired, depressed, and fatigued with a low blood pressure of 90/60 and started having headaches and night terrors in early 1994.I felt very alone at this time in spite of my family and many friends for support. The only one I could count on was the Lord; my prayer life really stepped up as I was losing hope of ever feeling better again. I prayed all through the day asking the Lord for healing and answers. I drew comfort in singing praises to the Lord and in spite of my affliction my faith in the healing Blood of Jesus was strong - I merely realized that I was in the midst of a trial, my faith was being tested. Certain scriptures stood out to me, especially 1 Peter 4:12,13 "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ' sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy." For I believed that I was not only in a physical trial but a spiritual trial as well.During this difficult time, I felt closer to the Lord than at any time in my life. In that inaudible but tangible way the Lord was assuring me that I would soon enter a time of rest and be back in the states for a season and have a resolution to this health need. The Lord also gave me discernment, I started doing my own medical research in medical books such as the Merck Manual for general practitioners, I started to believe that the root of my problem was in some way hormonal.During a business trip to Seoul, South Korea in May 1994, I had a very restless night and had a sharp pain in my chest, I thought oh no, could I have had a heart attack? Upon return to Jakarta the next day I went to a cardiologist who ran tests that were inconclusive. He sent me to Singapore for more specialized testing, the cardiologist there ordered an angiogram to see if there were blockages in my heart. While I was on the operating table, and the doctor was ordering blood samples, I pleaded with him to order hormone tests. He at first said "you are strong you don't need those tests" but after pleading again he relented and ordered the tests. My angiogram was good , in fact the cardiologist said my veins were beautiful. However, a few days later he called me and apologized; he stated that I was correct, my hormone levels were extremely abnormal, indications were a pituitary tumor. I quickly had an MRI done that confirmed a massive pituitary tumor that was compressing my pituitary gland at the base of the brain causing the secretion of prolactin, an abnormal hormone normally associated with post partum depression. If untreated this tumor could lead to blindness and even death. Arrangements were made to have neuro surgery in the US in my home state of Ohio at the renowned Cleveland Clinic. I spent nearly 10 weeks in all in the US having the surgery with an extended recuperation time resting at my brothers home.My headaches went away my health stabilized I received hormone replacement therapy. I was feeling good and energetic again but to me the most important thing apart from the physical healing was my spiritual healing - how grateful I am to the Lord for preserving my life and drawing me closer to Him. The Lord touched me in my trial, I believe this experience can be summed up by the last half of Proverbs 18:24 "But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Jesus was with me in this trial, He can be trusted to help us in all our trials.
TOM JONES
OVERCOMERS VICE-CHAIRMAN
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