How would you live if you were told you had two or three years to live? Would you live differently? Have other priorities?
Today, I am sharing about a sweet woman who faced these questions since the time she can remember. Her name is Sarah Manuel. She was a guest speaker on the Staying Strong Summit: Shining During Struggles. Her attitude is amazing, and her story testifies of God’s grace by His giving her extended life, and later, motherhood. Shall we dig in so you can be blessed by her example?
Born in northern California with a muscular dystrophy disease called Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Sarah’s parents were told she would more than likely not live past two years of age. Four tops. As a result, Sarah grew up with the knowledge she had an expiration date on her life.
God’s grace was the reason Sarah attributed every extra day of living. She wanted to make the most of every day. Seeing life from a wheelchair did not slow Sarah down. She tackled life with vim and vigor, not sitting on the outside, but joining in. She kept score for ball games and was the mascot for the cheerleading squad.
This disease was progressive in nature, but Sarah had enough strength to finish high school and pursue a degree. Her first job involved typing forty hours a week . . . a hardship for someone who could barely hold a one-pound weight. This fact eventually caught up with Sarah, so she began searching other options.
Facing a career change kicked off some soul searching to discover who she really was. Before then, Sarah didn’t view herself as disabled. It wasn’t part of her identity.
Her mind recalled her parents taking her to healing services with no manifestation of a total physical healing. In response, her good friend told her it was because God didn’t make mistakes.
Those words returned to Sarah’s mind with loudness, and clarity. She knew then, without a shadow of a doubt, she had a purpose. God had to have a purpose in her disability. He had allowed her to live all this extra time. She felt confident she wasn’t a mistake in any way, shape, or form. Sarah just had to discover that purpose. And, discover it, she did.
Sarah found her purpose when she became a school psychologist, working with disabled children of all ages. Her job is to help them accept their disability, and to embrace it, as well as to be an advocate for their families.
From this, Sarah also expanded her outreach by becoming a Life Purpose Coach. She now adds being an author as well. Her first children’s book was recently published, called, “Differences are Dynamite.”
Sarah might still be living with an expiration date, but God’s grace has given her a life that took her from ignoring her disability to advocating and influencing the disabled community so they, too, know they aren’t a mistake, and have a purpose for their life, but Sarah’s story doesn’t end there.
Motherhood
Living hasn’t been the only grace God has shown Sarah. She is happily married, but attempting to decide whether or not to have children was a serious consideration. Without, there might be regrets. With, life would be much fuller.
Knowing health risks were possible, they consulted multiple physicians. Half of the doctors felt pregnancy would be okay, while the other half didn’t.
After much prayer and discussion, her and her husband decided the regret of not knowing, outweighed trying. Pregnancy resulted quickly, and Sarah felt a complete peace.
The biggest concern, or caution would be Sarah’s lungs. Doctors ran many pulmonary function tests, and glory be to God, her lungs only got stronger. Another problem was Sarah’s veins had always been hard to find. Once pregnant, this was never an issue. Nurses usually stuck her the first time.
There wasn’t a day or night, Sarah ever questioned her decision to become a mother. The goal was to maintain pregnancy until thirty-two weeks so lungs would be developed. Wouldn’t you know God would perform another miracle. She carried her son to thirty-eight weeks, and worked up through thirty-five of them. Miracle? I say so. Sarah does too.
Sarah and her husband chose the name, Nathan, since it meant gift from God. So appropriate. He is currently ten and God’s grace continues to give Sarah life, motherhood, and purpose. If you want to learn more about her, you can find more information about her here. May each one of you reading this know you, too, aren’t a mistake. God has a purpose and plan for your life also. Walk in it.
Thank you for reading, sharing, and praying for this ministry, and Sarah’s.
If you desire to hear all of her testimony or 22 other overcomers of all types of struggles, grab your lifetime access to Staying Strong Summit: Shining During Struggles here.
© 2023, Jena Fellers. All rights reserved.
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