Thriving with Invisible Chronic Illness – Kimberli West
Joni and Friends Ministry Podcast
English - August 06, 2020 12:26 - 35 minutes - 32.7 MB - ★★★★★ - 224 ratingsChristianity Religion & Spirituality Education hope through hardship luke 14 inclusion joni and friends disability ministry special needs joni eareckson tada christian ministry disability ministry Homepage Download Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
“I used to say to God, ‘Why me? Why did this happen to me?’ as most people do, but now I have changed that to ‘Why did he choose this for my life to live out his purpose? Why am I special?’”
Kimberli West was young and always on the go until unexpected illness completely changed her life. After ignoring her subtle symptoms, Kimberli passed out at the emergency room where she was diagnosed with severe ulcerative colitis, inflammatory joint disease, and chronic anemia. But at barely 30 years old, what she thought could be easily controlled by medication led to nearly 20 surgeries and the fight of her life.
Today on the podcast, Crystal is talking with Kimberli about her health battles and life-altering hidden disability. After losing everything in her life that she had valued at the time of her diagnosis, Kimberli is learning to find joy in her suffering. Hear her powerful story and how she’s using her health challenges to bring attention to God’s sustaining power and provision in the midst of challenging chronic illness.
Questions or comments? Email Crystal at [email protected]
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*Joni and Friends was founded in 1979 by Joni Eareckson Tada who in a diving accident was left a quadriplegic at 17 years old. Ministry began as Tada, joined by friends around her kitchen table, responded to letters she received from people with disabilities in search of support. For more than 40 years, the ministry has grown to serve thousands of people impacted by disability worldwide: Joni and Friends has delivered more than 180,000 wheelchairs and Bibles through Wheels for the World and provided Christian care to 63,000 special needs family members through Family Retreats. The organization also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses through the Christian Institute on Disability. For more encouragement, download the Joni and Friends radio podcast in English or Spanish, and view inspirational videos on the Joni and Friends website.