BE INSPIRED! TESTIMONIES OF HOW GOD HEALED THESE PEOPLE OF CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASES. YOU ARE NEXT IN LINE!

God at work: Kidneys healed, life restored 

 

Amanda Falla. 

 

NAPERVILLE, Ill. – Amanda Falla believes that miracles are considered uncommon because people don’t share about them. But Falla cannot keep quiet. 

It was mid-June in 2012 when Falla was diagnosed with kidney failure. Falla remembers lying on a hospital bed in Armenia, Colombia, as her blood flowed from one arm to a white machine, about the size of a mini refrigerator, filtering waste before it returned from the machine to the other arm.   As a Mennonite Mission Network worker in Colombia, it was not uncommon to see Amanda Falla’s arms stretched out, reaching out to neighbors. But this time, Falla’s arms were reaching toward a cold, metal dialysis machine.

Amanda and Gamaliel Falla are seasoned church planters. They spent many years developing and sending church planters in the United States and along Colombia’s north coast. Because of their work, there are now five churches and church plants in the city of Barranquilla, and one each in Riohacha and Sahagún. The month that Amanda Falla was diagnosed, the couple had moved to Armenia, Colombia, with the plan to serve from a central location as coordinators of pastoral accompaniment with the Colombia Mennonite Church (IMCOL).

Falla’s diagnosis meant that her kidneys were not extracting the necessary fluid from her body. Her hands and feet were swollen, and fluid had entered her lungs. At that point, the doctors, Amanda, Gamaliel and their three children decided that Amanda should move to live with her children near Chicago. Falla would receive medical attention from specialists, as well as be near her three grandchildren, ages 16, 10 and two.

Amanda, accompanied by a doctor and their son, David, was transferred to Eduard Hospital in Naperville, Ill. Gamaliel soon followed.

“In moments of loneliness and emotional pain, the support of Mission Network in all aspects was very important. Phone calls, messages, economic help for the transfer to Chicago, the flexibility for me to be with her in Chicago, all served as inspiration,” said Gamaliel.

As citizens of the U.S., visas were not an issue for Amanda and Gamaliel. Even so, it was no small miracle that the Fallas were able to find a doctor who could assist in transferring Amanda so seamlessly to Chicago, only 15 minutes away from her children.

It was only when Amanda Falla arrived at the hospital, and was swarmed with a team of medics, did she realize that her life was at stake.  Yet in a sterile hospital environment and different culture, with an uncertain future, Falla continually reminded herself that she was in the hands of God.

When Falla was assigned to one of the many specialists in Chicago, another small miracle happened: the doctor was a fellow Colombian. This was another small reminder that she was in God’s hands.

Doctors discovered the cause behind Falla’s kidney failure–multiple myeloma, a dangerous form of cancer that starts in the bone marrow. Three times a week, for the next three months, Falla underwent chemotherapy. And each time she had treatment, Falla prayed for a miracle—if not for physical healing, then perhaps emotional healing. She also continued dialysis for her kidneys.

After three months of treatment, she faced a bone marrow transplant. “God, you have given us all of these resources,” Falla prayed during the transplant. “I’ll accept whatever happens.”

Following the bone marrow transplant, Falla was exhausted but in surprisingly good spirits. She didn’t feel the severe pain that often accompanies the operation—only a lack of appetite, another small miracle. 

“Her willingness to follow the doctors’ advice while praying to God for healing gave a strong testimony of being co-laborers with God:  doing our part and believing in God’s sovereignty,” said Linda Shelly, director of Latin America mission work with Mennonite Mission Network.

In the next weeks, Falla faced another bout of chemotherapy and an intestinal infection. She continued her mission work, exchanging prayers for her friends in Colombia, Chicago and Miami, as they prayed for her healing.

Throughout her recovery from the chemotherapy, Falla continued to believe that God would heal her. But even she was not prepared for the news she was about to hear.

When Falla heard the results of her latest biopsy, she learned that her cancer had gone into remission. “The Lord is good!” she said.

“I have faith that God will heal me,” she said, referring to her failing kidneys. However, Falla was told that if she wanted to have kidneys that operate properly, she would need to be connected to a dialysis machine for 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

 “With [everything we have gone through],” Gamaliel wrote in a prayer letter, “we always see God’s hand, [at work].”

After Falla’s bone marrow transplant, Falla had a follow-up visit to see how her kidneys were reacting to the transplant. When Falla heard the doctor’s next words, she knew beyond a doubt that God was in control.  

“Amanda,” he said. “Your kidneys are functioning as normal!” Falla didn’t need a kidney transplant, or even dialysis or medication.

The doctor told Falla that in his many year of professional practice, he had never seen a kidney recover fully.

Falla said she doesn’t have words to express how grateful she and her whole family and community are for her recovery. She’s uncertain why God chose to heal her, but she knows that God still has work for her to do.

Amanda stressed the importance of sharing the miracles that are experienced. “We don’t hear of miracles, because we’re too quiet about them!”

So what does Amanda Falla plan to do now? “Live for today, give glory to God and share about her miraculous healing,” she said.

  


A nurse at the medical unit of the Ministry of Defence, Kaduna, Nigeria, Cecilia narrated how she suffered excruciating pain due to kidney disease for three years. She said she couldn’t walk, stand up or do anything by herself. She was therefore constrained from going to work for four months. Due to the severity of the disease, the medical unit of the Defense Ministry couldn’t treat her and she was referred to Zaria in Kaduna, Nigeria for an operation which would cost N150,000. When it became obvious that she wasn’t able to raise the huge sum, a friend of hers advised her to go to The SCOAN. She obliged and was opportuned to receive the Anointing Water which she ministered after prayer and reading the Anointing Water Booklet. When she woke up the following morning, the persistent pain she had, vanished and she discovered that she was completely healed. She showed the congregation the first medical report which confirmed that she had kidney disease and the second, which showed that the disease had been completely healed. She advised people to always trust in God.