Christine Malinda Peart is a United States Air Force veteran and a retiree from the Department of Defense. All told, she dedicated 23 years of willing service to her country. However, it wasn’t until fourteen years ago that her life became challenging and scary. It started with repeated hospital visits for a respiratory infection. Months later, when that had cleared up, she was on vacation and began to experience severe muscle cramps. Within hours, she could not walk or move at all. After she spent two weeks in the hospital, her doctors diagnosed her with pseudomembranous Colitis, a condition where the large intestine swells due to an overgrowth of C difficile bacteria. She was expected to make a full recovery. Several weeks later, Christine’s symptoms returned, and she was back in the hospital, suffering, unable to walk, and unable to take care of herself. This condition lasted for a year. The doctors had no answers; they thought her paralysis was temporary. Christine traveled to her aunt’s home, where family members prayed for her and the pastor anointed her. As a result of those prayers, the lord led Christine to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. After a year of conducting numerous tests and examinations, the doctors there diagnosed her with an autoimmune disease called Polymyositis, with Antisynthetase Syndrome and Interstitial Lung Disease. They told her that she would have a shortened life span. Christine has lived with this disease for 14 years now, and she spends her time encouraging and educating others to live life in a positive way, no matter what illness or trial might arise. Two years ago, Christine’s biggest test of faith came when the doctors told her that her lung disease was progressing, and she would have to go on the lung transplant list. Christine, her husband Richard, and their family feared the worst. After much fervent prayer, Christine let go of the things she had no control over and accepted that God was in control. She says, “I realized the Bible was clear on how I needed to approach my illness. It instructed me to use eight fundamental principles to achieve optimum health: Rest, Exercise, Water, Sunlight, Air, Nutrition, Temperance, and Trust. I also needed to be obedient to His words, even though at times they were contrary to the plans that I had for myself.” Doctors are still scratching their heads and studying Christine’s blood, trying to understand how someone who is oxygen-dependent is able to do so much in life with such low lung capacity. Meanwhile, Christine (who goes by the name MalindaP.) has created a non-profit ministry called REFOCUSONU is a 501(c) (3)nonprofit organization to educate and motivate others who deal with health and life hiccups to turn those setbacks into victory. Christine’s faith has helped thousands of people realize that even after they have been diagnosed with an illness, they too can find happiness and success.
Login to view more
