Dr Rose Ann Smith testimony
Lecturer at the University of the West Indies Dr Rose-Ann Smith has been through the fire and has come forth as pure gold. In a powerful testimony at the Deborah N.O.W conference on June 1, 2024, Smith described her journey as “struggles upon struggles, but not my will, but His be done.” She shared her life story, from childhood to adulthood, highlighting numerous struggles and the unmistakable assurance of God’s guidance throughout her journey.
Hailing from St. Vincent, Smith’s life has been a testament to faith and divine intervention. After high school, her mother “begged” to pay for her CXC subjects, but there were no funds for community college to do her A-level subjects, so she was told to find a job. Encouraged by the first lady of her church to seek sponsorship, Smith set aside her pride and sought scholarships. Putting all shame and pride aside, Smith said she “begged with a purpose” and was sponsored to college.
Following college, a persistent friend once again encouraged her to study, but she decided to take a job to help her family. Despite failing to secure a scholarship, she borrowed a loan and earned her first degree with first-class honours. Later, she was encouraged to pursue MPhil/PhD studies. Although she initially went home to St. Lucia, she returned to Jamaica a year later to pursue her Mphil/PhD studies having met her now husband.
Another struggle arose shortly before Smith got married, she discovered she had fibroids, and her doctor advised her to try and get pregnant as soon as possible. She was stunned. She recalled that day, she left the doctor’s office and went straight to her pastor’s workplace as she could not understand how a doctor could be telling her to have children now. She was an unmarried Christian.
Smith felt compelled to tell her fiancé about her potential infertility, giving him the chance “to run as she was brutally honest.” He still married her, but the fibroids led to pain and many tears. “We decided to stick it out, and it was hard,” she noted. Month after month, she ended up in tears, not getting pregnant, while the fibroids kept growing. People often asked if she was pregnant due to her protruded stomach.
Smith prayed intensely during this time, more than ever before. She and her husband fasted throughout Lent, including a three-day water fast. She deeply identified with Hannah from the Bible, fervently praying for a child. When no child came, she knew she needed surgery to remove the fibroids.
Smith wanted to do the surgery privately to minimize any risks of not having a child in the future. However, she couldn’t afford it. One day, after a class, her lecturer asked if she was pregnant. When Smith explained it was fibroids, her lecturer immediately called Professor Joseph Frederick, one of Jamaica’s best obstetrician. “She said, I have one of your small islanders; you know she needs to see you,” Smith revealed. He wanted to see her right away, but her lecturer scheduled the visit for the next day.
The miracle continued when Professor Frederick agreed to perform the surgery, accepting only what her insurance would cover. She received top-tier care without any out-of-pocket expenses. The day after surgery, the doctor informed her she had fibroids, endometriosis, and cysts on both ovaries, but assured her that all were successfully removed.
Six months later, she tried to get pregnant again but was disappointed. After many tears, she decided to give up just before her vacation. “I said no more checking ovulation kits, no more pregnancy tests, nothing. Because sometimes you feel all the symptoms, like you’re pregnant, and then something shows up and disappoints you,” she stated.
Smith soon found out that she had planned on giving up when she was “right at the edge of her breakthrough”. She related, with a smile on her face, how she started “feeling some things” which made her think it was her period, but she decided she would just do the pregnancy test as she had nothing to lose. This time she got the result she was looking for. She gave birth to her daughter who today is 10 years old, and several years later she had her son, her wonderful blessings from the Lord.
Still, her struggles were far from over. Four years after her son was born, Smith was diagnosed with breast cancer. Once again, she drew on her faith and sought God in endless prayer.
“Last year for the entire year I battled breast cancer and what a battle!” she cried. People who knew of her struggle called her strong, but they couldn’t imagine the extent of her fight.
Upon learning the news, she immediately called her prayer warriors, recognising the attack and knowing she had to “armour up.” She also bought a journal, determined to write only positive things, no matter what she was going through.
During her ordeal, Smith realised the journey could be lonely. Reflecting on Mark 14:32-40, she shared that just as the disciples fell asleep when Jesus needed them, sometimes you must bear the burden and pray alone.
Dr. Smith shared several messages she received from God during her ordeal. One key lesson was to relinquish control. As a planner who likes things organised, this was particularly challenging for her. She declared, “I could not control breast cancer. I just had to trust in God.”
Counselling also played a crucial role in her journey. She emphasised, “Every single one of us needs counsellors because we have so many things in our heart that we are storing up and keeping to ourselves.” Her counsellor helped shift her thoughts from dying to seeing herself as a fruit tree, producing fruits for others. She was reminded that many people die from causes other than cancer, a reality she witnessed during her journey. Now in remission, she has learned to thank God each day and live one day at a time.
Smith offered her testimony as guidance for others, urging Christians to prioritise God. She pointed out that no matter how busy you are, if something happens to you, your priorities will change, and you will seek God. “Your careers, accolades, and titles will no longer matter,” she said. Smith uses her story to encourage others facing their own struggles to keep their focus on God.
