Here’s how God has shown up in Columbus, OH 43210.
In March 2009, Melissa Justice and her husband, Ray, were returning home from a cruise when she started feeling unusual chest pains.
“I was 31,” Melissa recalled. “You don’t expect aches and pains at that age. I thought maybe I was just tired.”
But the pain persisted. When she finally went to the doctor, an ultrasound revealed something shocking.
“He said, ‘Normal hearts beat like this,’” she gestured strongly, “and yours is barely doing this.”
Melissa’s heart was only functioning at 15% capacity. The diagnosis: Chronic Systolic Heart Failure, a severe condition where the heart cannot pump blood effectively. Her best hope for survival was a heart transplant.
Ray remembered the fear that hit them both.
“That knowledge that life may never be the same again—it was jarring.”
A Failing Heart
As months passed, Melissa’s heart weakened even more—dropping to just 7% function. She was transferred to The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center for advanced care.
Dr. Bill Perez, the hospital’s cardiac anesthesiologist, explained,
“That’s bad heart failure. It changes your whole life. Even when we keep patients alive, it’s not the same life.”
Each morning, Melissa and Ray would take an hour to grieve the life they were losing—then they would pray together.
“We’d say, ‘We’re going to make the best of this day we can,’” Melissa said.
In August, doctors implanted a heart pump to help her survive while waiting for a donor. Despite her faith, the pain was unbearable.
“I didn’t feel better,” Melissa said. “I remember thinking, ‘I can’t believe the human body can take this much pain.’ But I trusted that God was with me.”
The Waiting Season
By the end of 2009, Melissa was added to the heart transplant list—but she only had 30 days of top priority.
As her final day approached, she still hadn’t received a match. Then, on January 10, 2010—the last day of her eligibility—a donor heart became available.
Melissa was prepped for surgery that night.
“I wanted to honor God,” she said. “Whether I lived or died, I wanted to glorify Him either way.”
In the waiting room, Ray prayed with their family and friends.
“We prayed for strength, for peace—whatever the outcome would be.”
The Miracle Before Midnight
As Melissa was being prepared for surgery, Dr. Perez decided to run one final test before proceeding.
“I put the probe in,” he said. “And I saw a heart that was beating almost completely normally. It wasn’t weak anymore. She wasn’t on any drugs. The surgeon looked at me and said, ‘I can’t give her a heart that works better than this.’”
Ray remembered the moment he was told.
“When they said she didn’t get the transplant, I thought something went wrong. Then they said, ‘No, her heart is healed. God fixed it.’”
The next morning, Melissa’s surgeon came into her room and said,
“Melissa, we have no idea what made you sick—and no idea what made you better.”
Melissa smiled through tears.
“We knew. God healed my heart.”
A Decade of Gratitude
Months later, doctors removed the heart pump. More than a decade later, Melissa’s heart is still strong. She’s now a mother of two adopted boys and a living testimony of God’s healing power.
“It’s not quite 100%, but it’s my heart,” Melissa said. “Every morning I say, ‘Thank You, God, for healing my heart.’”
Dr. Perez added, “Seeing her 10 years later, living a normal life with her own heart—it’s a privilege.” Ray still marvels at what happened.
“We’ve read about miracles in the Bible. But to witness one firsthand… it changes everything.”
Melissa smiles, full of joy and gratitude. “I have a beautiful life, a very full life—and I have life. That’s the best part.”
🙏 From heart failure to divine healing, Melissa’s story reminds us that when science has no answers, God still does.
Have you seen God heal the impossible in your city or ZIP? Share your God Story today and inspire someone to keep believing.
📖 Originally shared by CBN. Reformatted here to strengthen faith within our community.