Life is a tapestry woven with moments of joy and sorrow, triumph and struggle. For Donna, her story is one marked by profound loss and pain, yet also by an unwavering faith that carried her through. Her journey reminds us of the power of choice—the choice to cling to hope even when faced with life’s darkest moments.
Donna’s story begins with a heartbreak that many would find unimaginable. At just nine years old, she lost her fourteen-year-old sister to cancer. Even in the midst of such grief, Donna found solace in the belief that her sister was with Jesus in heaven. This early encounter with death sparked a deep and personal question: If I were to die today, would I be with Jesus? It was this very question that led Donna to embrace her faith fully, accepting Jesus as her Lord and Savior. Her baptism in 1956 marked the beginning of a lifelong journey rooted in trust and hope.
But life’s challenges did not stop there. Forty-three years later, on the very same day of her baptism, tragedy struck again when Donna’s 23-year-old son took his own life. Once more, she found herself grappling with the haunting question of “Why?” The weight of grief was suffocating, and with it came a painful sense of guilt—wondering if she had somehow failed him, if she had done enough to save him. Yet, through the gentle work of a prayer ministry, Donna experienced a profound healing. God revealed to her that Satan had been robbing her of her joy, planting lies that she was responsible for her son’s death.
In that moment of spiritual breakthrough, Donna reclaimed her joy. She recognized a vital truth: although she could not control what had happened, she had the power to choose how she would live from that day forward. She chose to hold fast to a God who is loving, trustworthy, and all-knowing—a God who would walk beside her even in the deepest valleys.
Just two years after her son’s death, Donna faced another formidable battle. Diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer, she underwent a double mastectomy followed by grueling rounds of chemotherapy and radiation. This season of illness was marked by physical suffering and emotional weariness. Yet, when Donna threw off her wig after her daughter’s wedding—a moment filled with symbolism and gratitude—it became a powerful declaration of thanksgiving to God. She praised Him for the gift of life and for sustaining her through the storm.
Years later, Donna’s journey would bring her yet another test—a brain aneurysm requiring surgery. Miraculously, six months after the procedure, doctors confirmed that the aneurysm was gone. For the next two years, and beyond, she has lived with a heart full of gratitude and a renewed purpose: to share the hope she has found in Jesus with others.
Throughout these trials—losing loved ones, battling cancer, facing life-threatening illness—Donna has encountered tears and sorrow. But what sets her story apart is the hope that never fades, rooted in a deep conviction that God works all things together for good and for His glory. This hope is not passive; it is a choice that anyone facing hardship can make.
When life brings hardship, we stand at a crossroads. We can sink into despair, trapped by self-pity and bitterness, or we can rise on the solid rock of faith. Donna chooses the latter—a path that leads to a grateful heart, even amid pain. As Psalm 40:2 reminds us, God lifts us from the miry clay and sets our feet upon a rock, establishing our steps with purpose and strength.
Donna’s story is beautifully echoed in the words of the song “Through It All” by Andrae Crouch, which has become her anthem of praise:
“I thank God for the mountains,
and I thank Him for the valleys,
I thank Him for the storms He brought me through.
For if I’d never had a problem,
I wouldn’t know God could solve them,
I’d never know what faith in God could do.”
Her testimony invites us all to reflect on our own trials and the choices we make in response. When faced with sorrow, may we find the courage to hold on to hope, to trust in a God who heals and restores, and to rejoice always—knowing that even in our darkest moments, we are not alone.
