Latest / 307 Faithful / Finding Strength in Adversity.
Transcript
- Devin Davis: Welcome everybody to the 307 faithful podcast. This is your host, Devin Davis. We're back again this week. Just had a, a great, um, interview last week with the university of Wyoming wrestler, signs and kind of figuring out where he's going to go now that he's done with his eligibility as, a wrestler at UW and. David's become a great friend of mine. He's been a huddle leader at a FCA camp in Laramie for a couple of years. So I've, definitely grown to know him. his, ⁓ message was super encouraging, especially just listening to kind of the struggle he had in his senior season and how everything worked out just ⁓ God wanted it to. And so hope you enjoyed that one as well. So we're back today and, ⁓ I say this every single time, but I'm super excited for our, our guests today. And it's kind of a, an amazing story, how we were able to connect. but I'm going to introduce you first and tell you a little bit more about that later. our guests today, all the way from California is, ⁓ Carrie Elliott, Campbell Elliott. and for those of you who don't. Kari: E? Devin Davis: No, Carrie, Carrie's been out of school since 2016 is okay. So, ⁓ Carrie, is originally from Laramie, Wyoming. And, she, I think, ⁓ went to the university of Wisconsin for, for one year, right out of high school. She is a college diver. ⁓ And one year, she transferred back, to dive for the university of Wyoming. ⁓ And she's a really. Kari: 16. Devin Davis: ⁓ awesome story, about her life ⁓ the thing that God's worked in her and worked through her, ⁓ through some challenges, but Gary wasn't a college diver on the platform, believe if that's, if I'm okay. So, ⁓ it's kind of cool to have, have a diver here. ⁓ we have not have had a, a swimmer or a diver to share their story, but, ⁓ also Kari: Yeah. Yeah. Devin Davis: Just to make a, another connection here. Carrie is the daughter of a good friend of mine. So, um, in, grew up in Riverton, Wyoming, and one of my good friends was Casey Campbell and, uh, we played sports together. And, uh, if you're from Riverton, actually, if you're from Wyoming, you, probably know Casey Campbell. So, um, a lot of neat connections that, that we've been able to make. So, um, Carrie, I just want you to start off and, give us, ⁓ I guess a little brief you want to go, biography about yourself and where you're at. And, just a little background about that. And then we'll kind of start off with questions from there. So I'll turn it over to you. Kari: Sure, yeah. Like you said, I grew up in Laramie. Yeah, I had a really great childhood. I went to Laramie High School. I was a diver there. I did some track, played basketball. And yeah, I ended up getting a scholarship to go to University of Wisconsin and then transferred back to Wyoming, kind of begrudgingly, but the Lord definitely had. plans for me and I'm so grateful in the end that it ended up working out like that because being able to represent your home state is there's nothing quite like it. So yeah, I'm really grateful that I ended up there and obviously ended up in the right place that the Lord needed me to be and yeah, I ended up meeting my husband. He was a wrestler at Wyoming and so he was in fellowship Christian athletes as well and that's kind of how we met and then we Got married after college and moved to California where we have three little kids. Eight, seven, and four. Devin Davis: full life. So obviously the question that in my mind has always been, uh, well, a couple of things I want to point out just as far as, uh, Carrie's, uh, diving success at Wyoming. She placed 14th overall, uh, at the NCAA championships. Um, she was an honorable mention all American for her efforts on the platform. And she was only. Kari: Full life. Yes. Devin Davis: well, the first cowgirl to ever call qualify for the platform and just the fourth diver ever from the university of Wyoming. So, everybody's ⁓ and know in their mind, you're from Laramie, Wyoming. How do you become a diver? Kari: That's a great question. Yeah, I was a gymnast for 11 years growing up ⁓ actually my brother, my older brother was a gymnast as well for a long time. And then you kind of get to this point where like, you know, you're in a small town in Wyoming and if you want to go any farther in gymnastics, you kind of have to go to Colorado or make some other decisions. And my dad had this big conversation with us like. You can't put all your eggs in one basket. We're going to have to, you know, try something else. You're only in sixth grade. Let's try other things. And so my brother started in junior high. He was at lunch and the diving coach had come to lunch and kind of made a pitch. Like if you've ever been a gymnast or you can flip, like this is a great sport for you. And so he tried it first and really liked it. And actually My mom and I went to one of the practices to pick him up and he was kind of scared to do one of the dives. And I had my leotard on for gymnastics under my clothes and the coach goes, bet your sister could do it. And I got up there and did it and the rest is history. Devin Davis: ⁓ my gosh, that's too funny. So that's, ⁓ you just kind of naturally fit into that, right. And with your, with your gymnastics background, but the one thing, I talked to your dad the other day, ⁓ Wyoming didn't even have a platform. Diving, ⁓ diving platform, I guess did when you were growing up, is that right? Kari: That's right. Actually, it's kind of common. I mean, they're big, they're expensive. Not a lot of places have them. Wyoming definitely didn't have them. you still, like Division I, it's part of the competition. You know, when you go to conference and you go to NCAAs, it's part of the competition. So you have to learn how to do it. And so I had learned a couple of times at diving camp in Austin, Texas, over summer in like high school. So I had some experience and then when you get in college, you kind of go on training trips and you'll go for like a week and practice and kind of throw all your dives and learn a little list. And actually it really ended up liking the platform because it kind of, takes kind of the pressure off. There's not a lot of pressure. You kind of just go out there and do the best you can. And I thought that was fun. Devin Davis: Well, so, for all of us that don't know ⁓ would be about the height that you're, you're diving off, from the platform. Kari: So yeah, there's the 10 meter, which is the highest one. It's 33 feet. Devin Davis: Okay. So you say take all the pressure off. I disagree. The pressure would just be jumping off of the platform for me. So we used to go over. I, yeah. Hype is, uh, something that I, it's a little scary to me and probably some of us. So when I watch divers, uh, off that, the platform, I'm just like amazed at that. So what are the other, uh, Kari: Yeah Sure, that's what makes it fun. Devin Davis: Heights or what are the other diving events, ⁓ at the collegiate level. Kari: Yeah, so for division one, it's the platform which you can go off the five meter the seven meter or the ten meter and Then there's three meter springboard and one meter springboard Devin Davis: And did you, is that, did you just kind of naturally excel at the, at the platform? Did you like the other shorter ones or, ⁓ did you have, I mean, obviously ⁓ platform was your best event. Did you, how did you gravitate towards that? I guess. Kari: Yeah, I mean, you do all the events and it's pretty similar in the sense of like, you're doing similar dives on the springboard as you were doing on the platform. It's just the platform's like hard, right? And so you're doing it from standing versus doing it on a springy board. And I actually kind of liked it from standing better because it's more of just, I'm gonna jump as high as I can and flip as fast as I can versus being able to be in time with the board. Devin Davis: Mm-hmm. Right. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. And then, so to me, ⁓ you know, belly flop is my best move. ⁓ Did ever, ever, I I'm sure in your career, did you ever have any dive that just went bad? Kari: So I found the platform a little easier. many daily constantly ⁓ eyes concussions all the things ⁓ yeah it's part of it it's part of it for sure and that's kind of what makes it scary and hard but you know you just trust your training you do the best you can and try to set yourself up for success on each dive and sometimes they go bad Devin Davis: Did you really? ⁓ my gosh. Yeah. Yeah. One, one mishap and I would never be back. So, ⁓ that shows a lot of courage for you to, to, to keep going. So, and so then when you were done with ⁓ at the university of Wyoming, were you just kind of done or did you have any aspirations to go on from there? Kari: Yeah. ⁓ I kind of thought about it, but we had gotten engaged that same year that I was finishing up school and after NCAAs we got married a couple months later, so I was kind of ready to move forward. Devin Davis: Yeah. And, looking back at your Laramie and the University of Wyoming days, just, wondering about your connection with fellowship of Christian athletes and where that all started and how that went through college. Kari: Yeah, for sure. I, my parents are great. They gave us an awesome childhood, but we didn't grow up going to church. Yeah, I kind of just played sports and stuff instead. And that kind of took the place of God for me in my life. And it wasn't really until high school, like my sophomore year of high school, I had an injury to my back and had to take like a couple months off of sports. And that was obviously a big change for me because that's all I had done in my life is play a bunch of sports. And kind of where I found my self-worth was in being an athlete. And so that was kind of taken away. And obviously lot of my friends were in sports ⁓ they were busy after school and on the weekends and stuff. And so I started to spend time with some friends who weren't ⁓ sports. And God's grace, they turned out to all be Christians. And they started to ⁓ share the gospel with me that, you know, I was a sinner and I needed Christ to save me from that sin and he had come and my place on the cross. And ⁓ started to bring me to youth group and started to bring me to church with them. And I wanted to hear more. I just wanted to keep coming. And I had come, I had been going with them for a while. And finally, one of my friends kind of sat me down and challenged me of like, hey, you've been coming to all this stuff and we just kind of want to know where you're at. Like, what do you think about all this? And I was like, I think I believe this. Like, I want to follow Christ with my life. And ⁓ so he helped me like pray to God for the first time and yeah, kind of give my life to Christ really. And so that was about right after my senior year of high school. And so... ⁓ After that, when I got to college, I started attending fellowship of Christian athletes. I had met Erin and Stacey in high school briefly, to a couple FCA meetings in high school. And then, so I had some friends who were attending FCA. And I started going with them when I came back to University of Wyoming. And I some Christian teammates who started to encourage me and talk to me about Christ. I... I was really challenged in college to, you know, I had been saying like, I believe in Christ and like, I want to give my life to him, but I hadn't really opened the word for myself or like seen what's in there. I remember being at like FCA Bible studies and Stacey being like, yeah, you guys know the story of like Noah and the ark or whatever. And I'd be like, I don't know that story. You know, I didn't grow up hearing all this stuff. so I started to be challenged to open the Bible for myself. And so I spent the next couple of years like, Devin Davis: you Kari: going through a yearly reading plan and reading through the Bible and seeing what's in there. And the Lord grew me so much in that, in just having a foundation in the Word and knowing what it says and knowing what I believe. And I had a Christian coach my senior year who was ⁓ really in helping me see that how I had made Lord's a real idol of my life. And I think the Lord really started to show me that that year of like, I am like trying to control the outcome and I'm trying to place a lot of my self-worth on the outcome of what happens in the meats and stuff. And so he really helped me realize that ⁓ can work as hard as I want and I can be the best that I can be. And then the outcomes in the hands of the Lord. If he wants me to succeed, I'll succeed. And if he doesn't, he doesn't and that's not up to me and I can let go of that. That was really helpful for me. ⁓ Devin Davis: Yeah. Did, did, did that affect your, competition? mean, your confidence as, as, as you competed, because I think that's hard for a lot of times, for Christians, especially kind of new Christians to say, okay, this is what I believe, but how is that going to impact what I do? And so as a college diver, how did you allow that truth to change you were and how you competed? Kari: Mm-hmm. Yeah, I think a big way for me just like practically that that coach helped me is I would, so in diving you do your dive, you go in the water, you pop up and you get scores, right? So I would pop up, I would look at the scores and I would say, okay, I need this many points on my next dive to get in first or just really be like really involved in what's happening, trying to control that outcome. And he told me. When you come up out of the water, breathe, go back under and don't listen to the scores. Don't look at the scoreboard. You you're just gonna do the best dive you can do when you get up there and that's what it's gonna be. You're gonna do the best dive of the time and whatever happens at the end, we'll find out at the end. And that was really helpful for me in that because I could then look at the meet and go, I actually did pretty good dives. I don't know if the scores were the best, but I felt like I had a pretty good meet, comparatively to how I practice. Devin Davis: cool. Kari: And it ended up like really helping me, think, build confidence. And obviously I ended up that year going to NCAAs and having a great season. But even in that, I just felt so about the outcome of the meets. I felt like really secure who I was as an athlete, that doing my best was enough and not that I needed to get a certain place to feel content. or be okay. Devin Davis: Yeah, that's, that's, I mean, that's just that perfect example of, we say it all the time as Christians, especially as, Christian athletes or coaches, faith over fear. Right. I mean, that, that completely transformed who you were as, as a Wyoming diver, ⁓ and what you saw as success. that's, think that's kind of the, where the rubber meets the road really is being able to, make that transition to go in. Look, I'm going to give it my best shot and compete to the best of my ability and leave everything else in God's hands. And so that takes away a lot of that fear about, I did it meet this standard or this level, or I didn't place this high. ⁓ and so just examining or judging yourself based on God's standards rather, than the world standards, I think is, is kind of a tough thing to do, but You know, I just, that's, think a message that I hear from athletes that, that I interview over and over and over is like, know, when I've gave my life to Christ, ⁓ ⁓ completely changed the way that I saw competition and, and it wasn't to, please anyone else, but to, but to, to please the audience of one, we hear that term a lot. So, and that, I don't know, that just makes you a lot freer and in how you compete. And it sounds like you kind of felt that way too. Kari: For sure, for sure. And I think like as athlete in general, especially not a Christian athlete, like you, there's this like fear of weakness, I think. This like, I have to be like strong all the time and like get through everything and fix everything. so like being okay, not your best performance I think was a big. change for me in Christ of like, my whole world is not rocked when I'm not doing my best. Devin Davis: Yeah. Yeah. So that, that's an awesome testimony. And now I just want to plug back in. You're married to Jake and, and, you know, obviously you were at the university of Wyoming at the same time. How did you guys meet? and, you how did you get married? And, just that, that story behind all of that. Cause they all wrestlers, I don't know, they're kind of questionable characters most of the time. So. Kari: Yeah, yeah, for sure. So we, we met at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. They had like a bonfire in the year, ⁓ first year that I was there. And ⁓ kind of how we met, but we didn't start dating for a while after that. We kind of just had the same friends and started to talk more and ended up starting to date. And he really helped me because he had grown up in the church. And so, like I said, I was really new to the faith and just kind of trying to start to read the Bible for myself. And if anybody has done that, it's kind of intimidating, you know? You don't really know what to do or where to go. And so he was really starting to take his faith seriously. And so he helped me, like, answer questions and learn how to, like, read the Bible and point me towards, like, good understanding of what it's saying. And ⁓ I think that's really how we connected. was through a mutual love of the Lord. And so that kinda helped us grow and yeah, and then we, think we only dated for like seven months and then got engaged and we just knew we were ready to get married after my year. He still had a year left of wrestling. He did a red shirt year. So we were married. He did one more year wrestling and then yeah. Devin Davis: had looked ⁓ at, myself of kind of that, that group that he wrestled with. I'm a huge wrestling fan. And so just kind of looking at his team at that time. But for people who are we just talked to David signs last week, as I mentioned, and David's also from California wrestled in Southern California and went through the process of what it takes to be a California state champion. Since there's only one division there. And from what I saw, correct me if I'm wrong, Jake is a state champion for California. And that is incredible when you look at all the different steps that you have to go through, let alone just to make it to state. But once you're at state, there's a 40 man bracket. And so to be a state champion in California is pretty incredible. ⁓ he, Kari: He is. He is. Yep. Yeah. Yeah. Devin Davis: He was always a Christian. he, like, that influence him from his, you know, from your perspective, because you were married for a year. How did that impact him as a wrestler? Kari: Yeah, I think ⁓ his story is really, really cool. think, you know, he was like at the top of his game coming out of high school wrestling. And then in college, he started really successful and then didn't really see success after that. And I think that was a big struggle for him and hard for him to walk through. But the Lord was obviously using that in his life. And so, yeah, he I mean, he has a great story of just the Lord walking with him through disappointment and kind of not seeing the success that he wanted to see. But also a lot of other things were happening in his life too. So obviously getting married and so the Lord ⁓ good still through it all, but he definitely was, I think having a harder time athletically at that time. Devin Davis: Yep. Right. Yeah. I mean, not every athlete is going to be successful. mean, in, and so that's, that's definitely important. And, so now what does Jake do? Kari: Nope. He's a sheriff, County Sheriff. Yeah, that's why we're in California. Yeah. Devin Davis: wow. So he, okay. ⁓ and I just want to make sure ⁓ have three boys. said. Kari: We have three boys. Yes. Devin Davis: And they're all wrestling, Kari: The older two are, yes. Devin Davis: Okay. I'm just kidding. I like wrestlers are crazy when they become dads, you know, it's so, yeah. and that's awesome. So you've been married now for how long? Kari: ⁓ yeah, he's coaching, they're wrestling, they're loving it. Ten years. Yes. Devin Davis: Wow. and you know, going back to FCA at the college level, have, in June, since you've graduated, we ⁓ have camp, at the university of Wyoming. And so we kind of separated with Black Hills state, but, you know, your with my daughter, which is crazy is that you were both huddle leaders, at FCA camp at Black Hills state. But I just want to know. You know, we've been, um, I've been involved just the last, this will be my third year, uh, with FCA camp. And I, just, it's just a, an amazing experience. I didn't probably feel that way. Aaron would agree with me after the first one, but now I start to see, uh, like kids coming back and I start to see how their lives are changed, uh, through FCA camp. And so what were your experiences like as, a huddle leader at FCA camp? Kari: Hmm. Yeah, to be honest, my first year as a huddle leader, you know, I got asked by Erin and Stacey and I was super nervous because I was, you know, kind of a new believer and I felt like if kids are being sent to this camp, they've probably grown up as believers. They probably know more about the Bible than I know. And I was really intimidated to like be their leader. And so it was really a it was a humbling experience my first year because I had to go out there and and get asked questions and say, I don't know, let's look together. I'm not sure, let me ask somebody and get back to you. And so it was such a great experience, growing with those girls that first year. And they were great, they were so fun. And then you get to have this influence over their lives and point them to Christ. And they're kind of right behind you, because you're in college, they're high school, and they're kind of right behind you. And you get to say, look, this is... Following Christ as an athlete is so much better. Like you're gonna face all these things in college and follow Christ. Choose Christ. Devin Davis: Yeah. Yeah. And, and I mean, it's, it's neat to see just how much, ⁓ those high school kids, middle school kids look up to their huddle leaders and, and keep up, ⁓ you know, a relationship with them, especially now with our phones, it's so easy and social media to, to connect with, keep connected with those kids to encourage them. And, so I, I think that's a big part of it. I mean, that the sport part of it is, is cool. I mean, they get to. be a better diver, a better wrestler, but, ⁓ it's, it's the relationship thing and realizing that they're not in this alone. And I think that's what you, you huddle leaders do, which is, is, is cool really. So, yeah. So just, just, ⁓ take Carrie's, ⁓ story and, and sign up for FCA camp and maybe we'll get a huddle leader. Kari: for sure. Devin Davis: Like Carrie, so, ⁓ just awesome ability to be able to serve FCA through that. So, well, the, thing that I wanted to kind of pivot to now, a bit of really the, the most important part of, this whole story. ⁓ I know if I'd say that. I think the most important part is probably you and Jake meeting ⁓ at university of Wyoming. ⁓ And ⁓ that's awesome. ⁓ but. I, you know, your posts, I'm going to read a little bit about it, ⁓ just to give everybody a background of why we're, we're here and what Carrie's deeper story is. It's, it says it's been two years since I was diagnosed with an extremely rare progressive lung disease. and he said, don't Google it, but it's pulmonary venous occlusive disease. so it's probably time for a life update. so read that part first. And then you kind of give a background over the two years since you've been diagnosed and in talking your dad, Amy, it is a genetic condition that you inherited and found out also one your brothers also has the same condition. tell us a little bit about these past two years and and the diagnosis and maybe the challenges with it. Kari: Yeah, for sure. So ⁓ two years ago in the fall, I found out I was pregnant with our fourth baby boy. I started to ⁓ that I was having trouble breathing. ⁓ would like go up our stairs and feel like I was going to black out, you know, getting like tunnel vision and like, that's weird. And I'm kind of talking to my mom about it. And we're thinking, well, maybe I have asthma or something. Something's going on. I kind of write it off until January of that year and I see my OB for the first time. I'm like 12 weeks pregnant and I kind of tell her what's going on and she's like, no, it's too early in your pregnancy. Like it can't be pregnancy related. You're going to have to see a primary care doctor. So I'm like, okay. So it's about, I don't even have a primary care doctor at this point in time because you know, I'm young and healthy. Who needs one? So I get an appointment for like four weeks in the future, beyond there. in those four weeks, I dramatically start to decline. I get to the point where I can't go from ⁓ car in the parking lot to inside a building without feeling like I'm gonna pass out. I'm walking extremely slow. ⁓ just breathe. I couldn't breathe when I was moving. And so I finally get to this primary care appointment and he looks at me and he's like, I'm really concerned about you. He does an EKG. It comes back weird. He schedules me an emergency echocardiogram for the next day. And my husband and I go to this echocardiogram, which is just like an ultrasound of your heart. And my husband and I are gonna go to this ultrasound of my heart and my father-in-law is gonna watch the kids. We're gonna go on a little date night afterwards, you know? We get to this... echocardiogram and she's doing it. She stops in the middle. She's like, I'll be right back. Just not a good sign. She comes back and she's like, you guys need to go to the emergency room right away. And so we ⁓ to the emergency room and they start to run all these tests and, you know, lots and lots of testing and ⁓ they decide, okay, they think I have something called pulmonary hypertension. which is when the artery is having high blood pressure, only in your pulmonary artery. And ⁓ it be caused by lots of different things and they're not really sure what's causing it, but it's a rare condition, like two in five million people have it. So they don't even deal with it at the hospital by us. So they sent me on an ambulance ride to University of California, Francisco. And so... we get to UCSF and they start to run some more tests trying to figure out, you know, what's causing this pulmonary hypertension. And they decide that I have group one pulmonary hypertension, which is idiopathic. Like they don't know what's causing it. But I also have some other, some other tests my CT scan on my lungs that show these like veins all over in my lungs. And it's consistent with something called pulmonary veno-occlusive disease, which is what's the thing I said, don't Google. Because pulmonary veno-occlusive disease is extremely rare. It's one in every 10 million people has it. And they really know what causes it. It can be genetic. It can be idiopathic. It can be from drug use. It can be from all sorts of things. But it's rare. My doctor at UCSF, he had been working with hypertension for 30 years specializing in it. And he had only seen two cases of PVOD before ⁓ both times ⁓ patient had died within six months of diagnosis. And yeah, this is kind of like what we're being faced with. we're being, I just went from like what I thought was like really healthy, ⁓ just 30 years old, like, you know, kids, like feeling good to like this. ⁓ what felt like kind of a death sentence in the moment of what's happening? Our world is being rocked, you know? And times like that, like my husband and I, it's hard to even pray, and it's hard to even know what to pray. You're just like, Lord, help us, like help us get through this because this is crazy, you know? What are we even supposed to do? And there was nothing we could do. All we could do was just like hold on to this roller coaster that we're on and try to figure out what's happening and where to go from here. And, you know, I'm really grateful for like ⁓ many ways that the Lord provided through that. I up being in that hospital for five weeks, which is very long time to be in the hospital, ⁓ especially when have little kids. But the Lord just showed up for us in so many ways in like physically. in like through the church, like people who brought us meals and loved on us, people who took my kids, my parents, my in-laws. Our pastor and his wife came down to the hospital and hung out with us and gave us like wisdom in what to do in certain areas and ⁓ many people praying for us. And so just being that like physical hands and feet of Jesus for us in that. And then also just like a peace beyond understanding of like you're in this crazy time of like, we have no idea what's gonna happen and we have no control over where it goes, but like, we know that the Lord is in control. We know that the Lord is good, that he's working all things for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose. Like we know all these truths and so reminding ourselves and reminding each other of what's true and then just kind of trying to hold on to that through this crazy experience. And so yeah, I end up being diagnosed with pulmonary venous occlusive disease and they We actually ended up losing that baby boy and they ⁓ to start this medicine on me, ⁓ is an IV medicine ⁓ Basically, it goes every four minutes It continuous it never stops. I can never be disconnected to it and Yeah, much my life changed dramatically By God's grace, the medicine helped and I was able to go home from the hospital. But yeah, my life is very, very different now. Obviously, I'm on oxygen. I have this medicine that goes into my heart and it's a big medical device that I have to wear on me all the time. ⁓ have to mix the medicine at home every week. I have to make seven of them every week and ⁓ that a while and I'm on all these oral meds. ⁓ And obviously in something like that, like your life just feels like... You know, anything could happen at any time. You know, like you just feel sort of on edge, but. I am so thankful to know the Lord because I know that that's not true. God has already planned my days. He already knows what's going to happen to me. He knows exactly wrong in my body and he's already planned it. He is through it all and I can trust that. And so even though it looks really rocky and scary, like ⁓ our is not shaken in the Lord. Devin Davis: it's, you know, it makes me think of two things. Number one, how do people who don't believe make it through hard things like that? number two, it's, it's amazing to me thinking, ⁓ that, you know, you're talking about your coach, your senior season and, and how that, that did his, guidance and advice changed how you viewed your, your competition, your diving and, and that, ⁓ Your worth wasn't found in your success. and, then that translates, right? Just a few years later, that same message that you put into practice as a college athlete, now a different circumstance, but it's kind of the same message, right? I mean, your trust is fully in Christ. and, you have confidence in that. So, that's, that's amazing. And that was, ⁓ and I you're. Kari: Mm-hmm. Devin Davis: your dad said something about, there's a new medication that you've been on, just recently, tell us about that. Kari: Mm-hmm. Yeah, I was able to start this new medication. actually just was FDA approved a couple years ago for pulmonary hypertension. I have the really rare form of pulmonary hypertension, the PVOD, ⁓ so I haven't been able to try it thus far in the past two years. But recently had a decline, as you kind of read in my post, in like ⁓ my heart's functioning as well again and... So they're allowing me to try. feel like the risk is worth it to try this new medication. And so I just started that last week on Monday, but so far so good. Some people have had amazing results from this where they come off of oxygen. They feel like they're living a normal life. really been like an amazing medication that takes this, what's progressive lung disease with no cure. And it's kind of taken it and made it more like... diabetes, something that you can deal with. You'll have your whole life, but you can manage. So hopefully that's the case for me. We'll see. Devin Davis: Yeah. And, and so wise, you're, stable now. I mean, what is the, if the condition continues to progress, is, ⁓ it a lung transplant? Is that what you would be looking at then? ⁓ And go Kari: Yeah. Yeah, been very stable actually by God's grace. The past two years I've been doing great. Not a lot of oxygen use the past two years and then recently I've had like a pretty big decline in my heart. I'm like in ⁓ pretty severe failure and so they want you to do a lot of damage to your heart. Your heart can recover from a lot of stuff but it gets to the point where it can't and so we don't want to get that far. So if your heart gets too bad, then you're looking at a lung transplant and a heart transplant and we don't want to get there. So that's kind of my line is like when my heart gets too bad, we're going to go towards a double lung transplant, which is obviously very serious surgery, but. Devin Davis: Yeah, that, yeah, that's ⁓ friends who've had that done. And, is that a long waiting time? Hopefully But do you have any idea like how difficult ⁓ that is as as procuring one of those and being able to go through that? Kari: Yeah, I mean, I think a lot depends on just the right lungs at the right time, right? You, they have to be able to fit in your chest and be the right antibodies and blood type. And there's a lot of things that they look at for all of that. it seems like people wait on the list for two months, six ⁓ somewhere there. Devin Davis: But we pray that it doesn't get to that, right? mean, everybody here pray for, pray for Carrie for sure. But, that's, I want to then just mention ⁓ else that ⁓ mean, I think this is what really caught, caught eye. And you put down, God brought me to, to, brought to my mind, this Bible verse. I don't think there's a better Bible verse in the whole Bible for you, Kari: Thank you. Thank you. Devin Davis: 2 Corinthians 4 16. So we do not lose heart though. Our outer self is wasting away. Our inner self is being renewed day by day. Um, and, and as you said, although my outward body is wasting away, my soul is being renewed in the Lord. Uh, I know that one day I will be healed, fully healed in heaven where there is no sickness or hurt or pain or suffering. I also know that my suffering is not wasted here. It's producing perseverance in me. James one, two through four. I can say this with confidence because I know Christ who suffered and that suffering produced salvation for all who would believe when he rose from the dead. We are told in the Bible that we will face suffering and trials of many kinds, but we can take heart for Christ has overcome the world. John 16 verse 33. as a follower of Christ that, lived probably half of my life as probably just a cultural Christian, I would say. ⁓ and, and now living as somebody who has truly given their life and surrendered to Jesus Christ. ⁓ that, that just, it just blew me away because that's something that I think a lot of times people struggle with, right? It is when we go through really hard, hard things to be, to be able to have that attitude. So, I mean, so what questions, why and how, and tell us about that because I guess for most people, when you read that, they're just going, I she's crazy. but, tell us where that comes from and, how that you. Kari: Yeah, think, you know, number one, by God's grace, right? Like ⁓ I, back on my life, just seeing God's faithfulness to me, even ⁓ through me, like I had no reason for him to save me. He sought me didn't let me this whole time. And so by God's grace, like I'm here able to. you these things because he hasn't let me go through all this and he's helped me to grow in sanctification through the Holy Spirit and reading my Bible and just him more and like reading verses about Christ's suffering ⁓ and reading verses about how we'll suffer like he will. You know, we're promised suffering in the Bible actually. We're promised hardship. That's Devin Davis: Amen. Kari: a truth that I think not everybody realizes, know, especially here in America. Like we, we have a easy, pretty easy lives for the most part. And I personally, I had, I had had a very easy life up until this point, but like those verses and then being in a hardship, it's like those verses come to mind and you're like, ⁓ this is what he's talking about. Like this is what it means to suffer with Christ. This is what it means that we ⁓ a great high priest who's able to sympathize with us because he's been through. ⁓ hardship and suffering to the utmost and didn't deserve any of it. And so we, when we're faced with this hardship and suffering, we look to Christ who was faithful unto death. yeah, think that's kind of where that comes from. ⁓ I one of my favorite verses in Colossus was 2 Corinthians 12, 9 through 11, which is three times pleaded with the Lord to take it from me. And he said to me, my grace is sufficient for you for my powers made for perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses so that the power of Christ will rest upon me for when I'm weak, then I'm strong. you know, in college like that hit me as like, like weakness is actually strength in Christ. And now verse is even deeper to me. Like, yeah, I'm pleading with the Lord to take this from me. I don't want this as my life. It's hard to that like this is the life that I've been given. But also, I'm growing so much deeper in the Lord and the Lord has been so faithful in showing that he's here with me through it all. Yeah, and my weakness, I've been able to share with so many people the hope that's in me. Devin Davis: That's, that's incredible, you know, just because I think it's easy for us. That's love that verse as well. It's easy for us to read that and go, ⁓ yeah. ⁓ yeah. I agree with that. Right. Until it, it's you. ⁓ and, I think that's where. Are where we see is our faith truly in Christ. because otherwise, I mean, the world would say to you. Kari: Mm-hmm. Devin Davis: ⁓ come on, Carrie, you don't deserve that. You don't deserve to be sick. You don't deserve to have that lung disease. and you're saying, no, I do because my savior suffered for me, in, ⁓ in times worse manner really. and to, think about the price that he paid on the cross completely changes your perspective of, of what you're going through, as ⁓ hard as it how do you, mean, but you've got to have some good days and bad days. So how do you, how do you keep that motivation with three kids and, a husband? ⁓ how do you keep that motivation? Even though you believe that, you know, what, what does that look like on a day to day basis? Kari: Yeah, there's definitely like hard times and good times. And I think like a couple things. The first thing would be to like make sure you have people around you who are gonna preach truth to you. Like make sure you have people around you who are gonna you of truth when it's hard to remember truth. When ⁓ going, man, I just, it's hard to think that like, will I be able to run again on this earth? Will I be able to like, flip again on this earth, like those are hard. It's a hard thing to think about. And then to have, you know, my husband pray for me and encourage me of like, we're gonna keep trusting the Lord in this and working in this and he is being glorified in this. And so I think definitely having people around you who are gonna preach truth to you and then preaching truth to yourself. Like when even when you're in those moments of like, okay, I'm not gonna stay there. You know, one of my favorite quotes is by John Piper and he says, weep deeply for the life you thought you live and then wash your face and trust God with the life you've been given. And I just love that because yeah, we can weep deeply and Christ wept. Like he knows what we're feeling. He knows what we're going through and that these things are hard. ⁓ And then we're gonna wash your face and we're gonna trust God with where he's got us. Devin Davis: Yeah. And that's, and that's the reason God became man. because, and it says in Hebrews, I, ⁓ not exactly aware, you know, that God became man to endure the same things that we endure. So, ⁓ know, so he can sympathize with those weaknesses because he had those things. and so, you know, have a savior, we have, a Messiah who dealt with the same things that we deal with in this body. we're sinful beings. He was, he was perfect. ⁓ but he still had to go through, ⁓ the crucifixion ⁓ man, what a painful way to die. but, but he had you in his mind when he did that. And so I think that is really good advice. And I was reading something this morning. ⁓ and I think it can, I thought it would connect with what we would talk about today. And it's in first Corinthians. And I just wanted to share a couple of verses as I was reading. So first Corinthians 1 18 for the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, is the power of God. and the reason I think that connects is because I think again, as I say, I mean, I, man, there is nothing but gratitude in my heart that, that God opened me to the truth. in the gospel. And so I'm able to live and believe and share that with other people. But I think people that don't have that hope, feel sorry for them. Because do they endure really, really hard things? ⁓ And, I, and I, and that's why I like to hear your story ⁓ is everybody out there who's listening, as they go through hard things, that just reminds us where the truth lies and where our hope lies and that he loved us enough, um, to die for us and give us that hope and that encouragement through everything. So, um, and by the way, you said, will I ever run again? I haven't ran in a long time and, I, and I'm 60 years old. So Kari: Well, there you go. There's some motivation for you. Devin Davis: I mean, it's just, it's amazing because he said, you know, for consider your calling brothers. Not many of you were wise according to worldly standards. Not many were powerful. Not many were of noble birth, but God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise. God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong. and so that, that to me really connects well with what, what you're ⁓ telling And by the way, John Piper's my dude, man. I love desire. Yeah. He's awesome. His book, don't waste your life changed my whole life. And so, ⁓ that's what I get a lot of high school graduates, ⁓ and tell them, read this and your life won't be the same. So it's, it's really, really good. Yeah. So now to day as a, as a mom dealing with three kids, what's life, what's life like, with the challenges? Kari: I like fiber. Yeah. It's a great one. Yeah. Devin Davis: that you go through. Kari: Yeah, I mean, my kids are in school and so I was, before I got sick, was actually part-time coaching. I was coaching at a junior college and coaching some high schools. so I haven't been able to do that since I got sick. But yeah, so I have all three kids in school now, so take them to school, ⁓ to rest as much as I can while they're at school and then ⁓ get home and then we go to their sports and their things and. ⁓ yeah, think, you know, one thing that I think my husband has been really helpful with is I, like to try to put on a great face for them and like everything's fine and we're all good. But obviously they can see like, especially now, it's, it's more physical, like just looking at me. If I didn't have oxygen on, you probably wouldn't even know I was sick. but like they can see, they, they see what's happening. They see me tired. They see dad helping a lot more than I wish dad had to help. ⁓ They see it and so just being able to like be honest with them as much as they can handle at their ages and say, is but, mom and dad scared sometimes, but we're trusting in Christ. And so being able to like point them to Christ through this has been really sweet. And ⁓ yeah, I the from my husband to show that vulnerability to them and say, yeah, like life. Life is hard sometimes, but we're gonna keep trusting in Christ through it, so. Devin Davis: Amen. Are there things that kind of disciplines, guess, know, disciplines of grace that you, you, do on a regular basis, ⁓ to try to keep your spirit strong. Kari: Yeah, we pretty easily attend our church, know, try to sit under the word of God, sit under some solid preaching. we have community group that we, you know, try to be in other people's lives and serve where we can. ⁓ then obviously just being in the word by myself and getting alone with God and prayer and yeah, all those things. ⁓ Devin Davis: That's awesome. That's great. Well, that was one question I was going to ask. and, you, you probably have heard a few of the stories, but I was, I don't know, obviously ask wondering what's your dad believe nowadays? Like you said, he wasn't a believer. growing up, you weren't raised in that. I don't know your mom well, I've met Doty, ⁓ but I don't know her all that well, but I said, I, I always stopped by the Brown and gold and let me Wyoming to see Casey Campbell. And, um, and I think Casey is just so well liked by so many people. And, uh, as he told me the other day serves on the, uh, as the chairman of the hall of hall of fame committee at the university of Wyoming. Um, but where, where, and, and, uh, I mean, I hate to ask that question, but he's a friend of mine. So where is, where is he at now in all this? Kari: Mm-hmm. Yeah, I think, you know, when I first started to follow Christ, they were still not attending church or anything. since I've gotten sick, it's like opened up a lot of opportunity to share kind of deeper what we believe and like really show that this is ⁓ we take really seriously. so, yeah, they've been open to conversation and yeah, I think that's kind of where we're at right now. Devin Davis: That's good. That's good. And, ⁓ so ⁓ I'll make sure and text him and stay on him until, I'm not only praying for you, but I'm praying for him, ⁓ and that, that he would fully trust in Christ and, they, because ⁓ you know, I had kind of come full circle and, and that's a lot of my testimony growing up here and now being back in Riverton for about the past five years and being able to walk the halls at the high school that I Kari: Yeah. Devin Davis: played sports in and graduated from, and, just trying to have that impact on, ⁓ that age, right? Is, ⁓ like, you can live your whole life, which gives you so much purpose, and, meaning using your gifts to glorify him. You can start doing that now. You don't have to wait until you're 45, like I did. and I that's for me, that's, that's a big thing. And so just connecting with a lot of friends that I. grew up with, and I think they're probably a little surprised. I like, was a good kid, right? ⁓ good as in good kid. And they're probably like, wow, what happened to Devin? yeah, I, mean, I, I want everybody to know Jesus and I'm not afraid to tell them that. And, because ⁓ our, days this earth are few ⁓ and, we, our lives are a missed. And so we, we want to be prepared for whatever happens. And, but Kari: Thank you. Devin Davis: You know, that's one reason, but knowing Christ and knowing that he has you holding onto you, right? For all the time that you spend here. So that's witness testimony from you. And it, you know, it's hard when we see other people going through hard things, but it's made easier when we know where their truth and their faith lies. And so. Kari: Absolutely. Devin Davis: I think that is something that I hope everybody listening today will take from this because as you said, the Bible says we are going to go through suffering straight up. I mean, why do we reject that? Why do some Christians reject that? Do you think? Kari: Mm-hmm. I think it's easier to think that we're gonna have an easy life and that, you know, is some sort of ⁓ luck charm and he's just gonna make it easy on us, but actually that's where we grow and that's where God takes away our idols that we have and makes us look more like. That's how he molds us and shapes us to look more like Christ is through those trials and sufferings. ⁓ Devin Davis: Yep. Right. And I think that's the thing, right? If kind of dawned on me, I think I read a book not too long ago is if we're not going through those things, then we kind of have to question our, our salvation. ⁓ it real? think if our, if our faith is in our salvation is real, it's in truly in Christ, we've been born again. and we're not going through hard things then. Kari: Yeah. Devin Davis: I think we have to question that a little bit. I don't know. Would you agree or disagree with that? Kari: Yeah, no, I agree. I think the closer that you get to Christ, the more you see like your need for Christ, the more you see your struggles and the more you see your sin and need for a savior. And the further that you get away from Christ, the less you see your sin and the easier it is to cover it up. And so, yeah, I think as you grow, like you continue to see, need you even more. Those little things that didn't bother you before that you could kind of write off is like... ⁓ Devin Davis: Yeah. Yeah. Kari: it's okay if I did that. Now they start to bother you. start to... Christ's really starting to like poke your heart in those things and go, yeah, this isn't... That's not right. Doesn't look like me. Devin Davis: Yeah. Isn't it funny that as, as painful as, as trials are and as hard as they are, that, that, that is what shapes and refines us. And then ⁓ we go through times that are easy, we're like, I'm not sure if I like this so much, right? ⁓ ⁓ life is too easy right now. I, I need, I you to throw something, an obstacle in my path, God, so I can keep growing closer to you. So that's. Kari: Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's a great point. mean, yeah, when things are easy, we definitely don't grow as much. Like I wouldn't be through, even though this has been insanely hard, the deeper I've known the Lord, I wouldn't change it. Devin Davis: Yeah. I mean, and that's a great point. We can't, we can't know that, but you know, Carrie Elliot now without this condition, wouldn't be even close to what Carrie Elliot is with this condition. ⁓ it's, ⁓ that's hard to say, but you yourself know that the Carrie now has a relationship ⁓ a, and a trust in Jesus that probably, or might not have been there without it. ⁓ and that's just. Kari: Yeah. Devin Davis: The truth really. that's yeah. Good encouragement. So, I, I, I I've loved this. I just, what do you, I want to end on a light note. So now that you're, now that you're, ⁓ not able to do a lot, what, what do you do for, for fun? What keeps you enjoying life? I think I'll probably know the answer here, but what keeps Carrie enjoying life, even when she is dealing with a ⁓ lung disease? Kari: Sure. Yeah. Yeah, for sure. have ⁓ sweet friends. I have some really fun little kids who have really such a blessing through all this because kids are like so resilient, you know? You can be like going through the hardest thing and they're just like, mom, watch me do this crazy trick. And you're like, okay. ⁓ It's sweet, you know? It like just brings you out of the stuff that you're in. You know, they just keep going on with life, which is great. Devin Davis: You Kari: So yeah, watching them do their stuff and hanging out with them and then I have sweet friends and ⁓ husband and I started crocheting and reading and ⁓ different and stuff, trying to take up my time. Devin Davis: Yeah. Yeah, you have to probably do some things you never imagined that you would be doing at your age, right? Kari: Yes. Some people will hear me say I crochet and they'll be like, what? No way. I would have never thought that. Devin Davis: ⁓ man. And, ⁓ yeah. So, know, you can always see some bright things, ⁓ because God always gives us blessings, even through those, those struggles. And I was, I thought you'd say you're your kids because ⁓ they're, the spark you need. Right. Sometimes they probably make you more exhausted. ⁓ I imagine, you know, I mean, I was Kari: Yeah, they definitely do. Devin Davis: I was healthy at your age and had a hard time keeping up with my three kids. So, you know, that's probably the biggest challenge, but ⁓ have a, an ex wrestler as a husband. so he can wear them out. Right. ⁓ that's too funny. So well, as we close, is there, guess, anything that you haven't said that you've had on your heart or your mind that you'd want ⁓ share, with the people that are listening? Kari: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, he can go wrestle them in the backyard all day. Yeah. I think I would just encourage everyone to get in the Word and see what the Word says. Read the Bible for yourself and see what it says and the Lord will work through that. So yeah, I think that's the biggest way that I had grown was through finally opening the Word for myself and then the Lord has just used that in so many ways in my life. Devin Davis: I think one of the things, and I'd add onto that, one of the things that you said earlier, I think is good advice too, is if you struggle to do that, find somebody who you can kind of partner with or somebody who will disciple you to make that a little bit easier or fruitful. You don't have to do it on your own, but do it. Right. One way or another. So I have never met ⁓ a Christian who has a strong faith. They can't point back to the time they spend in God's word. Kari: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Devin Davis: ⁓ you, you know, you don't just magically get to that level. You have to hear what he says and he's what he says is in his words. So I love that, but that's the challenge that the flesh and enemy wants to do everything they can to keep you ⁓ reading it. So, ⁓ yeah, just overcome that. So, well, I, yeah, yeah, that, that's a good point. Right. And the thing is sometimes it's hard. Kari: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yeah, it looks different in different seasons, so. Devin Davis: to open your Bible. That's another thing. It's not easy. Every time I open my Bible, it doesn't mean that I, you know, sometimes like, man, I'm busy or my mind's not in it or whatever. but ⁓ you just have to stay faithful and keep plugging away and God will work through that, ⁓ for sure. awesome. Well, I like to, at the end of the interviews, I like to pray with our guests. And so, ⁓ Kari: Mm-hmm. Devin Davis: I'm going to go ahead and take my hat off and then I'll pray with you and we'll call it a day. All right. Father, man, this has just been an encouraging interview to hear Carrie's story that she took time out of her day to come on here and everybody listening about some things. that's something that we need to hear. We need to be reminded of. I just pray that The people who have listened will take her advice and her story and really take them to heart. And Father, plant that seed through the power of the Holy Spirit in the people that are listening that, God, will go through trials. We will go through some valleys, but you're always near us. You're always beside us. You always give us strength. Father, so you. Just looking back Carrie's life, the moment she believed, and that you were working from that very moment, knowing that she would ⁓ go this struggle and preparing her for this. and you that through, bringing her husband, Jake to her, bringing, three beautiful kids to her life and putting her in the place where she is surrounded by, by friends and a church that would encourage and guide and strengthen her. So. We are just thankful for that. ⁓ And I just pray that that encourages ministers to others that might be going through tough things too. Father, ⁓ look to Christ who endured ⁓ suffering on our behalf, and we are grateful for your grace and for your mercy. So we just ask also, Father, for just to her body, wisdom to the doctors, just trusting in plan for her life. that you would bless her. Thank you God for the time we've had together today. Thank you how you brought us together by your sovereign providence, Father. That's just amazing that you knew at some point in time that you would bring us together. And it happens to be here and now with this awesome message. So we just pray for Carrie and Jake and the kids, pray for my friend Casey and for his wife, Dodie. They've been a blessing to so many. We just thank you for your son. We give him all the glory and it's in your holy name. We pray. Amen Kari: Amen. Thank you. Devin Davis: All right. Yeah, man. Thank you so much, Gary. sure a pleasure to meet you. And, I'm really excited to get this story out, to everybody who's listening. So have a good day. You betcha. Thank you. Kari: Thanks for having me. Yeah, bye. Devin Davis: All right. just kind of wanted to wrap things up here and, I knew that would be a great episode. She, ⁓ think Carrie and I could probably have talked for hours. and, just to that just fills my heart. it, ⁓ it, it's hard see somebody go through those difficult things. ⁓ think anybody who's probably has, has encountered that at some time or the other, but what brings us great hope and great peace ⁓ is that she who holds her future in their hands and that's God and her savior, Jesus Christ. So I am just grateful for the time that, that Carrie spent with us today. ⁓ I just wanted to remind everybody that, it's, awesome to see how this podcast is growing. ⁓ the 307 faithful podcast, you can find, our, our profile, our page on Instagram and we keep adding followers to that. can also go follow us on Facebook. the link to all of our episodes can be found on our Instagram page. ⁓ we publish to YouTube, we publish to Apple podcasts, to Spotify and Amazon music. ⁓ so you can go to any of those at all. and, I just thank you for that. Share this with your friends, anybody who else wants to listen, we, the more, merrier. We want to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ through the state of Wyoming. ⁓ among athletes and coaches and anyone who wants to listen, you know, Jesus will change your life. And just again, a shout out to anybody who might be interested in the FCA sports camp coming up June 24th through the 27th. I wanted to, it's not quite official yet, but, ⁓ we're working on, ⁓ an FCA wrestling camp, later in the summer, probably right before school starts. And that will be for kids. From five on up to seniors in high school, you'll only have to have two years experience. have three great guys lined up to come out here from the university of Iowa. All solid believers. Actually one lives in Lander now. that the information on that camp will be published ⁓ pretty quickly. ⁓ so that will be an awesome FCA camp and just wanted to, to, to plant a seed, put a bug in your ear to think about that and tell others about that. And I'll give you more information late. later. we have some awesome guests coming up. We just went blessed with a lot of them. So we thank you ⁓ for the connections you have, the people that you ⁓ recommended. Today's a special one. So thanks Casey for contacting me. Your daughter's awesome and her testimony is so powerful. ⁓ just to say thank you to everybody. Continue to into 307 Faithful Podcast. grateful you listened today. So God bless and have a good day. Thank you guys.