I am so grateful for this opportunity to share Genea’s story. It has moved me and encouraged me tremendously and I hope it does the same for you as you read this. This is the first in a series of personal stories of how God is at work in this world and in our lives. These stories are not always tied up neatly with bows at the ends, but I hope the strands of faith, hope, and God’s love interwoven in these will encourage you in whatever you are facing.

-Alex

___________________________________________________________________________

“..I found myself where the Almighty had let me fall, and He picked me up and told me  ‘You can’t handle this on your own, and you will NEVER have to’….I KNOW with conviction, that everything WILL be okay no matter what the circumstances are. If God can lead you to it, He will lead you through it….your situation is NOT your final destination…” -Genea

____________________________________________________________________________

About Me:

I grew up in Charleston South Carolina all my life. And I’m one of two sisters. I don’t have any brothers biologically, but have a lot of adoptive ones. I’m a pretty sociable person. I can get along with just about anyone. I’m a Vibes kind of person. I can feel People’s Energy. Especially bad ones. I enjoy good conversation, and intellect is a big thing for me. I love music. I am a huge rhythm and blues fan. Especially the early 90s. As well as a hip hop fan of the 90s. I like jazz, and classical music as well. I love coffee, I also love making desserts. Especially brownies. I make some of the best you’ll ever eat. I have another dream of opening up my own bakery shop. I’ll call it: Demetra’s Decadence.

As far as my education goes, I graduated from Voorhees College in Denmark, South Carolina. I attended there from 1998 to 2003. I got my bachelor’s degree in Sociology. And that is where I fell in love with working with children. I have worked with children for the last 35 years. I have certifications and early childhood literacy, Behavior modifications , as well as CPR. After college, I moved to Florida with my best friend and her husband to Tyndall Air Force Base. There, I ran my own in-home child care business, before working at a few facilities. When I moved back home, I opened up Sugar Babies. That was my in-home child care business in South Carolina. I ran that for a good 15 years. Then some unforeseen circumstances happened, and I had to close. 

Which would bring me to my lymphedema situation.

My Story

I have had lymphedema since the age of 12. I continue to learn more about it everyday. I started seeing signs of it at the age of 12, and I know that it’s hereditary in my family. My grandmother, my mother, my two uncles, as well as two of my cousins also have it. Lymphedema is the condition where your lymph nodes get backed up with fluid. Usually in your lower extremities. You can also have it in your hands and your arms. It’s where your legs swell, as well as your hands. It is a progressive condition. You can also get it from cancer, childbirth, or car accidents.

I had been pretty functioning with mine. I was able to work, go to school, and walk for most of my life. Even at the heaviest. At my heaviest, My legs were probably 50 lb a piece. By God’s grace, I’ve never had a lot of breakouts, or Hospital stays. My mother, on the other hand, has.

Truly, this last three years have been my absolute hardest battle with my Lymphedema. I have really had to lean on my faith and spiritual relationship with God to help me through the hardships that I NEVER saw coming. The parts specifically where I would have to stop working, and when I was not able to walk. 

Not being able to walk was the hardest I have to say. It was almost like.. Being stripped of your whole independence. At least in my eyes in the beginning. I had always been able to come and go as I pleased, whenever I wanted, and now I found myself where the Almighty had let me fall, and He picked me up and told me…” You can’t handle this on your own, and you will NEVER have to.” 

From that day on, I surrendered myself to him in ALL things. Not just my Lymphedema… but every other aspect of my life as well. Whether it be family, friends, work, relationships or any other situations that may come up in my life. I ALWAYS come to Him first in prayer. Then I go on with life, and let the chips fall where they may. 

I KNOW with conviction, that everything WILL be okay no matter what the circumstances are. If God can lead you to it, He will lead you through it. Also, your situation is NOT your final destination. I have only lived almost half of my life

The way I see things, the best is yet to come.

I have always been an eternal optimist. I try to always see the glass as half full. Now that I have lived some life, and had some experiences, I know that you cannot drink from an empty cup. It’s about self love. (As well as God’s love.) You must love and take care of yourself, before you can take care of anyone else. 

I used to say that without faith, work is dead. Which I still believe, but now I also say, You take one step, God will always take two.

And ALWAYS pray. Pray consistently, and intentionally. Don’t just pray for what you want, or just when you get what you want. Always give God His praise, and never take things for granted. Just like you get things, they can just as easily be taken away.

I lean on my faith in God with everything that I have. I came into this world 4 months early, at 2lbs and 5oz.,born with hydrocephalus, and a VP shunt. I had five head surgeries by the time I was 12 years old, due to an infected VP Shunt. I had up to ten seizures a day by the end in 1992. It was definitely by a lot of prayer, as well as God’s grace, that I was healed. It was the roughest time in my life, as well as my mother’s and the rest of my family. To be honest, I don’t know if I would survive it now if I was still going through it. 

I know that God gives his strongest Warriors the biggest battles. And I have come out triumphant through many tribulations by his love, and being his child. I give all honor and praise to him. He, and the angels that He sends to help me along the way.  Of everyone else that supports me as well. And I am truly blessed. And I am at peace with everything. Of course I have my down days just as anyone. But that is the human part of me. 

We all are flawed, but made perfect in His image. I do the best I can, to have the best life, and be the best person I can.

Genea

Genea still struggles with the effects of lymphedema on an hourly and daily basis. This affects every element of her daily functioning and movement.

If you feel led to, please share how God used this story to encourage or inspire you. Genea can be reached at ebonechaton43@gmail.com