# For this woman at least...there is a God. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 9, 2004, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-this-woman-at-least-there-is-a-god/223589 "2004-01-09T04:49:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-this-woman-at-least-there-is-a-god/223589/1 "2004-01-09T04:49:08Z")
And he was watching over her. [http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=402&u=/ibsys/20040109/lo\_kgtv/1949731&printer=1](http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=402&u=/ibsys/20040109/lo_kgtv/1949731&printer=1) ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-this-woman-at-least-there-is-a-god/223589/2 "2004-01-09T12:19:53Z")
Wow! Just…wow. That’s some fast thinking and decisive action. I couldn’t imagine being in her place. That took courage on everyone’s parts to pull off. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-this-woman-at-least-there-is-a-god/223589/3 "2004-01-09T14:26:38Z")
> [@](#): > > Doctors covered Yeargain’s entire body with an artificial skin called transcyte and gave her medications to stop the internal bleeding. “We were able, over a 48-hour period, to cover her whole body with an artificial skin replacement that allowed this to start healing rapidly. Within about a week her skin was back,” Lozano said. “Everybody prayed and here she is,” Katherine Yeargain said. Riiiiight. The “artificial skin called transcyte and medications” had nothing to do with her recovery. It was the praying. ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-this-woman-at-least-there-is-a-god/223589/4 "2004-01-09T14:29:12Z")
Yes, that seems like a miracle. 🙂 Unbelievable that such a thing could happen from taking a common medication. However, this is perhaps a warning about why it’s SO important not to over-prescribe antibiotics (in addition to the threat of creating “superbugs” that has been publicized before). Antibiotics are sometimes prescribed for unnecessary things (i.e., viral infections) as a sort of placebo. Just imagine if this woman had been taking Bactrim unnecessarily and suffered this horrible reaction! It looks like whoever wrote that article goofed up the spelling of her condition’s name though - I think they meant[Toxic Epidermal NecroLYSIS](http://www.emedicine.com/EMERG/topic599.htm), not necloris. ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-this-woman-at-least-there-is-a-god/223589/5 "2004-01-09T14:32:12Z")
It’s amazing how modern medicine can both save the human body and unintentionally destroy it. I wonder if anyone will ever be able to figure out how Bactrim causes the reaction and devise a test for it? ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-this-woman-at-least-there-is-a-god/223589/6 "2004-01-09T14:54:34Z")
There are some things that I just don’t need to know are possible. :eek: I will not complain about hives again. I will not complain about hives again. I will not complain about hives again. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-this-woman-at-least-there-is-a-god/223589/7 "2004-01-09T15:01:50Z")
Mom always told me it was healthier to leave the peel on. ---
**Author:** ![OneYogini](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b9e5f3/32.png) [@OneYogini](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneYogini)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-this-woman-at-least-there-is-a-god/223589/8 "2004-01-09T16:04:45Z")
“Riiiiight. The “artificial skin called transcyte and medications” had nothing to do with her recovery. It was the praying.” - Eve And, so it’s only proper to then say that “medications” don’t work all the time either (thus the reason for this woman’s problem in the first place). Prayer may not have been the ONLY reason, but it can be included as one of them. 🙂 Yogini ---
**Author:** ![Scarlet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Scarlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlet)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-this-woman-at-least-there-is-a-god/223589/9 "2004-01-09T16:20:16Z")
> [@](#): > > And, so it’s only proper to then say that “medications” don’t work all the time either (thus the reason for this woman’s problem in the first place). Prayer may not have been the ONLY reason, but it can be included as one of them yeaah… I’d rather put my health in the hands of science and medications than in the hands of some non-existant diety. ---
**Author:** ![Genghis\_Bob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/45deac/32.png) [@Genghis\_Bob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Genghis_Bob)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-this-woman-at-least-there-is-a-god/223589/10 "2004-01-09T16:36:04Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by Scarlet \* \*\*yeaah… I’d rather put my health in the hands of science and medications than in the hands of some non-existant diety. \*\*[/QUOTE **Scarlet** , we’re in MPSIMS, not GD. Is it really that important to go raining on someone’s parade, here? ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-this-woman-at-least-there-is-a-god/223589/11 "2004-01-09T16:40:55Z")
What about the “parade” of the doctors who spent years researching and experimenting to develop transcyte and the methods of saving this woman, only to see “prayer” credited with her recovery? Or the nurses who most likely spent days looking after her, 24/7? You might as well say, “a cute fluffy kitten walked by her room, that’s what saved her.” ---
**Author:** ![Tamex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Tamex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamex)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-this-woman-at-least-there-is-a-god/223589/12 "2004-01-09T16:44:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eve \* > \*\*Riiiiight. The “artificial skin called transcyte and medications” had nothing to do with her recovery. It was the praying. \*\* Of course, had it not worked, it would have been the fault of the medications, and never the prayer. Strange how that works. ---
**Author:** ![Genghis\_Bob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/45deac/32.png) [@Genghis\_Bob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Genghis_Bob)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-this-woman-at-least-there-is-a-god/223589/13 "2004-01-09T17:02:56Z")
I’m not arguing the point of whether prayer or medicine saved her. I’m saying that if **the OP** had wanted to debate it, she would have posted it in GD. It’s impolite to come into her MPSIMS post and pick a fight. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-this-woman-at-least-there-is-a-god/223589/14 "2004-01-09T17:34:05Z")
. . . if she had started a MPSIMS posted called " a ghost pushed me out of the way of a speeding car," would we be permitted to doubt _that_? This _is_ the **Straight Dope** Message Board, remember. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-this-woman-at-least-there-is-a-god/223589/15 "2004-01-09T17:54:24Z")
Maybe a mod can move it so the OP will get the debate it deserves. ---
**Author:** ![OneYogini](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b9e5f3/32.png) [@OneYogini](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneYogini)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-this-woman-at-least-there-is-a-god/223589/16 "2004-01-09T18:49:11Z")
“yeaah… I’d rather put my health in the hands of science and medications than in the hands of some non-existant diety.” Scarlet Some people don’t believe it’s a non-existent diety. I agree this is not GD either. That’s why I simply said “Prayer may not have been the ONLY reason, but it can be included as one of them.” "What about the “parade” of the doctors who spent years researching and experimenting to develop transcyte and the methods of saving this woman, only to see “prayer” credited with her recovery? Or the nurses who most likely spent days looking after her, 24/7? - Eve Again, I just said “Prayer may not have been the ONLY reason, but it can be included as one of them.” No one, not even Christians who believe that God heals, would discount what a doctor or nurse or medical science does. There are doctors and nurses who are Christians, and THEY give “prayer” it’s due. I’m not asking YOU to. Again, I just stated that prayer can be included as a reason - - it doesn’t have to be the total reason. God and medicine can work hand in hand for those who believe or have such faith. Again, I’m not asking YOU to. Just like the Dopers here can get along…despite different viewpoints. 😉 Yogini ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-this-woman-at-least-there-is-a-god/223589/17 "2004-01-09T19:17:57Z")
Interesting how modern medicine is the cause of the problem, yet prayer is the solution. I bet she wishes she had started praying sooner! Anyway, amazing story. Good for her and her medical staff. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-this-woman-at-least-there-is-a-god/223589/18 "2004-01-09T19:36:55Z")
EVE – > [@](#): > > . . . if she had started a MPSIMS posted called " a ghost pushed me out of the way of a speeding car," would we be permitted to doubt that? This is the **Straight Dope** Message Board, remember. And the **Straight Dope** is that you do not know that God was not ultimately responsible for her recovery, be it through a direct miracle or through giving talented people the intelligence and tools to bring her through. _You_ assume this couldn’t possibly be true, based on _your_ beliefs, which are not inherently more valuable or respectable than anyone else’s. Nobody but you said the artificial skin and medications had “nothing to do with it.” So maybe you’d like to explain why you feel it necessary to piss all over a MPSIMS thread that actually includes some good news (for once), just because you personally would not credit the outcome in the same way this particular family does. Oh, and come back and tell me how atheists are so persecuted all the time and boo-fucking-hoo, when you apparently can’t even let a reference to God as innocuous as this one pass by without derision. You know I respect you enormously, EVE, but this is beneath you. ---
**Author:** ![OneYogini](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b9e5f3/32.png) [@OneYogini](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneYogini)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-this-woman-at-least-there-is-a-god/223589/19 "2004-01-09T19:49:14Z")
[slight highjack] Great post Jodi. Well said. Thankfully we’re not in GD because I’m not a GDer! lol! I respect your points. [end highjack] ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-this-woman-at-least-there-is-a-god/223589/20 "2004-01-09T20:00:58Z")
a) A woman is saved by crack medical interevention and her family attributes it to prayer. b) The OP says, _in entirety_, “For this woman at least…there is a God. And he was watching over her.” c) I call “ba-nanner oil.” If this makes Jodi “lose all respect” for me, I am sure I will bear that with fortitude. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-this-woman-at-least-there-is-a-god/223589.md?page=2)