By Jacqueline Williams
I’m Jacqueline Williams, born January 1, 1968, with my feet turned backward because of a drug called Thalidomide. My mother was given the medication during pregnancy to help with severe morning sickness. She never knew it would change the course of my life forever.
Doctors told my parents I would never live long or walk. But my parents refused to give up, and neither did God. At Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, doctors were able to turn my feet forward, but my journey was only beginning.
My childhood was spent in hospitals more than on playgrounds. I underwent 24 major surgeries and transitioned from a scooter to a wheelchair, then braces and crutches. Because of my constant medical care, I didn’t attend public school like most children. Instead, I attended Crippled Children’s Hospital School, where children with severe birth defects lived and learned together while receiving treatment.
The nurses became like family. They fed us, wheeled us to breakfast, and cared for us daily. Although I missed out on many “normal” childhood experiences, that environment taught me strength, endurance, and compassion.
Socially, life was difficult. I was often treated differently because of my appearance and physical limitations. I experienced rejection, abandonment, abuse, and manipulation. There were moments I questioned my worth and searched for love in unhealthy places, simply wanting to feel accepted.
But even in my lowest moments, God never left me.
Through every surgery, every painful recovery, and every emotional wound, He met me with strength and peace. When I felt overlooked, He reminded me that my life still had purpose. When doctors said I would never walk, God had the final word.
By sixth grade, I underwent my final surgery. One year later, doctors released me from braces and crutches, and for the first time, I walked on my own.
Today, at 57 years old, I still face physical challenges. I cannot bend my legs and must use my hands to lift myself from my bed or couch. Thalidomide also affected my heart. One valve required emergency surgery, and I still live with another murmur. Yet God continues to sustain me.
What is God teaching me now? He is teaching me that weakness does not cancel purpose. Even in limitations, His power is made perfect. Every scar carries a testimony. Every struggle has drawn me closer to Him.
I am not just a survivor — I am an overcomer.
I wasn’t supposed to live. But I did. I wasn’t supposed to walk. But I do. And every step I take is proof that God still performs miracles.
Jacqueline Williams is a devoted Watchman, intercessor, podcast host, and author with a passion for serving God and encouraging others through faith, prayer, and spiritual empowerment. She has been featured in CanvasRebel and Today’s Purpose Woman magazines. More information about “Overcomer” by Jacqueline Williams is available on Amazon.
