My Testimony, My Story

Everyone's life is a story or a testimony. My story is a combination of countless blessings and unfortunate circumstances which have led me to who I have become. It's a challenging story about my faith in God and his power. We all have so much to be thankful for during the Christmas season, even during challenging times. Over the past few weeks, sharing my testimony has been weighing on my mind, and I couldnt think of a better time to be an encouragement for those who might be struggling with something in their life that they don't think they can overcome.

For most of my life, there was nothing for me to complain about and things had come fairly easy for me. I was and have always been blessed and my faith has carried me through. It wasn't until I turned 18 when my faith, my strength, and my will to overcome was tested more than I ever could have imagined or wanted. For those of you who are parents or who want to be parents, don't EVER underestimate the power you have on your children, both positive and negative. One of my biggest blessings is having the parents I have, and being thankful that they raised me with the faith I have today.

Finishing up my senior year of high school, I started having joint and muscle soreness that was abnormal compared to the typical sports aches and pains. No one really thought anything about this. After I graduated and prepared for my first year of college basketball, I sprained my ankle the summer before my freshman year. The sprain wasnt that serious, but it took nearly 3 months for me to make a full recovery...much longer than it should have. As the season went on, the joint pain and muscle soreness became worse, even with plenty of rest, as well as starting to have sleeping issues. At the end of the season, I saw a rheumatologist who did some blood work and found mild abnormal results, but related it to basketball. Even with the abnormal health issues, I was blessed to be an Academic All-American and an an honorable mention All-American guard.

The following season, because of my previous years accomplishments, I was a preseason 1st Team All-American. Definitely something I never truly imagined, but one of Gods blessings. Unfortunately, as my story goes, 10 minutes into the first game of the season I broke my wrist on my shooting hand. Outcome...gone for the rest of the season. Definitely a humbling and frustrating experience. Not what I had expected. What made the situation worse, is my body decided to heal slowly...again. I was casted for 10 weeks, back to basketball in 4 months, full recovery by about 8 months. Atypical for my specific injury.

During the next year, thankfully no serious injuries occurred, but my body began to shutdown. I struggled to make it through practice and my season turned into mostly playing games with limited practice. Nice you may think, but not when you slowly start to see your body breaking down. By the Grace of God, we had the best season in my community colleges history and were the only team to make the national tournament. I was blessed to be chosen an Academic All-American as well as being a 2nd Team All-American guard. I was then given a full-ride scholarship to San Jose State to finish school and basketball.

During my extended time staying in Arizona, I had the opportunity to become closer to my grandmother who lived close to my school. It also gave me the ability to help take care of her. I had opportunities to leave Arizona after high school for basketball, but those opportunities never seemed right. Looking back on the situation, it was in Gods plan to keep me in Arizona, succeed in school and basketball here, but most importantly, take care of my Gramdma. Unfortunately, things were about to take a change for the worst, both physically and mentally.

1 month after I started at San Jose State, I got a phone call from back home and was told that my grandmother I had spent the past 3 years taking care of had a massive stroke and was not going to survive. The doctors said that I would most likely not make it back in time to see her alive, but I said I was coming home immediately anyways and caught a flight early the next morning. By the time I made it home to see my grandma, she was still alive but unresponsive. I was able to tell her the significant impact she had made on my life one last time, and I was the last family member to see her. Shortly after we left, we got a phone call and the doctor said she took a few more breaths shortly after we left...I truly believe my grandmother fought to stay alive until I saw her.

Shortly after that, my own health really started to take a turn for the worst. During the end of the summer and beginning of the basketball season, I had lost 35 pounds in about 2 months and was struggling to function much less play basketball. As the months went on and the season progressed, my joint pain and muscle soreness became worse, I turned into an insomniac, and struggled to move. I went and saw a doctor who gave me a medication which basically gave me enough energy to make it though the rest of the season...unfortunately, it made me throw up and anxious most days of the week.

After the season ended, I was referred to a rheumatologist. This rheumatologist did more blood work and found more abnormal results but nothing conclusive. I was told to take it easy and come back if things got worse. Over the next several weeks, while not playing basketball, I became significantly worse. There was a 2 week period where it was near impossible to get out of bed. Walking to class made me exhausted, and I was sleeping almost 12-16 hours a day...and still felt exhausted. I had gained and lost 30 pounds 2 more times and felt hopeless. I was once an elite athlete and now felt like it was a struggle to survive. I went back to the rheumatologist again, ran more tests, but yet again... nothing conclusive. However, I was told that he had seen a few cases like this before and thought I had something similar to it. Outcome...I would be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life at age 28. Not what I expected to hear.

During this time, I still maintained my academics with no true understanding how. I decided to get a second opinion from a different doctor not associated with my previous doctor. I was still able to do most of what I wanted, but struggled doing pretty much everything. When I saw a new doctor, similar tests were done, but other more in depth tests were done as well. Conclusion? Doctored stated that he had seen a few cases like this and that he agreed with my previous doctor. I might be in a wheelchair by 28.

During this crazy year, I had never been more physically or mentally challenged in my life. At times I felt like giving up, and was both bitter and angry. The only thing that kept me going, was my girlfriend at the time and now wife Rosemary, and my belief in the power of our ultimate healer...Jesus Christ. My faith got me through this most challenging time and the Bible states that God never places more challenges in your life than you can handle...apparently God thinks I can handle A LOT, although I beg to differ sometimes. People kept telling me how unfair it was that someone my age who had so much going for him had to deal with this situation. Ultimately, God uses his children to show non-believers his true power. It took some time, but I realized that the person going through this should be me if I am a believer in Christ and want God to use me to show non-believers his almightly power and ability to heal...

When the next school year started, I had anticipated coming back for my senior year and finish my basketball career. Unfortunately, during the offseason, the coach I previously played for was let go, and the new coach was trying to phase me out. I finally had enough of this nonsense and talked with him. He told me that he was sorry, but he was not going to renew my basketball scholarship...my basketball career was over. It did not end on my terms, which was one of the hardest things to deal with. I was extremely angry and wondered why this would happen. He told me he would meet with me again to discuss my options for that year. I knew God had my best interests, but it was hard to see. When we met again, he told me that the university decided to put me on a non-playing basketball scholarship because of my dedication and commitment to the program. This meant that my scholarship was basically the same and I was still on the basketball team, but I was not able to play. God truly had a plan for me life. My health was still struggling, and I realized I would have been miserable trying to play another year. This was a huge blessing.

Because I transferred in from out of state, I lost 1 semester of classes. This meant I had to figure out how I was going to pay for my final semester after my scholarship was over. The athletic department encouraged me to apply for a 6th year scholarship, which is a scholarship funded by the NCAA to students who have had medical hardship and no longer have athletic eligibility, but who still need to finish their degree. Only 10-15% of students who apply are lucky enough to get this. Well, I wasn't lucky...instead I was blessed to get their scholarship. It was a full scholarship which was a continuation of my previous scholarship. What a blessing. However, 10 days before the semester started, I received a letter from the NCAA stating that I was losing half of my scholarship. They stated that they made a mistake, because in order to receive a full ride, you must have at least 12 credits...I only needed 11 to graduate. This meant that I would lose my housing and food portion of the scholarship, which was about $15,000. So, in about 1 week, I had to come up with $15,000...what was I going to do?

At the time, Rosemary was one of the assistant directors in the dorms. 3 days after we found out I lost part of my scholarship, she said one of their RAs randomly decided to quite, meaning there was an opening. 0% of me wanted to do it, but it could have been Gods answer to my problem. Often, God has given me things I dont want, but always seem to be perfect. So, I decided to interview and was blessed to get the position. However, they told me that because of budget cuts, they were not able to cover all expenses like they were before. They only things they could cover were housing and food...the exact 2 things that I lost in my scholarship. Talk about an unbelievable blessing and Gods timing.

It wasnt until about age 23 when I finally saw a doctor who truly made a difference in my life. Prior to this, I had contemplated dropping out of school and heading home because I wasn't getting any better and everyday was a struggle. However, I persevered under Gods guidance and went on my interview to Duke for my Doctorate of Physical Therapy interview the week after I thought about quiting. I continue to thank Jeff for introducing me to Dr. Lambert. The first day I saw her, she gave me medication that started to make a difference. She wasnt completely sure what was going on either, but was proactive in my healthcare and I know it was a true blessing. Prior to treatment from her, one doctor stated I should have a muscle biopsy done. She agreed, and stated it would give a better overall picture of my situation. Unfortunately, it really didnt tell her anything, but what it did do was cost me thousands of dollars and a 1 in piece of muscle about 1/4 in thick in my thigh. Yea...that felt great. After this she decided to start me on medications. Over the next year or so, I had tried nearly 15 medications, and was consistently taking 5 daily. Something no one should ever do, much less while in college in their early 20s. It allowed me to function better and exercise in small doses. They were baby steps, but at least they were steps.

I am thankful that I decided to go on my interview at Duke. A few days after my interview, I received a phone call and was told that Duke would like to accept me into their program as their first student. Duke was a childhood dream of mine that I never thought was possible. My getting into Duke was Gods sign to me that he had more for me than a lifetime of sickness. To date, this was an accomplishment of a lifetime.

Over the next several months, my health was still giving me problems, but I knew my limitations. When my program at Duke started, the stress and commitment to school definitely had an impact on my health but I was able to overcome. However, problems still arose. 2 weeks before my my first semester finals, I was in a car wreck and hit from behind, unfortunately fracturing a bone in my neck. The only thing I could think of was "here we go again." This set me back a little bit over the next few months making my symptoms worse. I consulated with a Dr at Duke who decided it be best that I go see a specialist in Dallas. Toward the beginning of the next semester, I flew to Dallas and went through countless numbers of blood tests and physical tests. But of course, everything came back somewhat abnormal, nothing conclusive, I spent thousands of more dollars, and had another piece of muscle taken from my other leg. I talked to the doctor who helped the most, and we decided I was going to slowly ween off my medicine and see how I felt.

Since 2008, after slowly getting off my medication, I have been medication free and have not felt this fantastic since I was 17. I have been blessed to graduate with my Doctorate in Physical Therapy, run a marathon, and have been given the opportunity to open my own clinic with the company I am currently with...all at age 28. Ironic that two doctors told me I would be in a wheelchair at 28 when age 28 was one of the best years of my life? No...thats the power of God.

For the past 1.5 years, things have been great yet a roller coaster of a ride. I had the opportunity to open a clinic while Rosemary had been applying for Physician Assistant school. We had been looking for a house in several locations, all in preparing for what God had next. Well, things didnt work out like we planned here in Arizona, but God blessed us by Rosemary being accepted to PA school in Atlanta, Georgia. We weren't sure what I was going to do, but the same school that Rosemary was going to had an orthopedic residency program. I had previously applied to other residencies and was accepted, but turned them down because the timing didn't work out as Rosemary getting into school was our top priority. Well, I applied to the program, and was the only one accepted. Both of our programs will start at the same time. What a blessing to prayers and a process that has been a long time coming.

Apparently, God has not tested me enough. 2 months ago, I started having pain in my left hip. It only bothered me with intense activities, but it slowly became worse. I decided to go see a doctor, and had problems with my hip...both of them. Because of the severity, that doctor referred me to another specialist. After I had met with him, he decided that I would need surgery ASAP as the problem could get worse rapidly. I was told that if I did not do the surgery soon, I would need a total hip in 3-5 years...I would barely be 35 years old if this were to happen. 1 week later, I went into surgery. The expected surgery time was 2 hours, based on what the X-ray, MRI, and CT scan had showed. Little did any of us how much damage there really was. My 2 hour surgery turned into nearly 6 hours, with a much more extensive surgery than anticipated.

After meeting with the doctor after my surgery, the doctor told me how bad it was, and that unfortunately, the right hip might be worse. Full recovery for my surgery is 1 year, meaning that surgery on my right hip will be done 1 year from now. For the next 2 years I will be limited in what I can do. To make matters worse, because of the severity of my problems, I was told that I can never run or perform any impact sports again. This was definitely something hard to hear.

It has now been 4 weeks, and I have had a lot of time to reflect. It has felt at times that many things have been taken away from me, and I don't understand exactly why. God has a special plan for me, and with my most recent health issues, I have realized that God has not shut a door in my life. Instead, God has opened up a road to things I might not ever have experienced had I not been hurt. I will get the privilege to experience other wonders of Gods world because of my limitations.

I don't know where my life will lead, but I know one thing. God has not and will never forsake his children. He only has our best interests in mind. Many times it's a struggle, but God has promised more than we can ever imagine.

I wrote my testimony to be an encouragement and to share my story of the power of God. I have only discussed a small amount of things that have happened in my life, but I know that God is always with me during good times, bad times, small things, big things, and everything in between.

To end, Id like to share famous words from a the speech of Jimmy Valvano...

"Don't give up...don't ever give up"

In Christs healing power,

Eric J. Bloom