Accidents happen. Most think not to them. But a bad one happened to me-one that changed my life, as well as, my wife’s forever. My life is now dedicated, through the Holy Spirit, to those who suffer pain, chronic pain often caused by events outside their control. I am 51 years old and live in Goodyear Arizona, outside of Phoenix. I have been blessed with a wife, Angelina, of 20 years. I was born in Salt Lake City to a wonderful Christian home. I have an older brother who is a retired dentist and an older sister who is a librarian. My father is a retired physician who served in the US Air force and my mother returned to college when I entered high school and received a master’s degree in Spanish literature. I have had many jobs over the years especially in politics and as an ocular recovery technician. I am now the President and Founder of Red Ink Hope, a Christ based ministry, scripture focused, ministering to those who suffer with disabilities, especially chronic pain.
My severe, debilitating chronic pain, is the result of an eye injury in my right eye at age 13 caused by an icepick being used by myself to undo a knot. After ten years of living with a contact lens for that eye, I underwent a lens transplant. During the recovery I started seeing two images from the right eye alone. Three additional surgeries attempted to resolve the problem but resulted in seven images from that eye. The image problem caused increasing pain. In 2015 it was determined that the vision problem was untreatable along with the associated chronic pain, recently diagnosed as Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome with permanent nerve damage. The pain is extreme and daily and has not responded to medications or additional therapies, some experimental.
I first came to Christ in my freshman year of high school. The Holy Spirit softened my heart through a vibrant youth group at the local church. I continued to grow in my faith through college, participating in Campus Crusade for Christ and other ministries. I am directed by the Holy Spirit to give my life over to Christ.
In dealing with a severe life altering accident, I mourned my condition for ten years as the image problem and chronic pain worsened. Through the grace of God and the help of the Holy Spirit, I exited this period stronger in my faith in Christ and with a deeper love for God. Romans 5:3-5 “More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
Seeking hope, given by Christ, is a constant activity in my daily life. Throughout my twenty-four years with chronic pain, Christ has taught me to rely on His strength and forgiveness in every aspect of my life. 1 Corinthians 10:13 is a verse that helps me in my daily struggles with the pain: “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” My desire to stay busy and spread the word that God loves you and that one can survive chronic pain without medication.
Through Red Ink Hope, God has blessed me and my wife with a vehicle to share my story with others and to help see the workings of the power of Christ, in others, and myself while living the Christian life. My prayer is that through this life altering accident God has and will continue to bless my wife, the ministry and myself.