The Fullertons joined NCEM in 1982 to serve in Nova Scotia, and then later on staff at Key-Way-Tin Bible Institute at Lac La Biche, Alberta. They are now honorary NCEM members. Read here how Gary & Elaine have allowed the Lord to work through very difficult circumstances:
With teenagers, Gary & Elaine Fullerton were busy with home and ministry life on Key-Way-Tin Bible Institute’s campus. In the fall of 1991 Gary experienced twitching in his neck. “It progressed,” he says, “and by December my head was frozen to my left shoulder.”
Physiotherapy didn’t help. A couple months later an Edmonton doctor diagnosed Cervical Dystonia, a rare genetic brain disorder.
The overall effect on Gary, his family and ministry? “Life as I knew it totally changed,” he answers. “I was always on the go, but now the pain and my head position shut down everything. The medical description: ‘devastating and debilitating pain’ is accurate.”
“I just wanted the husband I knew for 20 years back,” recalls Elaine, “and our three kids just wanted their dad back.” Gary couldn’t study, teach, or drive. He endured two months without medication, then pain meds and muscle relaxants were prescribed which, over time, gave a bit of relief.
The Fullertons began periodic trips to Edmonton, 230 km away, for injections to Gary’s neck. There was an upfront $1800 cost each time, with a 70% refund from Alberta Health arriving just in time to pay off their credit card. The injections continued for several years, but gave little improvement.
In 1998 Gary was sent to Montreal for surgery. The procedure would remove muscles enlarged from overuse, and remove partial nerve ends which, hopefully, would stop sending signals to the muscles. “This wasn’t successful either,” says Gary, “but when you are in such pain you will try anything. The specialists in Montreal said I was the worse case of Cervical Dystonia they’d ever seen.”
In 2003 Gary became one of the first Dystonia cases to receive a deep brain stimulator. It involves two metal pins placed in the brain and a control unit in the chest. ( “I was awake for the surgery and it was an experience!” recalls Gary.) “This has provided the best results,” he reports. “My posture is greatly improved and, though the pain is still constant and I continue on medication, I am able to do so much more.”
Gary remembers his many questions when the disease struck. Among them was, “Lord, why me, when I’m so involved in ministry?”; then, “Lord, what are You saying through all this?”
“I am not the author of my life,” Gary shares. “God has set my course. I trust Him, even when it is hard … probably even more when it is hard! I still can’t say I see the ‘why’ of all this, but it isn’t important anymore. But standing in His grace each day is, and for His glory is!”
Elaine adds, “It feels impossible to sum up what we’ve been through, and all that we’ve learned. We’re so thankful that we can rest in an awesome God, who is all knowing, present, powerful, faithful and loving! (Psalm 18:30)”
Gary tells how Elaine has had to take on a different role in their marriage, and says he couldn’t have come through without her. Others have been an encouragement, too. He remembers a Key-Way-Tin student remarking, “If Gary can keep going for the Lord, so can I!”
The Fullertons now reside in St. Paul, Alberta.
