It is true that the word “miracle” can be overused. However, there are many instances where there is simply no known reason or explanation for why a person survives a life-threatening situation. Where reason, logic and medical science fail to shed light, the Bible, God’s Word, declares that it is God who appoints and numbers our days. “Seeing his [man’s] days are determined, the number of his months are with Thee [God], Thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass” (Job 14:55Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass; (Job 14:5)).
Evie-Mae’s mother, Amy Geurts, had just received terrible news. When Evie was two months old, she got a really bad cold which had left her with extremely red eyes. When Amy took her to the doctor to see what could be done, she was told that Evie was blind! Evie had no visual responses to having a bright light shone into her eyes. This would prove to be the first of many visits to Bristol Children’s Hospital in Bristol, England.
Increasing Desperation
During the next few months, Amy noticed that baby Evie’s head was swelling. She wondered if Evie had a condition called hydrocephalus. This condition is caused by a buildup of fluid in the ventricles deep within the brain. Normally, this fluid flows down the spinal cord and also over the surface of the brain and is absorbed into the bloodstream. Normally, it is a continuous, steady cycle. But if there is a blockage or overproduction of this fluid, it just builds up, causing an unimaginable amount of pressure on the brain.
Amy knew of this condition because her brother had it. She made repeated visits to the doctors, expressing her concern that it could be hydrocephalus. As in many diseases, the sooner they are treated, the better the recovery can be. But doctors told her that no, it couldn’t possibly be hydrocephalus because Evie was a “smiley” baby. Finally, in desperation, the determined mother went to her brother’s neurosurgeon for a diagnosis. Not only was Evie’s head continuing to swell, but she was also pulling her hair out! Sure enough, the results came back — Evie did have hydrocephalus. By now, Evie was 8 months old and in desperate need of help.
Back at Children’s Hospital, with diagnosis in hand, Amy refused to leave until Evie was treated. The next day, doctors inserted a shunt (a thin, flexible tube) that ran from her brain to her bladder to reroute the fluid. Doctors told Amy that Evie “could have died” because of the tremendous pressure on her brain, which measured a whopping 32 and even higher! (Pressure in the brain should be zero, and a bad migraine measures a 5.) They also told her that Evie might never see, walk or talk because of the delay in her treatment. Doctors said that they could relieve the pressure, but the damage to her brain was already done.
Doctors in Shock
But over the next year, Evie slowly regained her vision. Then, at two, she began to walk and shortly after began to talk! Then, when she was five, the headaches returned. Doctors had to put in a new shunt, as the old one had become blocked, a normal occurrence for people who have to live with hydrocephalus.
Over a year later, the headaches returned. Thinking that the shunt was blocked again, doctors were stunned to discover that the headaches were caused by the shunt “splitting” the no-longer pressured ventricles! Evie did not need the shunt anymore, so it was removed. Her body had completely recovered from hydrocephalus, something that does not happen, as it is a condition that needs lifelong treatment.
Amy said, “The doctor couldn’t believe it — he thought we’d be in and out of [the] hospital every few years because the shunts kept blocking, but it turned out that somehow, she’d cured herself! He said he’d never seen it before and certainly didn’t expect to see it in her.”
Now, 7 years old, Evie has perfect vision without glasses, can walk and talk and is at the head of her class. “They can’t understand — she was globally delayed and now all of a sudden, she’s very forward.”
So Much To Be Thankful For
There is so much that doctors and scientists do not even yet understand about the human body. The Bible tells us that “I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are Thy works” (Psalm 139:1414I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. (Psalm 139:14)). The Bible also leaves no doubt as to who created us. “God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them” (Genesis 1:2727So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. (Genesis 1:27)). God created each of us to know Him, to worship Him and to obey and serve Him.
We need to be as diligent in seeking a relationship with God, our Maker, as Amy was in seeking help for her daughter. God promises, “Ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:1313And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)). This verse shows us that it is possible to have a relationship with God. God wants us to know that we are sinners and unable to be good enough on our own to enter into heaven to be with Him. “As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:1010As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: (Romans 3:10)). God wants us to know that after we die, we will one day stand before Him to be judged. “As it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27)). God also wants us to know that He loves us so much that He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins. He has paid the debt for our sins, but we need to repent of our sins and receive God’s forgiveness for Jesus’ sake. “In whom we have redemption through His [Jesus’] blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:1414In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: (Colossians 1:14)).
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