Last fall, 74-year-old Jim Dines was feeling great. He was exercising, playing golf, and getting better acquainted with Lubbock, Texas. One day as he was hitting golf balls, he noticed he felt weaker and his swing was off. A few days later, he couldn’t raise his arms to his shoulders, and the symptoms began to worsen. He was in and out of the hospital and referred to rehabilitation numerous times before receiving a diagnosis – Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP), a condition that affects the nerves, causing weakness in the arms and legs. He pursued various treatment options, but the symptoms continued.

“I remember being in the hospital and not being able to eat or move anything on my body,” Jim says. “My wife, Nancy, and I made arrangements to meet with our pastor about funeral arrangements, and we talked with folks about hospice.” It was at this point that Jim received the option for a different treatment, extended plasma pheresis, which began to help him improve. After two months in the hospital, Jim was referred to Trustpoint Rehabilitation Hospital of Lubbock (TRHL) for specialized rehabilitative care.

“I received wonderful treatment and support,” Jim says. “Especially from Dr. John Norbury, Dr. Roger Wolcott, Dr. Bei Zhang, Kayla Fultz, Kara D’Alise, April Holsey, and numerous physical therapists and aides.”

When Jim left TRHL 10 days later, he was able to walk with a walker for extended distances and take care of his daily needs. “It felt great to see my improvements every day I was there,” he says.

Jim continued with outpatient therapy and now is able to walk on his own and perform challenging exercises. This past spring, he even played 18 holes of golf

“I was a bit limited,” he says, “but I’ll get better as I gain more strength and stamina. When I was recovering, I said all I wanted to do was hold our grandkids, and if possible, use a walker. Our Lord’s miracle far exceeded my expectations.”

Jim credits his recovery during those trying months to the support of his wife, family, friends, his faith, and many prayers that were sent his way.

“One quickly learns our Lord does not abandon us in times of troubles, but sends us angels who appear in many different ways,” Jim says.