Don’t underestimate the power of hope

CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON

Note: Cindy Trane Christeson is taking a short sabbatical. Here is

her column from Nov. 6, 1999.

“What oxygen is to the lungs, such is hope for the meaning of

life.”

-- EMIL BRUNNER

“Never give up hope. There is always hope,” Barbara Bowie said to

me at a brunch that we both attended last spring.

When I first saw her that day, I did a double take.

The last time I had seen Barbara, she was in a wheelchair. The

time before that, she was using a cane. But at the brunch, it clearly

was Barbara, and she clearly was walking effortlessly. And she was

walking toward my husband Jon and me.

She came over and greeted us with a warm hug. She obviously saw

the surprise in my eyes.

“I know. I’ve gone from a wheelchair to the dance floor,” she said

with a big smile.

We only had a chance to speak briefly that day, so we talked more

at another time on the phone.

“I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 35 years ago by my

father,” Barbara said. “And I’ve been looking for some means to

reverse the effects ever since. I knew curing MS wasn’t possible, but

I had to do something.”

Barbara tried all the traditional forms of medicine, but she

continued to gradually lose mobility, to the point of needing to use

an electric wheelchair and a cane.

“I didn’t dress myself for years. I couldn’t even hold a coffee

cup. I was perfectly helpless,” she explained. “One thing God helped

me with was that I was never bitter. I always knew God had a plan. I

just didn’t know what it was, but I knew to pray.

“Someone suggested that I try a personal trainer. I figured I

might as well, since I’d tried everything else. I told the trainer I

wanted to learn to walk.”

Three years ago, Barbara started working out in a local gym, using

machines and resistance training equipment. Not only did her body get

stronger, her enthusiasm grew as well.

“My personal feeling about MS is that it can be as much a

crippling mental disease as much as a physically debilitating

disease,” she said.

Barbara’s prayer, persistence and positive attitude have paid off.

“It’s been a wonderful transformation. I just want to give people

hope,” she said.

Besides giving others hope, Barbara has also given people the

opportunity to work out in a new gym in Costa Mesa.

“My enthusiasm for this wonderful method of reversing the

crippling effects of MS led me to open up my own fitness center in

July,” she explained.

The center is for anyone who wants to exercise, but several of the

clients have MS and are improving.

“I get so excited about that,” Barbara said. “People call me from

all over the country, and I’ll talk as long as they want to, because

I know they’re as desperate as I was. I want them to know God has a

plan for their lives. I tell them not to give up. If I can do it,

others can too.”

It’s exciting to see how God has used Barbara’s experience to help

others. It’s also a great reminder that we should never underestimate

the power of hope.

And you can quote me on that.

* CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON is a Newport Beach resident who speaks

frequently to parenting groups. She may be reached via e-mail at

cindy@onthegrow.com or through the mail at 537 Newport Center Drive,

Box 505, Newport Beach, CA 92660.