Help Pastor David Rathel on His Healing Journey to the Spero Clinic

Dear Friends and Family,

Our prayers have been answered. I finally have a diagnosis after years of increasing, unexplained, chronic nerve pain. Dr. Casey Leong, A new neurologic pain specialist at St. Francis Hospital gave me the answer we have all prayed for. He recently diagnosed me with Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome or CRPS. CRPS It is a progressive disease of the central nervous system that is causing the nerves of my body to become hyper-sensitive. It is called a “suicide disease” and produces the most pain a human being can experience according to the McGill clinical pain scale. It is extremely rare and most doctors either don’t know about it or don’t know how to diagnose it.

My pain started in my left foot and has gotten progressively worse every day for 15 years. I’ve described it in many different ways. “Stabbing with an ice pick, Burning with acid or fire, Being electrocuted, Clamped by a vice.” There is no cure for CRPS, so people who suffer from it have been treated and “mistreated” with powerful narcotics, other harmful drugs, and surgical implantation of electrical stimulators in their spine. That is not the route I have taken or believe God would want for me since these methods are temporary and can do much more harm than good.

I was always healthy and had lots of energy to serve the Lord. Starting a church from nothing takes more work than most other jobs, but I loved the work and It didn’t bother me. There was always stress and problems, but Jesus was there for me and my family. I used to cycle almost every day. It wasn’t a big deal for me to ride my bike 50 miles. One time I rode from my house into the next county down to the army post hospital and made it on time to visit and pray with a church member before his surgery. I felt so good back then. I traveled as much and as far as I wanted with my family and went on lots of mission trips. All that has changed now.

Some of you may not have not known about my struggle. I have done my best over the years to fight by faith and ignore the pain simply because it’s hard to explain something that, until now, didn’t even have a name. Ignoring it now has become impossible. I still have good days, but they are becoming less frequent and the pain has started spreading up my leg and causing other problems in my body. I have learned that In many cases the pain spreads throughout the entire body and can enter the digestive tract, other organs, and change the way the brain functions. Our church family has been very supportive but, as a spiritual leader, I am not able to give the ministry what it needs to thrive. My family is my biggest concern because each day there seems to be less of me to give them. It has been difficult, but I know with all my heart that it is God’s desire is to restore my health and ministry.

I Have Hope. Although there is no cure for CRPS, there is one clinic in Arkansas that now has an 84% success rate at bringing patients to a zero pain level and full remission. I have come to the conviction that this is the place for me to start my healing journey. I would have to relocate alone to Fayetteville, Arkansas for 3-4 months. My plan is to live inexpensively in a small camper / RV park near the clinic. Time is a factor for me because the disease has already started to spread. The clinic can take me as a patient as early as December. The treatment is cutting edge and not covered by insurance. It is also much more expensive than my family can afford right now.

God Wants Me To Ask For Help. I am asking for your immediate prayers and support to enable me to go to The Spero Clinic in Fayetteville, Arkansas. God has a plan to heal me there. I am sure of it. 100% of every dollar given through The Burning Limb Foundation will go to my treatment. I’m excited for you to go on this healing journey with me.

The Burning Limb Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit, your donation is tax-deductible.

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