Over the years, I’ve often been told that one day I would be on the Oprah Winfrey show. Well, friends, that day recently came.

No, my body wasn’t on the sofa with “the Big O,” but my spirit was. I was in my family room on my own sofa, and what I heard reduced me to tears. What I heard was my own story.

On a recent show, Oprah interviewed four people with bipolar disease. Two were famous actors. One was a doctor at Johns Hopkins Hospital. The other was a mother who lost control in 2005 and killed her 5-year-old son. She is now serving the next 42 years of her life in prison. But for the grace of God, I could have been that mother. You see, I gave birth to a bipolar child at the age of 13. Unfortunately, I didn’t know it until decades later. He didn’t get the help he needed. My child gave birth to a bipolar son. He didn’t get help either. And that son’s twin sister (not bipolar) gave birth to a bipolar son.

In case what I’ve shared with you sounds complicated, let me simplify it. There are four known generations of bipolar disease in my family. That includes me! That’s right. I am bipolar. But the buck stops here!

It wasn’t until this year that I began to suspect that I might be bipolar. It was during the time that I wrote my autobiography, “Born Grown.” If you’ve read my book you know a lot about my life and the life of my family. I knew that my son and grandson had been diagnosed as adults, and I knew that I had some of the same symptoms. But I didn’t want to admit that I had the disease.

You know how we Christians are, especially if we are leaders, we don’t want to confess anything “negative.” So I made up my mind that I wasn’t going to “give any place to the devil.” In the meantime, more and more of the symptoms began to appear. It is said that stress triggers bipolar disease, if it hasn’t already shown its ugly face. Well, the loss of my dear husband, Rev. Eddie Edwards, was my trigger. It brought on a great deal of stress in my life. Widowhood is not easy, even when you’re healthy.

It was over a month ago that the Lord told me to initiate a public awareness campaign throughout metropolitan Detroit. He told me to share my illness and set an example for my family and others who might be struggling with this debilitating disease. God has always used me as a pioneer, so I wasn’t surprised when He instructed me to “go public.” Out of obedience, I’ve always said yes to the Lord. I’m committed to use every opportunity presented to me to start citywide deliverance against bipolar disease. I am bipolar, but I am victorious and the buck stops here!

At my birthday party, I will share my next move against this disease. I plan to tell my story in the newspapers, on the radio and on television. I plan to get on a podium, a soapbox, someone’s bandwagon, or a street corner. (Well, maybe not a street corner) Wherever God opens the door, I plan to seize the moment. Someone you know may be bipolar. It may be you. Please pray for me as I go forth under the power and the anointing of the Holy Ghost. After the show, I wrote to Oprah and asked to be a guest on her program. I expect to receive a phone call soon.

My 65th birthday party will be on Thursday, Oct. 11, from 6 to 9 p.m. at All Saints Episcopal Church, 3837 W. Seven Mile Road.
Reservations are not required.