A digital apple tree stared back at me from my computer screen. One of those cheesy, interactive web graphics that people sometimes email around. Click on it and something\u2019s supposed to happen. \u201cThe Scripture Tree,\u201d this one was called.<\/p>\n
A church friend had forwarded it to me, with the best intentions. The internet was quickly becoming my lifeline, as each day it became harder to limp around on my bad right foot to visit friends, even go to church.<\/p>\n
I\u2019d barely made it to the doctor\u2019s office that morning. \u201cThere\u2019s one more surgery we can try,\u201d he told me. \u201cIt may be the last chance to save your foot, Barbara.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u2019d heard that before. I\u2019d broken my foot two years earlier, though I couldn\u2019t tell you how\u2013I have diabetic neuropathy, which means I have limited sensation in my feet. I\u2019d been walking on it for days before I even noticed the swelling.<\/p>\n
My doctor diagnosed me with Charcot Disease, progressive degeneration of the weight-bearing joint between my foot and ankle, requiring immediate surgery.<\/p>\n
That first procedure wasn\u2019t the end. I spent months recovering in a wheelchair, only to break my foot again as soon as I put pressure on it. Another surgery, another break. The third time around, the doctor suggested amputation\u2013a prosthesis would take getting used to, but I\u2019d be able to walk normally.<\/p>\n
Cut off my foot?<\/em> My blood ran cold. However, it seemed like the only option. Until this morning, and my doctor\u2019s last-ditch proposal. I\u2019d scheduled the operation.<\/p>\n Now, back at home, I recalled all the other surgeries, the endless cycle of recovery and agony. Was I just delaying the inevitable? Would I spend the next few months stuck at home, staring at digital trees instead of real ones, before finding out this surgery had failed too? I couldn\u2019t go through that again.<\/p>\n Trying to distract myself, I focused on the digital tree and clicked one of the apples. A line of scripture appeared. So that\u2019s what \u201cScripture Tree\u201d means.<\/em> I clicked another apple at random\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cFor the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken\u2013Proverbs, 3:26.\u201d<\/p>\n I wasn\u2019t sure if the computer froze or I did\u2026 but I couldn\u2019t click anymore. That verse was all I could see.<\/p>\n That week, I went into the operating room confident that everything would work out. Nine years later, I\u2019m still walking in good health, both feet planted firmly on the ground and in my faith.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A digital apple tree stared back at me from my computer screen. One of those cheesy, interactive web graphics that people sometimes email around. Click on it and something\u2019s supposed to happen. \u201cThe Scripture Tree,\u201d this one was called. A church friend had forwarded it to me, with the best intentions. The internet was quickly […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":61,"featured_media":29775,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[246],"tags":[189,72],"ppma_author":[918],"class_list":["post-22261","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-healing","tag-church","tag-stories-of-faith"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n