Lindy Copeland

If I could summarize my brain injury in on word, it would be “miraculous,” because the truth is that by all measures of science and medicine, my chances of survival were nearly imposible. In fact, the only reason I received the CT scan that revealed my tumor is because my husband went to war on my behalf and demanded that an emergency room staff run it, saying we would “live in their lobby,” until hey did so. This scan revealed a grapefruit-sized tumor, which was the cause of my daily migraines for over 8 months–a symptom, which 3 other doctors had written off the product of post-partum hormones. by the time it was discovered, this tumor required emergency surgery. My mother called every hospital she could think of, requesting an appointment with neurologists, all of whom were booked solid, until 6 months later. The severity of my tumor and the pressure on my brain would have likely caused my death, before that time. Thankfully, two social connections were able to secure me an appointment with a neurosurgeon within two weeks time. After meeting with this doctor, he fast-tracked the scheduling for an emergency surgery. This initial surgery began well, but took a turn for the worse, when the intercranial pressure nearly caused me to bleed out. Praise God that the bleeding was contained and a large transfusion preserved my life!

This first surgery. helped to reveal that several more were needed in order to remove the tumor completely. The next several surgeries went according to plan, but I contracted a meningitis infection, which was very life-threatening and placed my chance of survival around 5%. As such, my entire faith community hit their knees in prayer and battled for my life by seeking God and asking Him for my healing. While the odds were absolutely against me, my condition began to improve anyway. doctors were stunned, as I continually made progress and was even approved for financial assistance that was initially denied. Because of this assistance, we were able to keep our home and weren’t rendered bankrupt by the medical bills for my surgeries and ICU stay. My meningitis infection, regarded as the most dangerous threat to my health, began to heal and there was now talk of me returning home for my first Mother’s Day with my then 1 year old son. Since my return home, my condition continues to improve and MRI scans are still cancer free, 4years, after my diagnosis. I’m so grateful to my medical team, my community and, most of all, my God, who sees poor odds as nothing more than an opportunity to show up for His kids and reveal that He is still a God of healing and the miraculous.