When I was 12 years old, I began to have a lot of physical leg pain. I would wake in the middle of the night with a tingling sensation shooting down my left leg. Sometimes I would feel it in both legs. My mom and I slept together, because at the time, she rented a room for her, my brother, and I to live in. So if I was awake, everyone was awake. My mom did what she could in taking me to the doctor and following up with what they would tell her to. At one point I recall them giving me a knee brace. Nothing helped. About six months went by when my mom finally demanded an MRI.
Strangely, I remember the day I had that MRI. I was taken back to a room where a man put an IV in my arm to do contrast. They gave me headphones and asked me what I wanted to listen to. They laid me back and slid me into the machine. What felt like hours later, I was done. We went home and I know my mom was praying the Lord would provide answers for my unexplained pain. At the time, my mom would have claimed to be a catholic. More on that another time.
Days later, when the results were in, my mom received a phone call that the Dr. wanted to see my mom as soon as possible. I remember going there after she picked me up from school. The doctor sat on his round stool, scooted close to my mom and told her how sorry he was for having missed what was wrong with me. He told my mom it appeared I had a tumor along my spine, and his recommendation was for me to be seen at Rady children’s hospital in San Diego as soon as possible.
I remember leaving that appointment so beyond confused on why my mom was crying so much. What did this mean for me? I do specifically remember thinking it probably meant I could skip school for some more doctor appointments. I don’t recall the details on how all of that worked out but I was seen if not the next day, a few days later.
I remember parking in the parking garage at ready Children’s Hospital and my mom making mention to me that she called and asked my dad to join us for the appointment. Long story short, my parents did not get along at this time. At this time in my life, they did not speak to one another, unless in a court setting. The fact that he was here, made me think something was different. Something was unique for my mom to have called my dad. We walked up to the front of the hospital and my dad was there with my brother. We all walked in and checked me in, together. A miracle of God that we were all sitting in the same room, at this time in my life.
We were sent back to an exam room where we waited for the doctor. I don’t remember all the doctor told my parents but I do remember his final words. “If she was my daughter, I would not let her leave this hospital.”
So we waited. We waited what felt like hours for them to admit me. Once I was admitted, my dad and my brother left . I don’t recall all the details, which I think is the Lord guarding our mind and hearts, but I remember thinking how awesome it was to be out of school for that day and the next.
It was March 10, 2007. The hospital we were at was 34 miles from where we lived. My mom began the difficult journey of driving back and forth, while balancing home, work , and me in the hospital. As a mom of three now, I know it was only by Gods grace and strength my mom got through those days.
I spent my days in the hospital coloring, watching movies, visiting the children’s playroom, and sleeping. A couple days after being admitted I had a biopsy done of the tumor. I remember thinking how inconvenient this was for my “day in the life” of a teenage kid in the hospital, who felt totally normal, besides occasional leg pain. I came out of that procedure and thought “OUCH”. I had to lay flat for a certain amount of time post procedure and was so annoyed. The next day, a team of doctors came in and explained to my parents the tumor I had was benign, and they wanted to proceed with a surgery to remove the tumor. I now know of all the risks that came with , but at the time I only understood that I was going to undergo a surgery.
The morning of surgery I couldn’t eat. That was very annoying to 12 year old me. And then a young lady with a bright smile, blonde hair and soft voice came in and told me she would be staying with me until I was settled in the operating room. She let me pick a stuffed animal and I chose a small Dalmatian (I still have him, 20 years later, and he sleeps in my son’s bed). I said goodbye to my parents and was wheeled into the OR with this lady by my side. They placed an apparatus covering my nose and mouth and the lady with me told me to close my eyes and count sheep jumping over a fence. I don’t even know if I made it to two.
When I woke up my mom was by my side. Pain, nausea , confusion, so many emotions running through my head. I remember I asked to see my second oldest brother. As a mom now, I can’t imagine how much that hurt my mom’s feelings. Sorry mom! My brother walked in and asked me what food I was craving. I told him I wanted Chinese food. He cracked a joke about it.
Shortly after waking, I remember an x-ray technician came in with a very large machine to take an x ray of me. The nurses started moving me around and I shouted in agony and pain. I believe the story goes…my mom… plus a purse to someone’s body… equals her almost being removed from the premises. But you can ask her to tell you that story, if you know her.
On March 20, 2007 ,three days post op, I was ready to be sent home. Plot twist…we had no home. My mom had missed work, which turned into not being paid, which ultimately meant she could not make rent. We were evicted from where we lived. My mom made the decision to have me stay with my aunt and maternal grandmother to recover. My aunt lived 110 miles away in Muscoy, San Bernardino.
This is a brief synopsis of a story about me having a tumor found and removed from my back. God moved the chess pieces for the tumor to be found. God allowed for it to be benign. God provided modern medicine and great doctors to remove it. God held my mom up through every trial, tribulation and hard circumstances of that time. God ultimately used it all for His glory. As I share about it today, I know the Lord was at work. He held my mom and I up. This is how God saved my life, physically,… the first time.
SarahNakamura 