Chronic health struggles can’t stop her
“In 2009, I was raising my kids. I was doing weddings. I was teaching group fitness. I was doing all this stuff, then my voice kept going out.
“I was a fitness instructor for 17 years. So I had a lot of vocal cord abuse. I would lose my voice for weeks, then it would come back. After a lot of testing, they decided it was from reflux. My esophageal sphincter was wide open. So everything was coming up, and it was burning my vocal cords.
“One of the top surgeons in Texas performed the surgery, and I had some bad side effects. I wasn’t able to swallow hardly anything. Even my saliva, I would start choking. It was absolutely horrific.
“Over time, things got a little better. My voice would come back. I started teaching again. Things seemed to be good. Then, all of a sudden, it deteriorated again. I needed a second surgery.
“I was feeling so bad. I didn’t want to eat. I still have issues. Eating is not fun for me. I can’t swallow normally. I’ve not eaten solid food since 2011. I’m on a very soft diet. When I do eat, it takes me a couple hours. Because as soon as I start ingesting something, I start having esophageal spasms. I have the same issues with drinking anything.
“So during the course of the day, I’m not eating or drinking. And people are asking, ‘How are you able to do anything?’ I say, ‘It’s God’s strength in me. He’s called me to do this.’ Because physically, it makes no sense.
“A couple years ago, I was diagnosed with Lupus. I think that everything I’ve struggled with kind of falls under that. But had it not been for all those struggles, this place would not be here. My illnesses kind of put me back into the Lord’s will for my life. I know without a doubt, this is what he created me to do.
“He’s surrounded me with an unbelievable army of family, friends, staff and volunteers to make this what it is today. Even though it’s hard — sometimes with my health, I’m really down for the count — this ministry is a dream come true.”
— Nikki Rincon
Nikki is executive director of Hearts and Hands of Baytown, a ministry of Iglesia Cristo Viene church.
Related:
