By
Robyn H. Jimenez | SACOBSERVER.COM
WIRE SERVICES
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After several visits to specialists
and surgeries, Minister Virgie Lindsey finally found
the cause of her headaches and eye pain. She was suffering
from hyperosmia, a rare neurological condition causing
an extremely heightened sense of smell.
Photo Courtes of NNPA. |
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DALLAS (NNPA) -
There are fragrances and odors that for some people can be
overwhelming enough to cause nausea, sneezing or sometimes,
even mild headaches. But for Minister Virgie Lindsey, many
scents are overwhelming, often causing intense headaches and
eye pain. She suffers from a rare condition known as hyperosmia,
an extremely heightened sense of smell.
Before 1999, Lindsey did not seem
to have this disorder. But, by the end of the year, she began
to notice a change.
“At the end of 1999, I was
getting strong senses of smell,” said Lindsey. Scents
such as coffee and perfume were suddenly too strong. “It
would be overwhelming and just take my breath away.”
As time passed, her sense of smell
grew stronger and the symptoms became more intense. She began
to avoid many places because the scents would be too strong.
The disorder affected every aspect of her life. Even having
people in her home presented a challenge, after a while. She
said that even mild odors such as cigarette smoke on people
and sweat, especially on children after they had been playing,
were enough to trigger symptoms. It could even be odors that
most people don’t notice, such as a woman on her menstrual
cycle.
Instead of telling people that
these odors caused her intense pain, Lindsey tried covering
them. She began to spray air fresheners, light scented candles
and sprinkle odor neutralizers on the carpet in order to cover
up the odors and maybe prevent her severe symptoms. She went
as far as taking several daily baths to keep her own body
free of scents. Eventually, she was taking up to 10 a day.
However, she overused the deodorizers
until arsenic began to build up in her system and she had
to discontinue using them. The excess bathing was damaging
to her skin. But, in a desperate attempt to prevent her symptoms,
it had become a compulsion and she prayed that God would help
her stop the repetitive bathing. After regaining a normal
bathing schedule, she had to find other ways to live with
her condition.
Lindsey sought medical attention
for the disorder and received various unsuccessful treatments.
“It started with my tonsils,”
Lindsey explained that her doctor performed a tonsillectomy,
hoping the surgery would be the cure. But when it didn’t
work, she underwent another surgery. “They took all
my teeth in the back that had mercury, thinking that I had
mercury poisoning.”
Several tests and treatments later,
Lindsey was sent to the Texas Neurological Institute. She
remembers praying that there would be no more surgeries. During
her visit, the specialist spoke the words she prayed for,
“I think I know what it is.”
It was then that Lindsey received
the diagnosis of hyperosmia, a neurological disorder. The
specialist told her that her condition was the most severe
case that she had seen. And the recommended treatment, she
was told, was yet another surgery. Reassured by her new physician’s
confidence in the diagnosis, Lindsey agreed to the surgery.
Yet, however positive her physician
was, the diagnosis is surrounded by a bit of controversy.
As with most rare disorders, some of the country’s leading
medical researchers don’t agree on what it is and most
certainly, how to treat it.
In various clinical trials and
research documentation, it is described as a symptom of other
diseases that affect the brain or nasal cavity. But the disorder
is also present in mental illnesses. However, some experts
aren’t convinced that it’s present as a physical
disorder, alone.
Still, Lindsey feels that her
prayers have been answered and the surgery will relieve her
symptoms. The procedure will burn the olfactory bulbs in the
brain, eliminating the sense of smell. It will also remove
the sense of taste, since the two are connected.
“I’m praying that
God will work a miracle,” said Lindsey. “I won’t
be able to taste or smell. But it’s not like I’ve
never been able to. It’s overwhelming now, so that’s
totally fine, if it means being well.”
As with all brain surgeries, the
procedure will be costly.
After receiving e-mails from Dr.
Angela S. King, founder of Women Praying for Christ Ministries,
Inc., she replied, asking how King knew her. Lindsey soon
recalled listening to the ministry’s talk shows on BlogTalkRadio.com
and decided to call King. During the phone call, Lindsey revealed
her condition, the failed treatments and the new diagnosis.
They discussed the surgery and the lack of funds.
King prayed for her over the phone.
Before they hung up, she offered to do a concert to raise
money for the surgery. At the next WPFCM board meeting, King
discussed the benefit concert with the members and the plans
were soon put into action. The concert will be part of the
ministry’s annual Christmas Love Through Giving charity
event.
Lindsey also talked to King about
asking JAVEN, a gospel-recording artist, to be the featured
artist during the benefit. Lindsey found Javen Campbell, known
as JAVEN, on the talk show Web site, as well. With his fourth
national CD release, called Keeping the Faith, Lindsey believed
that the performer with a supporting roll in the 2010 film,
Preacher’s Kid, would be a great asset to the benefit.
JAVEN agreed to donate his talent
to the concert.
“I’m always trying
to be a part of something bigger than who I am,” said
JAVEN.
He says that he hopes the ministry will be able to raise enough
money to help Lindsey. But the concert will also be a time
to be renewed and refreshed.
However, JAVEN cancelled his appearance
on Wednesday morning.
King anticipated the Dec. 5 concert
to be a great opportunity to help those in need and bring
people closer to God. She and her ministry will feature local
artists, who had already agree to participate, including:
Carama, a hip-hop gospel artist; Margrette Cooper, an inspirational
gospel jazz artist; and Michael Guinn, a national spoken-word
artist.
“I know that souls are going
to be delivered. When the adversary fights with you like that,”
said King, describing the challenges that the ministry has
faced in promoting the event. “… You know souls
are going to be delivered. Somebody’s going to be set
free. It’s in the atmosphere, they’re going to
be able to let go and let God.”
The concert was held at Open Bible
Fellowship Church. It also benefitted the North Texas Food
Bank. Guests are asked to bring canned foods. Donations for
Lindsey’s surgery will be taken during the concert.
Donations can also be made at http://www.wpfcm.org or e-mail
info@womenpraying forchrist.org for more information.
This story comes special to NNPA from the Dallas Examiner.
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