Inspire, Summer 2001

(Alumni Profile: Stephanie Wilkinson Spangler '91 & Stacey Wilkinson Meidel'96) The Hope Eternal Stephanie Wilkinson Spangler '91 shares how herfamilyfaced the illness and loss ofa sister with cysticfibrosis. A s a Cedarville student I never thought I would take Dr. Dixon up on his lifelong offer—"If you ever have a need,call me collect." However,in May 2000 I found myselfin an intensive care waiting room,the phone to my ear, asking for prayers on my sister's behalf. Our story began 26 years ago, and God's strength and faithfulness have been tested and proven time and again. My sister, Stacey Wilkinson Meidel'96,was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at four months ofage.She entered Cedarville in the fall of 1991 with the goal ofobtaining a nursing degree. Four years turned into five as her health declined. Graduation was a great accomplishment even though she had to leave during the commencement address to endure a coughing spell. College life is difficult even for a healthy student,and it took a toll on my sister. Upon graduation, her health improved.She began a romance with a lifelong friend, Eric, and in 1998 they were married. Within 18 months,her health had declined and she became eligible for a double lung transplant. On April 27,2000 Stacey's home nurse urged her to go to the emergency room.She believed that Stacey was dying that day. Since our childhood,Stacey had spent time in and out of hospitals, so I didn't go to be with her every time. This time, however,God used a friend of mine to prompt me to go. For four years my husband,Shaun '90,and I had been involved in a small group in our local church,and I soon realized I was in that group for the support they would provide for me,Shaun,and our children during the days ahead. Stacey was transferred to Northwestern Hospital in Chicago. God allowed me to spend such sweet time with her. I would relieve our mom and Eric, as Stacey feared being alone in the hospital. She was very frightened when she felt she could not get sufficient oxygen. On May 12,I gave my sister what would be her last shower. What a privilege it was to wash her hair. On May 13,she was moved to intensive care. She was having pain taking breaths; a lack ofoxygen was making her somewhat incoherent. Once again,God let me have special time with her. I spent what would be her last conscious night with her. She could not sleep fearing what was happening to her. She knew what the numbers meant. She spent that last night turning around every few minutes to see where her oxygen level was. At midnight,God made Himself very real to me.As I huddled by Stacey's bedside struggling to stay awake,I suddenly felt a 20 Summer 2001 sense of unexplained attentiveness. I believe it was the Holy Spirit doing His work ofcomfort and counsel. I knew that I must stay awake for my sister, and suddenly I had no desire to sleep or even rest my tired eyes.By7a.m.the doctors encouraged me to call my parents and Eric. We needed to make some decisions. By noon on May 14—Mother's Day—the doctors gave Stacey the option to go on a respirator. Her body could rest if the machine did the work for her. Her only question was, "I may not get offof it, right?" Her doctors nodded and she said, "Do it." As she laid down,her last words were "I'm so sorry." Those who knew Stacey know that she never complained,not even then. God was blessing us, her family, by allowing her to make the decision herself. It would have been much more traumatic for us to have to do it during a resuscitation attempt. For the next ten days,our family was on an emotional roller coaster. During this time I phoned Dr.Dixon and asked for the prayers ofthe Cedarville family.In the midst ofour despair,God was choosing to use us. As we spent those days in the waiting room,we met others that were also in great turmoil. One day as we dealt with discouraging updates,a man approached my mother. He said he was sorry for our sorrow. My mother was able to use Stacey's Bible to share Christ with him.He accepted Jesus as his Savior there in the waiting room. The next day he returned with his wife and she,too,received Christ. Those events made the 10 days bearable and worthwhile. On May 23,the doctors said there was nothing more they could do. Eric made the decision that Wednesday,May 24—his birthday—would be the day Stacey would enter Heaven.Once again, God's goodness allowed our entire family to be in agreement.So we all gathered around her bedside.The doctors said she would probablyjust breathe one last breath. But,again, God chose to work.Stacey breathed on her own for 1 hour and 48 minutes. As we sat beside her, her doctors stood at the end of her bed.My mother went to each ofthem and said,"Stacey has been prepared for this day ever since she asked Jesus to be her Lord and Savior. Someday you will face death. You can know for sure that you will be in Heaven,too, if you ask Jesus to forgive you of your sin and be your Savior." As the hour passed, we began singing songs—Great is Thy Faithfulness, Soon and Very Soon, and Christ is All1Need. At 5:48 p.m. she took her last breath. Eric was holding her right hand; her daddy held her left. Eric said he was sure that as she took her last breath,Jesus took her hand and led her into the splendor of Heaven.What a great comfort to know that we have a hope eternal. We grieve differently than the world does.Jesus has taken the sting out of death. We continue loving and missing Stacey. God's strength upholds us during discouraging days. We know that soon we will see her smile again.I imagine when I arrive in heaven,she'll turn her head and,as ifI've been out of her sight forjust a moment,say, "Oh,there you are. I didn't see you."