Dr. John Kuta

Dr. John Kuta’s Remarks

West End Assembly of God - June, 2001

 

I am a radiologist at Henrico Doctors' Hospital.  My partners and I interpret the various X-ray studies, CAT scans and MRIs taken at the hospital.  I am an eyewitness to an amazing miracle of God, the healing of Vicki Qualls from cancer of the ovary.

I would like to paraphrase the beginning of the Gospel of Luke:  “Most honorable people of the West End Assembly of God: many have taken it into hand to tell the story of those things which have been fulfilled among us.  It seemed good to me also, having a first hand understanding of the things from early on, to tell you of the story so that you may know the certainty of those things of which you were told.”

I first met Vicki and Lowell Qualls in this sanctuary last September, and learned about her battle with cancer.  I told them to make sure to ask for me when she had her next X-Ray studies done.  Just a few days later, my technologists called me to come to the CT scanner to see some people who knew me.  I came back and saw Vicki and Lowell. Vicki was just about to have a CT scan to evaluate her ovarian cancer. We talked and then had a prayer together for Vicki's healing. We cited Isaiah 53:5 and 1 Peter 2:24 which state “By His stripes we are healed.”  By the stripes that Christ Jesus suffered on Calvary, we can claim physical and spiritual healing.

A short while later, I read her scan. Vicki's cancer had gotten bigger.  In June, 4 months earlier, it measured about the size of an egg.  It now measured slightly larger than a baseball.  The cancer invaded the nearby muscles and was immediately upon the main blood vessels.

The one bright spot of that day was when Lowell brought me a tape of a sermon Vicki had delivered at Trinity Assembly of God last July.  She spoke very openly and plainly about her cancer and her relationship with God and the strength and peace God had given to her.

Vicki returned for a repeat CAT scan in January.  The cancer had increased in size to that of a large cantaloupe.  However, there had been some changes in the tumor, it had a lot less solid tissue and a lot more fluid.  And the cancer now had a capsule which separated it from the muscle and blood vessels and was possibly removable.  These changes prompted Dr. Chip Jones to attempt to remove the mass.  The afternoon after the surgery, Dr. Jones came down to my reading room ecstatic.  He told me how he and the vascular surgeon had been able to separate the cancer from the muscles and vessels and remove the whole tumor intact.  It was the size and shape of a football.  He told me that there was an overwhelming feeling of awe among all the people in the operating room because it was obvious that a miracle had occurred.

A few days later, a further miracle was revealed.  The final pathology report of the tumor showed that the vast majority of the tumor was dead and the rim showed only a few dying cancer cells.  To use Vicki's words, the army of the cancer had turned upon itself and destroyed itself.  It truly was a miracle.

As a radiologist, it is my joy to help figure out the cause of someone's disease to help their physicians to treat them.  But healing is not in the hands of human physicians.  Physicians are one pathway for the healing hands of the Great Physician, Jehovah-Rapha, “The God who Heals You.”  God states in Exodus 15:26 “I am the LORD your God, and I cure your diseases.”  I am an eyewitness to an amazing work of God.  He is a God of miracles and healing.  We all must continue to expect the miracle of healing in our own lives.  Vicki's miracle is an example of God's love and power which gives all of us courage and hope.

Let me close with one bit of advice.  When you are sick, do not be afraid to ask your doctor to pray with you. Most likely, you will have to say the prayer.  But pray.  It will help you to put yourself in God's hands and it will help put your doctor in God's hands, too.  You, too, can be a wonderful witness of Jehovah-Rapha, The God who heals you.

Thank you and may God bless you and by the Stripes which Jesus suffered for you, be healed and made whole.