LIVERMORE — When a noninvasive surgical procedure developed into much more than she expected, Jean Tardif knew God would always be with her.

She said after several bouts of diverticulitis, surgery was finally needed. Laparoscopic surgery, also known as Band-Aid surgery, was scheduled to remove a section of intestine.

“It was full of adhesions, so they had to open me up,” she said.

Tardif went home about a week later, but had to return to the hospital by ambulance. She had MRSA and C.diff, two potentially life-threatening bacterial infections.

“Because of all the antibiotics I had to take, all the good bacteria were taken out. They used other antibiotics to cure the C.diff,” she said.

Tardif said that while this was one of those crosses in life one has to bear, it was scary to be that sick and wonder if her body was going to heal itself.

Her devotions were a big part of starting the day, as they always are. She also drew strength from her Christian friends.

“Sometimes you have to hear it from someone else, too,” she said.

Tardif’s favorite Bible verse is “My grace is sufficient: 2nd Corinthians 12:9.”

“Being a Christian isn’t always going to be easy, but He’s always going to be right there with us through everything,” she said.

“You don’t have to look very far to see someone a whole lot worse off, with a lifetime thing rather than just my season,” she said.

Tardif has been a member of the North Livermore Baptist Church since she was born. Her church has been instrumental whenever she’s had to draw upon her faith.

Tardif cared for her mother and mother-in-law prior to their deaths. She works part time at Finley Funeral Home in Livermore Falls.

“I don’t see how anyone gets through anything without being able to freely go to God and say, ‘I need a little bit of strength,’” she said. “He always seems to put the right person in front of us when we need it the most. I don’t see how anyone gets through things without faith. Working at Finley’s and my church, I see a very different response from people who don’t have faith.”

pharnden@sunmediagroup.net

When a routine surgical procedure resulted in dealing with much more, Jean Tardif of Livermore knew God would always be with her. (Pam Harnden/Livermore Falls Advertiser)