It is more than just movie stars who have to wear their sunglasses indoors...

Today, I'm feeling sick. It really can put a damper on your day, if you let it, when you don't feel well.

I always took for granted what it was like to be well until I was consistently sick. Over three years ago, I found out that I had a light sensitivity that triggered migraines which caused vertigo. What that meant was that any place with harsh, fluorescent lighting was not someplace I wanted to go because it could cause strong dizziness and feelings of nausea. These attacks would last anywhere from a few days to an entire week. Rainy days were rough because all those rain drops reflected light. The week of an ice storm kept me indoors, lying on my couch which felt like was on a spinning turn table. I didn't shop at Harris Teeter, going to the mall was overwhelming and ended in me feeling like I was going to faint (and I did a few times), and even 30 minutes of snorkeling in Hawaii ended up in me lying on a beach towel and watching paradise spin around me.

I always had that feeling of motion sickness but it got worse and worse after I graduated from college and was working in the restaurant. It got to be something that I couldn't ignore and completely changed my way of life. It took an MRI and four different specialists to finally diagnose me. That made my parents remember when I was in first grade they took me to a pediatric neurologist who said I had migraines.

I went on daily medication to control the pain but even that could only stem the tide. It actually made me more miserable to go most of the day in freedom and then have the medicine wear off, bringing all the symptoms crashing back over me.

About six months after being diagnosed, I went to a healing service. I refused to go up for prayer because I was tired of praying to get better. I told the Lord, "If you want me to go up there they are going to have to call me out." Then, the pastor said there was someone who had vertigo that the Lord wanted to heal. I went down but still thinking there are probably a few of us so it isn't special. However, I was the only one. I didn't feel healed after I was prayed for or in the following weeks. I felt better but there were still times I'd feel sick or dizzy. I didn't have the attacks any longer but I was still hesitant to say I was healed. I'd feel like a liar. My pastor told me to continue to claim it and believe. Every time I felt dizzy, I would feel guilty. I finally started to realize that I would feel waves nausea when I shared my story with people.

Three years later, I am not on daily medication and I don't need it. I have only had two attacks during that time. Once, when I decided to share my testimony on a mission trip to Brazil and I was sicker then than I ever was before. It was so bad I went back to my neurologist and got a stronger prescription than I'd ever had so I would not be sick during the 36 hours of travel time from RDU to Brazil. However, I quit taking the medicine while I was there and was fine on the return trip home. The last attack happened in a cab from Manhattan to JFK after a women's retreat six months later. That was over two years ago. Before that, I was having attacks back to back, at least one a week and it was long term. Even my neurologist was surprised at how long they would last.

So, praise the Lord that while I am feeling ill today, it isn't vertigo that I'm living with on a daily basis. It puts things into perspective to say, "God is my healer." I believe because He changed MY body. However, it is still easy to take for granted when you feel fabulous. Funny how even the miraculous can become obsolete if you let it.