Forrest is my older brother by four years & my only sibling.

My brother was born with a congenital birth defect that is referred to as “intestinal mal-rotation”.  When my brother was formed in the womb, his intestines folded into his stomach improperly; tangled, pinched, and backwards essentially.  This caused him extreme pain his entire life in episodes my family called “attacks”.

Since he was born, my brother suffered debilitating attacks of stomach pain, where he would become violently ill and vomit for up to 4 days, writhing in pain.  The only thing doctor’s could do for him was give him an IV of the strongest pain medications they had.

This continued his entire life; we lived in a state of anxiety never knowing when or where it would happen, or what would trigger it.

It truly is impossible for me to write out the enormity of the situation; watching a loved one suffer immense pain is very very difficult.  I witnessed his cycle of illness my entire life.  We went to countless doctors and hospitals.  We prayed fervently for someone to have knowledge of what was wrong with him.  We prayed a lot.

Bizarrely enough, at the age of 30, in August 2011, my brother consulted a doctor for a hernia he developed.

When the doctor did a CT scan, he couldn’t believe what he saw.  He asked “Have you ever had stomach issues?”

After 30 years of tests, doctors, specialists, hospitals, pain, anxiety, and zero answers….this doctor uttered a solid diagnosis that would end up saving my brother’s life within months.

He told him that there is no known adult living with this defect, because it’s fatal.

Now days, when a baby is born with intestinal mal-rotation, they fix it as an infant.  It is a very difficult and risky surgery, but without it, death occurs.

The doctor said “If you are doing fine, you don’t want to have this surgery trust me, but if you end up sick, we’re going to have to fix it”.

Just having a diagnosis, finally, after 30 years was an answer to prayer, and since hearing there was a surgery that could fix it, we were relieved but also holding out breath at the same time because Forrest has never gone that long without an attack.

Three months after my brother was healed from his hernia surgery; he had an attack.

He landed in the emergency room but this time a new CT scan revealed that some parts of his intestines were now cut off from blood supply and rotting essentially.  He was in the worst pain he had ever been in, turning green, sweating and vomiting for 2 days at that point.  The doctor pulled my parents aside and said “You are going to lose your son today, unless we do emergency surgery right now”.

The chance of survival was 50/50.

The waiting room was torture.

But God had his hand on my family and my brother for 30 years.  He lead us to a doctor who finally helped us, and he lead us to him at the exact time my brother’s body was about to give out from this defect.

Then God sustained my brother through the surgery, and he lived through it.

The recovery is a six month recovery & beyond.  There are no guarantees because intestines are tricky to sort out, but now there is so much hope for a potential full recovery.  We continue to pray for his healing.  The doctor said he is doing remarkably well and we attribute it completely to God and the compassionate prayers of those who lifted Forrest up during this time.

Our faith in God and His provision has been our only life line when dealing with this illness.  The day of surgery, I told my mom in the waiting room, even if we lose him, he’ll be with God in heaven, with no pain ever again.  This faith we have that God holds our lives ultimately, is what gives us peace in such dark times.  Life is a very difficult, often dark journey.  We have clung to hope, that even if things were never right on earth, my brother would be in peace with God someday.

My heart aches deeply for families who have witnessed a loved one suffer, for any amount of time.  We have a profound compassion for those who have gone through things like this, and our understanding goes out to you.  It is compassion, prayers, and understanding that keeps you going in these struggles.

The prayers from our family, friends (that includes YOU my internet friend), have made a difference.

I am overwhelmed that my brother lives today.  I am overwhelmed by your compassion to pray for someone you have never seen or met.

Thank you from the deepest part of my heart for the love you have shown to my brother in your well wishes and in your prayers.

Forrest’s 14 inch long scar

A huge heartfelt thank you, dear friends, for your prayers.  My brother lived and it’s a miracle.  I’m so happy.

Oh my gosh, look at my eyebrows…LOL!!! Way too thin back in 2001.

Love you all,

Shannon