“Mom, since you’re a zebra,” Rachel says tossing a zebra printed tank top in my direction. “You can wear this shirt to your doctor’s appointment today.”
“When you hear hoofbeats behind you, don’t expect to see a zebra.” Dr. Theodore Woodward
In the 1940’s Dr. Theodore Woodward coined the term “zebra” for any rare medical condition. He taught his University of Maryland medical students common conditions are commonly seen and not to expect to see a zebra. While exotic illnesses exist, these are highly unlikely and the simplest explanation is usually the best. However, rare conditions, like exotic zebras do exhibit. I am a zebra.
In February 2016, my neurologist diagnosed me with Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis, a rare neuromuscular “zebra” condition that causes episodes of paralysis or severe muscle weakness. These attacks occur suddenly with little warning and may last for hours or days.[1] Periodic Paralysis has a prevalence of 1 case per 100,000 population. [2] By the grace of God, multiple medications, physical therapy, and avoidance of triggers (which is not always possible) my attacks have lessened in duration and severity.
Dusting off the cobwebs in biochemistry, I’ve studied the Krebs cycle, action potentials, skeletal muscle movement, and dabbled in genetics. Taking a break from genetic mutations, I veered into zoology and began to study zebras.
Zebra fact: A zebra possess a unique stripe pattern similar to the unique fingerprint pattern in humans.
Zebra fact: Immediately after birth, the mother zebra will separate the foal from the herd for two or three days. During this time, the baby zebra studies the mother’s scent, the sound of her call, and memorizes the mother’s stripe pattern.[3]
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.” (Jeremiah 1:5, NIV)
Separated from the herd, my Heavenly Father set me apart for this season, to memorize His patterns, to examine His character traits, to recognize His voice over the chatter of the world, and to study His chronic presence in my periodic paralysis.
Staring down on at the zebra printed tank top; a familiar verse rises to the surface of my mind: “By His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5, NKJV).
Staring at the stripes Christ bore for me on the cross, I am thankful my medical zebra status, is only temporary. “By His stripes we are healed” for all eternity, and it is well with my soul.
~April Dawn White
*All Scripture is NIV and NKJV from Bible Gateway. *Images courtesy of Pixabay.
© 2016 April Dawn White, All rights reserved
Wow ! Such a thought provoking post. Thank you for sharing your story April. I suffered paralysis on my entire left side from a massive stroke. It will be six years ago Friday. I take medicine for the nerve pain but I am beyond thankful that God allows me to be able to read, write and enjoy posts like yours. It is because of those stripes, our bodies will be completely healed when we join Him in Heaven one day. Thanks for giving us a glimpse of your difficult and painful health issues. May God grant you grace and strength to you and yours!
Horace, six months has passed since I stepped away from my career as pharmacist. God is teaching me that sometimes His rest is forced as in “He makes me lie down (Psalm 23). I don’t know what God has up His holy sleeve for me and our family. God has allowed this time of forced rest for me to study the depth of His character. He is my Jehovah Jireh and a Good, Good Father.
April love, love, love your story and point of view on your unique Zebraness. I also suffer from a version of Periodic Paralysis. My flavor being Andersen Tawil Syndrome+. I suffer weakness and paralysis while levels are within normal levels. My body reacts just like some one with hypokalemic periodic paralysis. I do fairly well when my levels are in mid fives. I have never had a level that was considered low. I am looking forward to reading your blog my friend.
Hello fellow zebra! Karen, it’s comforting to know we are not alone on this rare journey. Confessions of a Zebra is the first post in a mini-series. More zebraness to come! Thanks for reading.
April, you are so precious. I remember being very taken with you when we met at Blue Ridge. I love the connection you made between the actual zebra’s stripes and “by His stripes we are healed.” It made me think of what you said about the mother zebra taking her baby away from the herd for a few days so her child would know her by her scent and recognize her by her stripes. Isn’t that just like the Lord???? Wow! Our seasons of struggle are opportunities for solitude with Him where we learn to recognize the sweet aroma of His Presence and we learn the essence of who He is. His stripes become our stripes. I love that 🙂
Thank you Nan for sharing your appreciation for the stripe connection. When Periodic Paralysis first hijacked by body, I remember thinking, “Jesus, your body was divinely perfect, how can you relate to me? You’re not a medical zebra.” Days perhaps weeks passed and the Holy Spirit whispered, “I too bore stripes.”
April, thanks for sharing your story and the lessons God is teaching you through this. I also read your blog post about having an identity crisis. That was really good, and a message we all need to hear. Our identity is not in what we do, but who we are in Him. Thanks so much for being authentic!
Crickett, thank you for taking a moment to stop by my little red chair. In the past eight months, my tidy secure world has been flipped upside down. Fall of 2015 I began to pray for a word for 2016. Knowing in advance the my faith would be tested, gave me the word TRUST. With each issue, I am finding new strength to trust Him in the transition.
I love how God uses Zebras to teach us things. They are such unique animals. I love the zebra fact that the mother takes her little one away for that one and one to know who she is in order to trust her. The exact same as our relationship with God. I hope you don’t mind if I share another zebra fact. But did you know that Zebras when they are in a herd that all their stripes together make them look like one big animal which keeps their prey away. It is the same with us as Christians especially Christian women and our tight emotional bonds. We need to stick together focusing on the attributes of God and who He is in order to be stronger than our enemy. isn’t that awesome? I am so glad that God uses Zebras to teach us things. visiting from coffee for your heart #20
Hi Kristina, were you reading my journals? 🙂 I’ve outlined Confessions of a Zebra to be a mini-series. The zebra fact you shared is part of future article! Thank you for visiting me from coffee fro your heart.
I love these parallels that God gave you! Thank you so much for sharing them. May God use this for the good in your life and others’. He already is!
Heather Bock
Thank you Heather, for pulling your chair next time mine and allowing me to share. If you were here I’m person, I’d be refilling your coffee mug.
What an awesome way to share your story. Maybe your book cover should be a zebra. 🙂 We are “set apart” because of the stripes Jesus took for us. Love the parallels. Love you, sweet friend!