PRODUCED BY FAITH-STORIES.COM
By first appearances, you wouldn't know that Tim Simmons has had a health condition that not only nearly took his life but continues to be a very real threat.
"I had no idea even what was going on really. I woke up with bad headaches, really bad headaches. It felt like my head was going to explode every time my heart beat," said Tim.
He called his local hospital and described what was going on, the nurse on the other end of the line gave him immediate instructions.
"Luckily, an angel there who answered the phone said, 'if you have a headache like that go to Rochester, Mayo and nowhere else'," said Tim.
So he did and in 1994 this well-educated and successful engineer got the news that would change his life and the course of his future.
"They did a CT Scan and said, 'son, you have a brain tumor...we need to operate'. What had happened is this tumor acted like a cork. The fluid in your brain usually drains into your spinal column and it stopped that from happening, that's why I had the headaches. It was a very rare type of tumor called, cranial frengioma which was caused by a piece of fetal tissue getting caught in my head at one time, maybe a twin that was forming when I was in my mom. And it took 23 years to get big enough to stop the fluid from draining."
Within a year of being diagnosed, Tim underwent radiation. He got engaged and married Stephanie the following year. Both strong Christians, both knowing that the Lord had a very specific plan for their lives...albeit an uncertain future.
"I had faith. I've been a Christian basically all my life. I talk to God almost all the time. I had people all over the world praying for me," stated Tim.
"With Jesus at my side, literally I can say that that is the reason that we have come through. If anything, it has just strengthened my faith so much more and I have gotten to new levels with the Lord that I had never been at before and it has been so reassuring and so calming," said Tim's wife, Stephanie.
Over the course of seven years Tim underwent four surgeries and Stephanie gave birth to two sons.
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