My Esther in the Palace

When Esther married King Ahasurus, I’m sure she had no clue what purpose this union would bring. Here she was, a young Jewish woman in a foreign land and she became the queen of Persia.  Eventually, though, she understood why she was in the palace and it was so God could use her to save her people, the Jewish race.

At one point or another, we’ve all had an “Esther in the Palace.” Someone who God put in the perfect place, at the perfect time on our behalf.  I would like to pay tribute to my, “Esther.”

When my disease first began, I had an amazing rheumatologist who went above and beyond for me. My other specialists were a different story.  My hematological and immunological issues were a complete mystery and those doctors didn’t know how to treat me. Therefore, they chose not to.  My rheumatologist did his best to be my hematologist and immunologist as well, but I really needed those specialists. My parents and rheumatologist needed to begin thinking of a solution since it was crucial I had a hematologist and an immunologist.

My mom and dad were at a critical crossroads when it came to my care, but they were new to advocating for their child in the medical world.  They didn’t know how to push, where to push, or who to push.  Little did they know, there was an “Esther,” in the palace.

My uncle, James Compton, was a pharmaceutical representative in Marietta, Georgia.  My uncle, aunt, and their family had always lived in Georgia; that’s where their roots were.  So, when my uncle’s pharmaceutical company transferred him to Raleigh, North Carolina, the Georgia family didn’t understand what purpose this job transfer could possibly have, but my uncle and aunt’s purpose of moving to North Carolina was revealed in due time. 

One of the hospitals James routinely contacted was Duke University and the department specialty that he contacted was hematology. Over the next several months, my uncle shared my story with the hematologist who was his contact.  He told her how puzzling my case was and the dilemma my hematologist and immunologist had created for my parents and me. After a year of discussing my medical case with James, the specialist asked my uncle if my parents would consider bringing me to Duke for a visit to be seen by her and Duke’s immunology department.  Uncle James assured her that not only would my parents bring me there, but would move mountains to guarantee I received the absolute best medical care.

Before he could discuss this exciting news with my parents, his pharmaceutical company informed him he would be transferred back to Georgia.  This didn’t diminish the connection my uncle made with the Duke hematologist though. He decided immediately whenever my parents brought me to Duke, he would come to North Carolina to act as a liaison between my parents and the hematologist.

When he contacted my mom and dad to explained what transpired, my parents felt as if they had been thrown a lifeline.  This could be the solution they had been waiting and praying to receive.

           The first day at Duke, my parents saw very quickly this opportunity was an answer to their prayers.  The hematologists and immunologists at Duke were so caring and took an interest in my case my previous hematologist and immunologist didn’t.  During this visit, my sweet uncle was the exact encouragement my mom and dad needed.  The nature of his job allowed him to advise my parents in what ways to push and advocate for me.  His gentle demeanor calmed my parents’ hearts and minds, giving them clarity in the midst of a difficult situation. 

At the end of the visit with the specialists at Duke it was decided I couldn’t continue to be a patient at the current facility in Ohio where I was being seen and get the care I needed.  The hematologist at Duke knew of an excellent hematologist at Nationwide Children’s hospital she wanted me to see. While Nationwide Children’s didn’t have an immunology department at the time, the quality care I would receive from this hematologist would be more than enough for the time being.

God used my hematologist in a mighty way.  He never gave up on finding a treatment to which my body would respond. He turned my health around and while I was still fragile, I was stable.  A few years later, he shared the news that the hospital was finally getting an immunologist and he needed this specialist on my medical team.  Whenever he would begin at Children’s, I would be one of his first patients. 

As I began seeing the new immunologist, it was apparent that along with my hematologist, he was the exact addition I needed.  After several visits with my immunologist, he realized I had been seen at Duke University and revealed that’s where he had completed his fellowship program.  My mom then asked him what doctor he did his fellowship under and we were surprised to discover he was taught by the very immunologist I had seen at Duke.  Then the astonishing detail came to light that he was at Duke at the same exact time I visited the hospital.

About nine years after I began seeing my immunologist, he sent my case to the National Institute of Health, (NIH). My doctors at the NIH have told us multiple times how amazed they are that my physicians had no idea what disease they were treating and yet they did everything exactly right. 

          None of it would have been possible if God hadn’t put my uncle at the right place at the right time.  He was the key to unlocking the beginning of God’s plan for my medical journey.  If he hadn’t been sensitive to God’s guidance just as Esther had been, then my story would have been devastatingly different. 

Uncle James went to be with the Lord 15 years ago, but I’d like to think he’s had a glimpse of my life, and he knows the purpose and impact he had in it.  I have no doubt if he were here today he’d give me his famous grin, refusing to take the credit, but giving all of the glory to God.  May I never dwell on all of the “what if’s” in my life, but instead always thank God, He placed an “Esther in the Palace,” for me in the man of James Daniel Compton. 

"This Blog Post is Dedicated and In Loving Memory of James Daniel Compton"