Prittle, Prattle, Pain, Prayer, Praise, Peace and Perfection

After seven years of enjoying a playful, mischievous, fun-filled life, Melany Wiggins was described as "the child who never let it rain on her parade." But the storm clouds came, turning into boisterous winds, shattering dreams. Like tornadoes, they struck relentlessly with unbelievable pain, again and again, for more than 30 years. Through these years, Melany never complained nor lost her zest for life, loving and being concerned about the needs of others, always thanking the Lord. She was taken to five leading teaching hospitals in America before finally being diagnosed with Behcet's Syndrome. She was in one local hospital more than 200 times. By the age of 12, she had lost her ability to walk. She had a colostomy and was on oxygen from age 15. By the time of her death at age 41, she had had half her stomach removed along with her large intestine and both legs above the knees. She spent the last three years of her life via a non-invasive respirator. Through it all, Melany persevered, graduating as valedictorian of her high-school class and attaining a Suma Cum Laude degree in Therapeutic Recreation after 9 years of college. This is her story -- and the story of a remarkable faith-filled family that surrounded her.