My Journey of Healing: A Testament to God's Faithfulness

“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” — Psalm 118:24 ESV

Introduction

In April 2025, my life changed forever. What began as two SCAD (Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection) heart attacks within a week, followed by emergency double bypass open-heart surgery, could have been the end of my story. Instead, by God’s incredible mercy and grace, it became the beginning of a new chapter — one filled with deeper faith, profound gratitude, and an unwavering testimony to His healing power.

As I write this now, five months later, I’m overwhelmed with thanksgiving for every breath, every heartbeat, and every step forward in this journey. This is my story of healing, hope, and the faithfulness of our God who declared over me in the ambulance, “Not today, Daughter” — His truth to cling to that day, and it wasn’t going to be my last breath here on this earth.

The Storm: When Life Changed Forever

It started with a vivid spiritual dream and the Lord dropping 1 Thessalonians 5:17 into my spirit: “Pray without ceasing,” first thing upon awaking. I didn’t know then that I would need those words just hours later when the first heart attack struck. In the ambulance, even as my heart was deprived of blood flow, there was no fear — only peace and constant prayer. Jesus was with me every moment.

Once I was in the ER, the artery had spontaneously reopened as quickly as the SCAD had originally closed it. I spent two nights in the ICU and a third in a regular hospital room, then was cleared to go home. A couple of nights later, a second, more severe SCAD STEMI heart attack occurred. God’s timing was perfect that morning — the doctors and surgeons were all ready and at the hospital. Emergency open-heart surgery became necessary — a double coronary artery bypass graft.

My medical team confirmed that survival in these circumstances was nothing short of miraculous. Every step of the process had to go perfectly — and by God’s grace, every single step did.

The Healing: God’s Faithfulness Day by Day

Coming home on Good Friday after nine days in the ICU felt like divine timing — the old was gone, the new had come (2 Corinthians 5:17). Those early weeks were filled with short walks, many naps, and learning to receive help — something God was teaching me as an act of humility, not weakness.

By week 5, I experienced my first day without a nap since coming home. Cardiac rehab began, and my body welcomed the gentle return to movement. At my 8-week follow-up, my echocardiogram showed an ejection fraction of 55 — in the healthy heart range.

Week 10 brought the beautiful milestone of being completely free from all remaining chest pain. By week 15, my husband and I celebrated our 30th anniversary with a trip to Pismo Beach, California.

Five months later, I’ve returned to painting. There’s something profound about creating beauty with my hands as another form of worship, bringing something new into the world that didn’t previously exist.

Lessons Learned

God taught me that asking for and receiving help isn’t weakness — it’s healthy, freeing, and biblical. Throughout this journey, He has arranged countless divine encounters. My husband Larry walked through this with unwavering faith, and our marriage took on even deeper meaning as we faced it together with Christ. The body of Christ has shown up in beautiful ways — through meals, prayers, visits, and countless acts of kindness.

The Bigger Picture

This journey has never been just about physical healing. It’s about God’s kingdom and His glory. Some are healed in this life, others join Him face to face, fully healed in eternity — but all according to His perfect will and divine plan. I’m humbled and grateful that God chose to give me more days, more breath, more opportunities to serve His kingdom.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” — Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV

To God alone be all the glory. He is faithful. He is the healer. He is not finished with any of our stories.

Blessing and Love, Amy