Around this time in November of 2011, I was out elk hunting and I had a major pain in my gut. I went to the Flagstaff hospital and after they ran scans, the docs found that a part of my intestines had somehow twisted closed, cutting off circulation to the rest of my intestines (called a cecal volvulus…I hate these names). I was informed that this could cause the intestinal tissue to die, and if not treated immediately it can cause death. The doc was able to untwist the intestines with a colonoscopy tool, and further surgery was not needed.
4 months later, after a sequence of events (potentially unrelated), I was in the hospital again. I left after 4 days with a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis and auto-immune disease. Celiac, Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn’s disease pointed out that my intestines were being attacked by my own immune system. I was given high doses of steroids and the following months led to losing 60 lbs, anemia from losing so much blood internally and a legit sense and fear that this was the end of my life.
Little did I know how true that was.
13 years later, to summarize, the disease and immune attacks spread to cells in my nervous system, my brain and spinal cord…and what seemed like every part of my body. Indicators of Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and most recently Multiple Sclerosis were showing up on tests. I was no longer able to operate in my job, forcing me to seek other ways to support my family. Over 50 doctors, Mayo Clinic, Naturopaths, diet changes, biologic medications through IVs for years, a nervous breakdown, counseling, therapy, intensive outpatient programs, etc – and some element of it all remains…causing me to be in a constant state of fight or flight within.
The pain through all of this has been unbearable. Physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.
1 Peter 5:10
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
About a month ago, I visited Dr. Gaspar at B-Hive Wellness in Chandler. He somehow heard my story different than any other doctors had. He recognized some details and pointed to my body attacking something within. After the comment “do they think God didn’t know what he was doing when he designed our immune system” he pulled out article after article of his research pointing to the possibility that my body and cells were hosting a virus that could be causing ALL of this. He told me his story of suffering for three years with much of the same that I was, and I knew he understood what I was going through.
High doses of vitamin C through IV, and some restoration of healthy bacteria in the body were proposed. He and his wife told me how the vitamin C strengthened the body’s immune system enough to break through the defensive mechanism of the virus to overcome the disease and allow my body to return to normal. He told me how it healed him in a matter of weeks after 3 years of hell.
I glimmer of hope snuck in. But I have been here 100s of times before. My hope was not in the medicine. My hope remained in God alone.
1 Corinthians 1:27-2:14
27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”[a]
My daughter Elle had recently been diagnosed with this virus as well. We both decided to proceed with the IV treatment and after 3 weeks, we are experiencing the indicators of recovery. For Elle this will be getting her back to health. For me this is restoring LIFE, and I am already encountering something new, something I have never experienced before. This will impact every single aspect of my life. My marriage, my family, my relationships, my ability to serve in my profession. The thought that this could be true is a little difficult to take in. Writing this is, in a sense, a proclamation. Claiming something that God has promised.
Joel 2:25 Isaiah 40:31
She has potentially 2 more sessions and I will be getting 10 total treatments.
After 13 years of devastation and life transformation…I can say this without any regard for the outcome of this treatment:
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
I wouldn’t change a thing. This pain and suffering led me to the end of myself, caused me to choose to surrender my life – and I now see and know that I live because he died for me.
So, I step forward in faith – obedient to Him alone, and even though I know He is able…I choose to follow Him even if He chooses not to heal me of this disease. My prayer is this: that if remaining sick is what keeps me closer to Him, then I pray that I remain in this disease. But if the healing of the disease means greater glory for Him, and I remain close in every step of my life following Christ – His will be done.
I will spend my life sharing the story of the vision and encounter I have had (and have daily) with the living God. The creator of the universe. My strong tower, my rock and my fortress. I love you Jesus.
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If anyone who reads this feels led to support us financially (there is a cost of about $2K out of pocket) to finish the treatment, we are seeking the help of those that God has called out to come alongside and participate in this with us. I believe you will read this and know without a doubt that God had pre-set this for you to give and be blessed by your obedience to His spirit speaking in you. Can donate here or Zelle to 602-799-3521
Nehemiah 2:8
2 Corinthians 4:7-12
Prayer is powerful. We are asking for your prayers through this as well.
Thank you for being a witness to this journey.
I have a lot more to share.
Sean McNabb
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