From Physician to Patient: The Journey That Redefined My Purpose
There are moments in life that divide everything into “before” and “after.”
For me, that moment came when I went from being a physician… to becoming a patient.
Up until that point, my life and career had been built on excellence, achievement, and service. I
had spent years training, leading, and caring for others. I understood medicine. I understood
systems. I understood what it meant to show up for patients.
Or at least, I thought I did.
But everything changed when I found myself on the other side of the diagnosis.
In that moment, I was no longer the one providing answers—I was the one searching for them.
No longer the one guiding others through uncertainty—I was the one walking through it.
And in that space, something profound happened.
I gained a perspective that no textbook, training, or title could ever give me.
The Perspective Shift
As physicians, we are trained to focus on outcomes, efficiency, and solutions. We are taught to
diagnose, treat, and move forward.
But as a patient, I experienced something entirely different.
I experienced vulnerability.
I experienced fear.
I experienced the emotional weight that so many patients carry—often silently.
And it was in that space that my understanding of healing began to expand.
Healing is not just physical.
It is emotional. It is spiritual. It is deeply personal.
That realization transformed not only how I see patients—but how I serve people.
When Purpose Is Revealed Through Pain
At the time, I didn’t understand why my journey had taken such an unexpected turn.
Like many people facing life-altering moments, I had questions.
Why is this happening? What does this mean? How do I move forward from here?
But over time, I began to see something I couldn’t see in the moment:
What I thought was loss… was actually alignment.
My experience didn’t take me away from my purpose—it clarified it.
It deepened my compassion. It strengthened my voice. It expanded my mission.
It allowed me to show up not just as a physician—but as someone who truly understands the
patient experience.
A New Way of Leading and Serving
Today, whether I am speaking to organizations, working in healthcare, or ministering to
individuals and communities around the world, I carry both perspectives with me.
The physician. And the patient.
That dual lens has shaped how I approach leadership, health equity, and human connection.
Because true impact doesn’t come from knowledge alone.
It comes from understanding. From empathy. From lived experience.
For Those in the Middle of Their Own “After”
If you are in a season right now where life doesn’t look the way you expected…
Where things feel uncertain, difficult, or unclear…
I want to encourage you with this:
You may not understand it right now.
But your story is not over.
Sometimes the very experiences that challenge us the most are the ones that prepare us for the
greatest impact.
What feels like disruption may actually be alignment.
What feels like loss may actually be purpose being revealed.
Closing Reflection
My journey from physician to patient didn’t take anything away from me.
It gave me something far greater:
Clarity of purpose.
And a deeper understanding of what it truly means to heal, to serve, and to lead.
God Sees the Hidden Woman: A Message of Hope for the Overlooked
Thousands of women gathered in Southeast Asia for the region’s second-largest women’s conference, and I had the humbling privilege of standing before them to deliver a message that has lived deep in my own spirit: God sees what the world often overlooks.
I didn’t come to that stage because I was strong and unshaken. I came as one who knows what it feels like to be invisible—through cancer, heart disease, divorce, and career loss. Yet in each of those hidden seasons, God showed me that what feels buried is often simply being planted for a greater purpose.
As Matthew 6:4 reminds us:
“Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
The God Who Sees
In Genesis 16, Hagar—mistreated and cast aside—fled into the desert, alone and pregnant. Yet scripture says: “The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert.” (Gen. 16:7)
God not only found her—He spoke life into her. He gave her a promise of descendants too numerous to count. In awe, Hagar named Him Jehovah El Roi—“The God who sees me.”
He is still the God who sees today. He sees the woman carrying water at sunrise. He sees the mother whispering prayers at midnight. He sees the daughter carrying burdens no one else notices. What is hidden from people is treasured by God.
Hidden Strength
Strength doesn’t always roar. Sometimes it’s silent. Sometimes it’s the kind of strength that shows up day after day, without applause or recognition.
Paul described it best: “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned.” (2 Cor. 4:8-9)
That is hidden strength. Strength rooted not in ourselves, but in the God who sustains us.
Buried or Planted?
Jesus taught: “Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single
seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” (John 12:24)
When you feel hidden, overlooked, or buried, remember: burial in God’s hands is planting. What looks like the end is often the beginning of transformation.
God Honors the Hidden Woman
I know this from my own journey. In my darkest seasons, when no one saw my pain, God did. He saw not just the strong Dr. Sheri people recognized, but also the weary, broken, and fearful
me. And in seeing me, He lifted me, healed me, and gave me a new assignment: to speak life into others.
What He did for me, He can and will do for you.
Walking It Out
- Believe you are never invisible to Him.
- Receive His strength and mercies every morning.
- Persevere in faith—your harvest is coming.
- Support One Another like Ruth and Naomi, standing together in love.
A Final Word
Hagar said: “I have seen the One who sees me.” And today, you can say the same.
You are seen.
You are valued.
You are honored by God.
And that truth will never change.
Revival Across Tanzania – 9 Days of Healing, Hope & Harvest
There are no words that can fully express what we witnessed over the course of nine unforgettable days in Tanzania. From Katoro to Mwanza to Kahama, we experienced the power and presence of God in ways that will forever mark our hearts.
As Global Medical Director, Chief Communications Officer, and the Voice of Rod & Staff Global Ministries, I had the honor of once again standing on sacred ground with a team of faithful servants—declaring the name of Jesus, ministering healing to the sick, and watching as the Lord poured out His Spirit in every city we touched.
One Nation, Many Miracles
In each location, the spiritual hunger was undeniable. People came from near and far—some walking long distances, others bringing loved ones in need of deliverance or healing. They didn’t come for a show. They came for a Savior.
The worship was unrestrained. The preaching was Spirit-led. And the atmosphere? Charged with faith.
We saw bodies healed, hearts restored, and souls rescued from darkness. What moved me most was not just the miracles—it was the unity of believers from different regions, gathered with one focus: Jesus.
Tanzania’s Cry Was Met by Heaven’s Response
In Katoro, revival rose from the dust. In Mwanza, chains were broken in the presence of thousands. And in Kahama, the Lord sealed the week with a fresh wind of glory.
It was not simply an event. It was a move of God—sustained, undeniable, and burning still in the hearts of everyone who attended.
I left Tanzania physically exhausted, but spiritually revived. The joy on the faces of those we served, the testimonies of transformation, and the prayers lifted in unison from region to region—they remain with me.
A Ministry of Healing and Witness
These are not just crusades. They are sacred assignments. They are moments where heaven kisses earth, and the Kingdom advances—not in theory, but in power.
As always, I’m deeply grateful to serve on the frontlines of this global mission. And to Tanzania: thank you for receiving us with open arms and open hearts. The fire has been lit, and I know God will continue the work He started.
To God be the glory for the things He has done.
#DrSheriOnMission | #Tanzania2025 | #HealingHopeFaith | #RodAndStaffGlobal | #KingdomAdvancement | #FaithInAction | #GlobalMinistry | #PurposeInMotion | #WomenInMinistry | #AfricaShallBeSaved | #SpiritLedService | #MedicalMissionsWithPurpose
Why Lymphedema Screening Must Become a Standard Part of Cancer Care
Cancer survivorship is about more than eradicating cancer cells—it’s about the life that comes afterward. For millions of survivors, that life is shadowed by a complication few are warned about: lymphedema.
After my own breast cancer treatment, I developed severe lymphedema in my dominant arm. The swelling and pain forced me to leave my clinical practice and reimagine every part of daily living—from the clothes I wear to how I cook.
In the latest issue of Oncology Times, I shared my story and the urgent call for standardized lymphedema screening. Tools like bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS), used in the SOZO device, can detect fluid changes before visible swelling starts. Early detection could spare countless survivors the irreversible challenges I now manage every day.
But this is also an equity issue. Black women are 3.5 times more likely to develop lymphedema than White women, yet many lack access to early screening and care. We must change this.
Survivorship should mean living fully—not simply surviving.
I hope you’ll read the article and join me in advocating for change.
[#CancerSurvivorship #LymphedemaAwareness #HealthEquity #LIVEtoday #PatientAdvocacy #OncologyTimes
A Holy Outpouring in Zambia – Empowering the Nations Crusade Recap
Lusaka, Zambia—a place already rich with spiritual fervor—became the epicenter of divine visitation during the Empowering the Nations Crusade, hosted by Rod & Staff Global Ministries. I had the tremendous honor of serving in my role as Global Medical Director, Ministry Spokesperson, and Voice of Rod & Staff, and I am still overwhelmed by the mighty move of God that unfolded over the course of three unforgettable nights.
Night One: When Heaven Met Earth
From the very first night, the hunger of the people ignited the atmosphere. The moment worship began, a wave of glory swept through the crowd. People cried out with passion, danced in the Spirit, and lifted their voices in a holy chorus. Healings took place before anyone laid hands. Chains were broken without invitation. It was raw, unfiltered, and entirely Spirit-led. The authentic fervor of the Zambian people set us on fire. We didn’t just witness revival—we were swept into it.
Night Two: Power Upon Power
The second night took us deeper. Miracles and testimonies multiplied. Salvations continued. And the Spirit of God hovered so tangibly, it was as though the very air pulsed with His presence. While our bodies were weary, our spirits were ignited. This was the kind of tired that comes from walking in divine purpose. What moved me deeply was watching the intergenerational hunger—from the young to the elderly, all were fully surrendered, fully expectant, and fully present.
Night Three: Fire Sealed in Glory
On the final night, it was clear we weren’t just in a crusade—we were standing in a moment of global prophetic fulfillment. News of the crusade had spread across national borders, and we were graced with the presence of delegates from Malawi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Kenya, all of whom were with us from Day One. That night, the atmosphere shifted. We weren’t just ministering; we were witnessing God gather the nations. There was unity. There was power. There was purpose. Zambia didn’t just receive the Word—they helped amplify it.
Reflections from the Mission Field
As I reflect on all we saw and experienced—thousands touched by the love of Christ, nations represented in worship, and healing flowing freely—I’m reminded that revival has no borders. When we show up in obedience, God shows up in power.
I’m humbled. I’m strengthened. And I’m more committed than ever to continue carrying healing, hope, and the gospel to the ends of the earth.
To God be all the glory. Zambia, you have left an eternal imprint on my heart.
Cracked But Called: A Life-Changing Message for Women Around the World
Thousands of women gathered in Southeast Asia this year, and I had the incredible honor of standing before them to deliver a message birthed from my own journey: God does His greatest work through broken vessels.
I didn’t stand on that stage because I had it all together. I stood there as someone who has walked through storms—cancer, heart disease, divorce, career loss—and yet, by God’s grace, discovered a deeper calling through every crack and every broken place.
As 2 Corinthians 4:7 reminds us:
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
We are fragile vessels, yet we carry an extraordinary treasure within us. Not because of our strength — but because of His.
When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008, it felt like the end. But through that pain, God began a new story. Even after developing a rare, life-threatening heart condition, even after my career in clinical medicine ended due to lymphedema, God’s grace became my strength. I learned firsthand that weakness does not disqualify you — it positions you for purpose.
Every crack, every loss, every detour led me to this moment — and to a message that I now carry around the world: You are not disqualified by your brokenness. You are called because of it.
And just like Esther in the Bible, who risked everything to fulfill her divine assignment, we too are living in a time that requires courage. We are here for such a time as this.
“And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” — Esther 4:14
If you’ve ever questioned your worth, your purpose, or your ability to lead from a place of brokenness — I invite you to watch this powerful moment from the Women’s Conference 2025.
It’s a testimony not just of survival, but of surrender. Not just of healing, but of hope.
Watch the video below and be reminded: Your cracks are the evidence of God’s calling.
Thank you to the thousands of women who opened their hearts and embraced the truth that brokenness is not the end of the story — it is the place where God’s glory shines brightest.
You, too, are here for such a time as this.
Choose Him — cracks and all.
