Home / News & Publications / Michigan Catholic News / 2010 / My husband has taken 'in sickness and health' vow very seriously
My husband has taken 'in sickness and health' vow very seriously
by Kristen Pohutsky Special to The Michigan Catholic
Published February 26, 2010
Editor's note: Lent is a time we are called to conversion, to draw closer to God and deeper into His love. During these six weeks especially, we ask you to share your story.
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"I felt my connection to God grow as I rediscovered myself," writes Kristen Pohutsky, shown here with Mike on their wedding day. |
Last year, my fiancé, now husband, and I went through the Rite of Initiation at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Farmington. I was born Catholic but never confirmed, and Mike, my husband, was converting from being Lutheran. This gave us a chance as a couple to grow in faith together. This has strengthened our bond on many levels, and faith plays an integral role in our marriage today.
After the initiation, we found it difficult to make it to church every Sunday. I am a college student at a local community college, and like many students in their mid-20s, I did not attend church as often as I would like. I began to feel like my connection to my faith was waning. My personal life was in turmoil, I was not feeling well and I prayed for strength, but it just never seemed to come.
I was in and out of the hospital emergency rooms and doctor offices. I even had a dreadfully abrupt doctor tell me maybe I had a brain tumor, and I should just go home to wait. Angered and saddened by the situation, I stopped praying. I felt alone and deserted. After months of testing, I was finally diagnosed, on Sept. 17, 2009, with epilepsy.
Epilepsy is a condition that causes people to have seizures because of an "electrical misfire" in their brain.
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After getting my diagnoses, I did as much research as I could into epilepsy. I started to find the strength I had prayed for. I felt my connection to God grow as I rediscovered myself. I cannot drive, I cannot work at the moment, and I am dependent on my husband in so many ways. I am thankful everyday for Mike, who has taken our marriage vows of "in sickness and health" so seriously. I pray every day now and know I am not alone on many levels.
Some may look at this as a burden, but I firmly believe that God has given me this to help others. Last year, in November, which is Epilepsy Awareness Month, I got my story published in a local newspaper.
I felt completely alone when I was first diagnosed and I do not want anyone to ever feel that way. With the help of the Michigan Epilepsy Foundation, I want to make sure no one ever feels how I did.
This summer, at the Detroit Zoo, on June 12, I will be walking in the Summer Stroll for Epilepsy.
God has given me the strength to come forward and talk about my disability. Not a day goes by now that I do not pray. With medication not working, I am facing the possibility of brain surgery. I am not scared for the possible operation and I no longer feel alone. I have rediscovered my faith and it is the strongest it has ever been.
Kristen Pohutsky is a member of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, Farmington.
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