At aged 8 years the symptoms of a skin condition appeared – red, dry, itchy, cracking
patches which slowly increased in size and spread over 90% of my body including my scalp.
It was diagnosed as eczema and then psoriasis. I recall that we kids rubbing ointment on
red patches on my father’s back without having heard of a diagnosis. It was, however,
confined to his back. This pointed to a bloodline curse which needed to be broken.
Through the years I put my head on my mother’s lap while she lifted the scales off my scalp
with a comb and rubbed in coal tar in heb preparation. I remained an outpatient of the
provincial hospitals. At age 30+ my skin became severe and I was hospitalised on 2
occasions for a 2 week period each time for treatment with dithranol. I experienced relief
but flare ups followed.
My dress attire was conservative – closed necks, long sleeves and pants as people would
stare and not understand. My bodily movements were at times restrictive as my skin would
crack and bleed. I would respond to severe itching at night with scratching leading to
bleeding and rawness of the skin. Silvery scales scattered on my shoulders, falling hair,
painful arthritis in one finger, medical aid which did not recognise psoriasis as a chronic
condition, were all part of my humiliation.
The dermatologists at the time quite coarsely broke the news that there is no cure and that I
would have to live with it for the rest of my life. It was a very harsh sentence passed down
to a child with her whole life ahead of her. It was a psychologically numbing experience.
Though there were periods of relief, the threat of a flare up was always so intimidating.
It was the culmination of this psychologically and physically impairing experience of 25+
years long that I could no longer live with the sadness of this heart wrenching, debilitating
skin disease. A significant day dawned for me whereby I knelt in surrender to my Lord and
saviour Jesus Christ and told him that I could no longer live with the disease and the quality
of life it encompassed and I asked Him to heal me or take me eternally home. My footsteps
were ordered to PUVA treatment over a period of time. The psoriasis never returned except
for my nails and scalp as I did not regrettably shave my hair to expose it to the light
treatment.
Today I am still trusting the Lord for the complete healing of my nails and scalp and hair fall.
My nails remained pitted until during lockdown when I was boosting my immune system with
vitamin D3 & zinc that I witnessed my nails growing out healthy.
I do believe that when we come to the end of ourselves, the opportunity arises for the
supernatural to take place. My faith remains powerfully in place and prayer is my constant
companion. I am asked the question as to why I received a permanent healing with PUVA as
the norm is that psoriasis returns after a while. My answer is, the Lord chose to heal my
skin as I put my faith and trust in Him.
17.10.2022