Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Healed!


Dear Partners in the Groff Story Journey….

We don’t even know how to say this but we are going to give you a reason to celebrate with us and that above else we need to give all glory and praise to God because…
Steve is healed!!!!

*Celebrate
Five weeks ago, Steve was told that he will never get better, he needs to accept that this is his new life and change all of his pain medications to higher levels for long-term pain management. Steve walked out of that appointment refusing to believe the doctor’s words that, ‘Only a miracle will heal you and your miracle is not coming.’ So here is the journey of the following 6 weeks after that appointment:

Week 1
-       Steve decides to hold on to God’s promise of healing and with the help of friends started to create a ‘plan’ to exercise, change nutrition and get off all pain medication. This week came with challenges but Steve began trying to walk without his cane, exercise and eat to gain weight and muscle while praying about how and when to get off all medication.
Week 2
-       Steve cut one of his pain prescriptions down to 2/3 and had a horrible bout of increased pain. Steve went to his pain management doctor who reprimanded him for trying this so suddenly and gave him referrals to hospital programs to get him off all pain medication but increased all of his medications to help with his high levels of pain.
Week 3
-       Steve grew very discouraged, tried to continue exercising but his pain levels continued to be high and the increased pain medication doses made him tired and lethargic. He began to feel defeated and wanted to give up (this week was the week his wife, me, started praying more than ever!)
Week 4
-       Steve received prayer from a volunteer with the ministry I work for and came out of it, ‘feeling different.’ His eyes even looked alert for the first time in a year and a half.  The next couple of days Steve continued to hear from the Lord, brought what he was hearing to pastors and wise counsel as I brought it to intercessors and prayer warriors. Steve made the decision to obey God’s word to stop all pain medication and other medications (expect the topamax which is a non-narcotic and is the Mayo Clinic’s treatment). Steve and I both received confirmation in miraculous ways and took the step of faith.
Week 5
-       Steve stopped all medications and experienced excruciating side-effects as he detoxed off of all medications that he had been on for over a year. It was  a lot heavier and more challenging than we had anticipated but God was faithful to what He had called us to do and brought us through it amazingly and out on the other side! There was an ER visit as Steve was severely dehydrated and he was not able to eat anything this week- lost close to 20 pounds.
TODAY
-       Steve has been walking without his cane for almost a week now, has gone a total of 14 days without any pain or other medications but continues to take topamax. Steve can eat now and is slowly trying to regain strength and energy but Steve has had none of the same pain symptoms (or any of the other symptoms!) he had for the past year and a half since that first day he stopped taking the medication in faith two weeks ago. This is the first time since October 7th of 2010 that Steve is truly pain free!

“I feel like I have been let out of a prison or have awakened from a coma of some type,” Steve has been saying a lot this past week. We honestly have no way to explain any of this because it is all God! He is more than able to heal! He is faithful to keep His promises! We have been waiting to see what may happen but we are now accepting Steve is healed!

Celebrate with us and let’s Praise God TOGETHER!

Please Pray:
For Steve to continue to rest, rebuild strength and muscle- and to be patient in this ‘re-building process.’
For us- that we can relax and enjoy this miraculous work of healing! That God shows us where to go from here and to continue to follow His plan for us in each step of the way….

We thank you and could not have made it this past year and a half without your support! Steve says if we could see each of you, we could give you big hugs and thank you for every prayer that was said!

We are grateful to be a part of this community of love and support- namely the body of Christ!

Filled with Overwhelming JOY in Him,
 
Casey & Steve Groff

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Inside This Trial

 
 Here is a poem Steve wrote creatively sharing a deeper glimpse into his experience- as he walks through this fiery trial of suffering. Please continue to pray for his strength and trust as takes steps daily towards recovery...
 
A feigned smile hides the death behind my eye.
But as an acorn must fall, before I live I must die.
Reality crashes in, violently smashing into my dreams.
Both haunt me relentlessly, clawing at my souls seams.
There's no break between the two, awake or asleep. This violent demon will stop at nothing to crush me in its teeth.
The days turn into night, and nights turn into days.
And still this bloodthirsty violence won't let me away. I've no strength to fight, so I sit and just pray.
"Oh Father give me grace to endure another day. I know you went through so much tortuous pain.
And you did it all for me, for my soul to gain.
But honestly Father I can't take one more ounce of agony.
So if at all possible let this cup pass from me."
The consuming pain continues, I used to not know why.
It's because you love me enough, I'm the apple of your eye.
I was young and stupid and I cursed you for this trial.
Now I'm burnt and battle scarred, looking back over the miles. Thank you God for teaching me suffering, now turn it around to be used for others blessing.
By Steve Groff