When Living is Your Only Option

Rashida Selise

Rashida’s Video Story

Video by: Edward Wilson

Music by: Alex Banks II

 

“I came that they might have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10(ESV)

These are the words fitly spoken by Jesus to encourage us not to allow life’s challenges or our adversary’s attempts to throw us off course to shake us. Jesus reminds us with Him on our side we are promised abundant life. These are just a few of the comforting words that I held near and dear as I fought for my life after a brain aneurysm on April 26, 2012.

It was only ten days after having my beautiful son Ezekiel. Doctors found both fresh and aged blood on my brain and had to cut my head open to stop the bleed. As scary as it was, I can recall the Holy Spirit telling me not to go back to sleep the night I jumped out of my sleep because the pain was so intense.  My nurse said to me, “If you would have gone back to sleep, you would not have woken up.”  That was a scary thought. Thank God He speaks and I was able to hear him even amidst the pain!  My husband rushed me to the hospital at 6:00am and as I arrived, I could barely walk and my vision became very blurry. My blood pressure was through the roof and I was admitted immediately. I can remember the sharp pain in my head and behind my eyes as if it were yesterday. It felt like someone was pricking me with needles and hammering my skull, it was just excruciating.

After surgery, my family patiently waited to hear the outcome. The doctor seemed discouraged as he prepared to tell them the worse. He said, “She will be in a coma for a week at least, if she even wakes up at all.”  He also said, “If she does wake up, she will not be able to see or walk and possibly be paralyzed on her left side.”    But thank you Jesus the doctor didn’t have the final say!  The nurse came running into the waiting room just as the doctor was giving the news to my family, the AMAZING report that I woke up and pulled the tube out of my mouth, asking for apple juice, the very thing my husband gave me to drink before surgery.

Praise God!

I stayed in the hospital for a week and then I started therapy. I recall tears streaming down my face involuntarily, as I struggled to walk, talk and see again after being struck with a limp on my left side and peripheral cuts to both my eyes.

While all of that was pretty devastating, nothing was more difficult than regaining my confidence. I do not think there is anything more difficult than once being independent, and as a result of trauma, being unable to go back to that independence but instead having to become totally dependent on others. I cried many nights asking God what had I done wrong?  Why me?

It was hard and humbling to walk through this process. Thank God for an amazing family and friends. After finally regaining my sight and ability to ambulate without a walker or assistance, which miraculously happened in two week’s time, I was able to drive, play tennis and most of all, hold my son which was my biggest fear. The journey was rough but God is amazing!

He IS A HEALER!

I remember my sister telling me the story of how I prophesied myself off the operating table, as blood drained down the tubes in the back of my head.  I spoke that I would live and NOT die to declare God’s works.  She also shared how I prayed for every person who visited me, including the nursing staff and doctors. I cannot remember much of what happened, but I suppose I was positioned on purpose, so that God would be glorified. As an encourager, it was only natural to encourage those around me. Here I am 3 years later, walking, talking, running and playing with my 8 month old, India.

God is simply AMAZING!

I am not sure what you are faced with but I encourage you to trust God and His voice (John 10:27), know that He has a plan for your life (Jeremiah 29:11), get some good people around you (Mark 2:1-12), remember no matter where you are, He will use your life and circumstance for His Glory (John 9 1-3) and finally, know that our God IS A HEALER (Ps 30:2). I love you and I am praying for an amazing 2016!

About the Author ~ Rashida Selise

Mother, daughter, wife, sister and friend, Minister of the Gospel, writer, dancer, motivator and survivor, alive on purpose, and a serious Jesus Junkie!  Just a few words to describe who I am, what I am, why I am and whose I am. Truly honored to be apart of Our City on a Hill and look forward to being a catalyst to others living life MORE Abundantly!

 

Tags: healing, Our City On A Hill, Rashida Selise, testimony