Story by Drea Frondorf • Laura McBryde Photography
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BARBARA MIMS
Barbara Mims has witnessed God’s miracles in her life since the beginning. She has had a
life of challenging health issues, but now she is living a vibrant and strong life of good health.
Her story began in 1959 when she was born with a hole in her heart. There were not
many surgical options available at that time, especially for babies with such a catastrophic
condition. She was given a death sentence early on, as doctors believed she wouldn’t live out
her teenage years. However, when she was 7 years old, she was able to have open heart surgery with a 50/50 chance of surviving. That was just the beginning of her lifetime of miracles!
Throughout her teen years and into adulthood, Barbara battled a drug addiction that
should have killed her. It began as simpl e pot smoking as a teen but escalated to frequent
use of intravenous drugs beginning in her early adult life. She knew it was her coping
mechanism resulting from several difficult life incidences she endured during her teen and
adult years (including the death of her daughter’s father before she was born). Barbara
was an avid addict and knew she was turning to drugs for comfort instead of God, but it
consumed her existence. At one moment in her addiction when she was 35 years old, she
actually “heard” God speak life over her, revealing that she must quit or she’d be dead within
six months. Barbara knew beyond a shadow of doubt that it was God saving her soul and
sparing her life. She quit cold turkey, which doctors said should have killed her. This was
another miracle that she does not take for granted. CONTINUED...
SHEMAGAZINE.COM
NOVEMBER 2015
133