I have come to love this bold man of God, Pastor Steve Hickey
of Sioux Falls, South Dakota where he is the Pastor of Church at The Gate and a South Dakota State Legislator. Let us pray the healing of Jesus over Pastor Steve, in Jesus name, Amen!
HEALTH UPDATE FROM PASTOR STEVE
On Monday, I get a lung biopsy and they will keep me overnight. I’d appreciate your prayers and I’m told this is a routine procedure. But, here’s what’s going on. Shortness of breath and a dry cough for a couple years, and a trip to the ER in Greece last June… I’ve been diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. It’s the same thing my mom, her sister and brother all died of a few years ago. I’ll get my head around it, rise up in faith and win. I’m confident I won’t live one day less than God planned for me. The devil is a putz. God is life.
Some of you remember the drill my mom went through and it’s the path they want me on. They slow it down with a steroid. They put me on a lung transplant list at Mayo and then they just monitor it with annual breathing tests and CT scans. And they say I have to quit smoking tasty cigars but I’m praying for confirmation on that– Kristen says she already has confirmation that is of the Lord. (I’m joking, for those who don’t know my sense of humor.)
My diffusion rate is 67% and my lung capacity is 71%, each down 10% from when I had some tests at the University of Texas in 2009. After my mom died, her lung transplant doc and an IPF specialist flew me and my cousin to Texas to get a battery of tests done because it is very rare to find a family with three immediate family members dying of this disease in a short period of time. They were hoping to find a genetic link and identify some triggers that set it off (poultry, smoke, mold, dust, etc). People with the genetic link are 60% more likely to get it. No triggers were found conclusive and that’s why it’s called idiopathic, or no known cause. We have prayed specific prayers to break this off our family generationally. And we will continue to seek the Lord for breakthrough.
So, I’d appreciate your prayers!
Pastor Steve
Dear Steve and Kristen,
God is good and He does hear our prayers. As you know, Dick and I have walk this path and as a for runner, I want to offer our support and prayers. We want to see you both when you are up to it.
Most lovingly,
Mary