Book Review: Rush of Heaven

As a nurse, I've seen a few miracles in my career. Kids that lived that should have died. A co-worker of mine had a son and it was looking like he'd developed leukemia on several different tests-- and then a follow-up blood sample before they were getting ready to discuss treatment was clear.

As a Christian, I do believe that miracles still happen. I believe the birth of a healthy baby is a daily miracle. If you study even a smidgen about fetal development and what all must fall in to place for a healthy baby to be born-- you'd be in awe.

However, I do think most other miracles are rare-- the kind where someone is miraculously healed of a devastating chronic illness or a life threatening disease.

Rush of Heaven is the true story of Ema McKinley and how she was healed of Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy or RSD. Ema developed RSD after a work-related accident where she hung upside down by her leg for several hours. One type of RSD can happen after traumatic injury and there becomes miscommunication between your peripheral and central nervous system as well as a heightened inflammatory response.

What happens in response to this injury can be muscle atrophy and tightening but the syndrome can extend beyond the injured extremity-- as it did in Ema's case-- leading her entire body to become significantly disfigured to the point where she was nearly bent all the time at a ninety degree angle.

Then one night, about eighteen years after her accident, Ema says she received a visit from Jesus and is cured of her RSD. She is healed to the point where she is no longer wheelchair bound and can actually stand up straight. She becomes independent again.

The story is very interesting and the pictures in the middle of the novel are, literally, worth a thousand words. It was very interesting as a nurse to read about all the difficulties Ema had navigating the healthcare system (payment issues complicated by a workman's comp case, a multitude of doctors-- some better than others).

One consistent theme I've noticed that runs through these health related miraculous healing stories is that these patients never "curse" God. All through their illness, they continue to speak their faith in bold ways. Imagine the impact that has on nonbelievers when you're so sick and continue to praise God with every breath-- and then can speak to the healing He provided you.

If you're interested in reading about miracles or even about RSD in particular, I think you'll love this book.

I was provided a free copy of this book to review. A positive review was not required.