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08 October 2017

Toni Shiloh Interview -- Praying to Battle Sickle Cell

Author Toni Shiloh
Toni, welcome to Overcoming With God.  We appreciate your willingness to share your testimony of overcoming with our readers. 
Thank you so much for having me.

Would you tell us about the one of the most difficult things in your life you have had to overcome, with God’s help? Answer:  I’m so thankful for God’s love and the gift of prayer. It has seen me through many illnesses with my youngest son, who has sickle cell. He’s only seven but has been through a lot these few years. At almost two years of age he had his first spleen crisis where it swelled up, causing intense pain and dropping his blood count in the low anemia stage. (Since he has sickle cell, he’s always anemic.) He spent a few days in ICU, got pneumonia from the stay, and finally a blood transfusion to make him feel better. After that he had pain crises in his legs and arms. I’m talking about the kind of pain that needs morphine to manage it. He’s had multiple spleen issues that finally had the doctors decide to remove it at age 5. Fevers that go over 103 and earn a trip to the ER for IV antibiotics.

This past summer he was diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea. Since he really needs oxygen (low oxygen can cause a pain crisis and other sickle cell related issues) they decided to remove his tonsils in hopes it will correct the issue. So surgery number two under his belt and another hospital stay (he’s had one every year except for one year since he’s been alive).

Through it all, I’ve prayed. Prayed that God would heal him. Pray that my son would feel God’s presence and rest in Him. Pray that my son would pray to God on his own free will. And most importantly, others have prayed for us. I can’t tell you what it means to feel the Body at work, knowing countless people are praying for your child. It’s comforting beyond measure and fortifies my strength. And I know it’s prayer because I’d be a nervous wreck without it.

So as I sit in a hospital room with my son, I know we will overcome illness with prayer.

What passages in the Bible have been most helpful to you in those times? Philippians 4:6-7 is my go to verse. It reminds me to prayer with a grateful attitude and the beauty of the peace that follows.

What helped you get through or helped you cope with this difficulty? Prayer has always helped me. That and the love and prayer from friends and family. Knowing they are praying blesses me.

In this latest work, do you have any topics useful for bibliotherapy, or therapeutic influence through reading about a disorder or situation?  In Returning Home, Evan loses his leg and has to deal with the struggles that brings. He also has to decide if God will be the forefront in his life. I hope that his struggles will help readers trust in God and look to Him through all things.

BIO: Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and Christian fiction writer. Once she understood the powerful saving grace thanks to the love of Christ, she was moved to honor her Savior. She writes to bring Him glory and to learn more about His goodness.



Toni’s Links: 


Blurb for Returning Home
Jo Ellen Baker is shocked to find out that the boy who teased her mercilessly throughout high school, has returned to their hometown of Freedom Lake, and he’s missing a leg. When his mother asks her to renovate their carriage house to give him a place to gain his independence back, she wants to say no. But one look at him brings a rush of forgotten feelings.
Evan Carter can’t believe he has to return home and live with his parents. Every hope and dream he ever had dissipated in a car crash that cost him his leg. Stuck in a wheelchair, he’s forced to reexamine his relationship with God and the local carpenter, Jo Ellen Baker.

Will renovating his home open the door for a mended relationship, or are some wounds too deep to heal from?  

Question: Have you experienced the power of prayer?
Giveaway: Toni is offering an Ebook giveaway (in Mobi, Epub, or PDF format) to one of our readers.



32 comments:

  1. Toni, your young son has gone through so many struggles and much pain in his young life. It does put things in perspective, when we see other people dealing with powerful adversity. Yes, what would we do without prayer? We are so blessed to have God on our side, when things are going terribly wrong. I am praying God's blessings upon you and hope your son soon recovers from this latest illness. I'm looking forward to reading Returning Home.

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    1. Thank you so much, Kay. He ended up getting a bacterial infection from having his tonsils removed and we stayed in the hospital 8 days. But he was a trooper!

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  2. Toni, I am so very sorry your son has had to experience so much at his age. Praying for health for him and peace for all of you.

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  3. Toni, I hope the tonsillectomy helps your son with his sleep apnea. Getting enough oxygen and proper sleep is important. I can't imagine all that you have gone through. I know from experience how it is to be held up by the prayers of others. I'm glad you have an army of prayer warriors.
    *I have Toni's book already*

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    1. So am I! It's so comforting knowing people are praying.

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  4. I'm so sorry your son has to go through so much, especially at a young age. I will be praying for him. And you!
    My husband and I have been through a good bit with his mestastized renal cancer. We have been fighting this for 7 yrs. with treatments off and on, more on than off. But God has been so good because so far he's never had to quit work and still basically does anything he wants to do. If it wasn't for the prayers of our brothers and sisters in the Lord I know we wouldn't have made it this far. Most people don't live very long once cancer spreads. He's made it to yr #7

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    1. God is so good! Adding my prayers for you and your husband!

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    2. Thank you! God is good for sure!

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  5. Thank you Toni for sharing your story with us. I’ve experience so many answer prayers that it hard to name just one. I’m always blown away to think that the God of all creation not only hears my prayers but answers them as well.

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    1. Isn't it humbling? I'm in awe and so very grateful that He cares.

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  6. How scary to have to watch your son go through that! I'm so glad that you have such amazing support in your life! I know that it made all the difference in our family's life when my husband almost died in a work accident. I felt so surreally calm in the beginning, and I know that that wasn't me. I'm not a calm person. I could feel the prayers of friends, family, and even strangers. I was also blessed to receive a priesthood blessing while I was in the ER waiting room, and I could feel His Spirit there with us. I've had other prayers answered, and I'm so grateful for those faith-affirming experiences!

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    1. "I'm not a calm person." Yes!! That's how I feel Karen and why I know it's God's presence and the prayers of others that keep me steady in these times.

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  7. I have often wondered how people without Jesus in their lives go through crisis times and be at peace. I’m thankful that you know Gods hand on your life and your son’s life. Know that He will never leave you and is holding you with His righteous right hand.

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  8. Hi Toni,

    I will keep your son, you and yours in my prayers. Seeing your child suffer can be unbearable. You want to take that pain away and keep that child safe from all harm. God hears your prayers and is with your son and you. Some times the struggles are hard. God knows before we ask. I too had a son who had caught a rare virus which caused encephalitis. He was in a coma. Then came out with severe brain damage, sxi. He passed away at 15 months from a Grand-mal seizure. I love and miss him very much. I know he is in heaven and that he no longer suffers. Prayers and closeness with God helps us not just through the bad times but also during the good times. Your story can help so many. Thank you for sharing your story. Many Blessings are ahead for your son and you.

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    1. Wendy, I'm so sorry for your loss. I cannot even imagine how difficult that must have been and still is. Thank you for sharing your story. I pray God's comfort surrounds you.

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  9. Keeping your little man & all those who love him in prayer, Toni. Thanks for sharing your story with us.
    Trdivincenzo (at) gmail (dot) com

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  10. I will continue to pray for your son and you. I'm sorry he has to go through this.

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  11. Toni, thank you for sharing your heart. I continue to pray for your son and your whole family. Hugs.

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  12. Toni, thank you for sharing! May the Lord continue to under gird you and bring healing to your son soon. Blessings!

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  13. Toni, What a remarkable story of trusting God. I will be praying for your precious son. This book sounds marvelous. Thank you for the chance to win an eBook copy of it.

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  14. The Lord's grace and mercy, and prayer, were (still are) the cornerstone of our life for 28 1/2 years as we raised a daughter with profound mental and physical disabilities. Amy went home to be with the Lord five years ago and it's only through the power of the Holy Spirit and much prayer that we can say we feel like living again. So yes, the power of prayer...Praise God we have access to His throne any time, any place.

    May the Lord sustain you all as you travel this hard road for the glory of God!

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    1. I'm so sorry for your loss, Anne. I'm so glad you've been able to get comfort through prayer. Praying for you!

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  15. Thank you, Toni for your heart and transparency! Praying for you and knowing that God has you in the palm of his hand. Hugs!! I've never read your books, but my good friend, Vicky Sluiter talks highly of you.
    Blessings sweet one!

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    1. Thank you for your prayers, Sarah! Vicky is awesome. :) What a small world we live in.

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  16. Toni, thank you for sharing! Praying for your child, for his health and for you to be strong in faith! I've personally experienced the power of prayer numerous times and IT WORKS!
    Numbers 6:24-26 “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”

    Blessings in your writing ministry!
    kykla99(at)gmail(dot)com

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