I believe that God is always with me. He always has been, and He always will be.

I’ve seen Him work miracles in my life that literally nobody- not even my own specialist doctors, who are world-renowned in Pulmonology and Cardiology- could explain away naturally (AKA scientifically). I’ve experienced many “coincidences” that weren’t mere “coincidences”, such as specific people/organizations reaching out to me and my family at exactly the right moment. I mean… how else did I get Dr. Francis Collins’ written permission to enroll in the phage therapy study that saved my life? 

Stuff like that doesn’t just happen, at least in my eyes. 

As such, I don’t view my run-in with the Goldwater Institute as a “mere coincidence”, either. Instead, I see it as an opportunity- given to me by God, Himself- to reach the very people that the vast majority of scientists and scientific communicators have failed to engage. That’s why I’m taking these things so damn seriously. I don’t want to screw it up (which includes running away from the cameras out of fear). 

Of course, I’m still scared shitless. I still don’t know what the hell I’m doing. This isn’t something I outright asked for. In fact, this isn’t something I ever asked for, especially since I’m such a private person. But, nevertheless, it’s an opportunity that God’s giving me to reach out to people like my beloved conservative relatives, but on a much broader (and scarier) scale. 

How, then, do I do it?

Again, that’s where my faith comes in. I believe that God has been guiding my path ever since I was born. Even during my “angry atheist” phase of life (which I was still in when I enrolled in the phage therapy study), God was still there, watching over me, guiding me and my family through stormy, uncharted waters, for reasons I cannot even begin to explain. 

God didn’t let me die, even when every doctor and scientist who glanced in my direction was convinced I would. For that reason, I carry a great deal of survivor’s guilt. However, that same survivor’s guilt is what’s motivating me to stick my neck out there. 

To be continued….