JD Fitz, MD

Christian, Husband, Dad, Papa, Friend, and Physician

Hi there! I'm a retired Internist who's practiced internal medicine for more than forty years. I've been fortunate to have had 52 years with wonderful wife Leigh! We have 3 incredible kids, 3 spectacular spouses-in-law, and 6 really cool grandkids.
I've been an "Above Knee Amputee" for nearly 3 years. I'm gratified that my story of Finding Hope is helping others do just that - find Hope within the contexts of their own visible and "invisible" amputations.

© JD Fitz, MD. All rights reserved.

About Me

I've always been an "outdoor guy" - loving active sports of most varieties. So when a surgical complication of a routine knee surgery resulted in an above-knee amputation, I was lost in my own forest of feelings. As my emotions evolved over time, I recognized a pattern I had seen before in the sufferings of my patients. Further, I felt the hand of God propelling me to discover from scripture what He might say to me, so that I could offer comfort and encouragement to others. This resulted in the book and the ministry of Finding Hope.

Finding Hope traces a 7-stage pathway through suffering which I have researched, observed, and experienced. It is written out of my context of lifelong Christianity, but it is a book for anyone longing to dig into the process, to think through a ("hopefully") plausible belief set which might allow you to get yourself and God "off the hook".- Do you struggle with not knowing why this happened to you?
- Do you wonder how there could be a loving and powerful God?
- Are you (maybe just a tad) skeptical?
- Do you feel alone? ME TOO!This unchosen, adventurous, and sometimes rough trail includes swamps and mountain passes. I'm not a trained theologian, but I am a personally experienced trail guide on our paths. My observations are for those wanting to be valiant and purposeful. I hope to earn your trust, and then give it over to one more trustworthy than I.
The basic question is this: Do you want to Find Hope?

Finding Hope, A Pathway Through Suffering (An Excerpt)

November 28, 2023I awoke frantically confused in the postoperative recovery ward in Seattle’s Harborview Medical Center with excruciating pain located in what used to be my left foot. Icy hot fountains were spraying pure phantom pain down my nonexistent leg. I was overcome. There were glimpses of nurses and doctors floating by, speaking inaudibly. I was irrational, writhing in desperation and panic-inducing, ongoing, breathtaking, bright-red pain in a limb that no longer existed. I couldn’t catch my breath, and my head spun. This was my postoperative status for most of Wednesday afternoon, November 28, 2023. That day led to a long and confusing night and on to days of adaptation, falls, repeated surgeries, and myriad unexpected difficulties as I grew more accustomed to my new status as an above-knee amputee.Wait. Stop. Let me introduce myself in three sentences. I’m a seventy-five-year-old retired physician and a nonretired husband, father, and grandfather. And I’m a Christian with deep roots in my faith, going back generations. So it seemed ironic to me that, despite this background, I “suffered a great deal under the care of many physicians” - much like the hemorrhaging woman in Mark 9.Who is this book for? People ask me this question frequently when they hear I am writing a book. Although therapeutic for me, I wrote it for those of any faith who are interested in maintaining or discovering faith in God and continuing to live in relationship with Him despite their suffering. I have spent over sixty years as a Jesus follower, and for the past four, a profoundly wounded one. I hope to be a help to others who may be limping along this path of suffering and experiencing a sense of spiritual abandonment along with their pain...Although I have felt lost, this book is about finding a path to “Hope” and discovering the love and grace of God through it all. We all suffer, albeit in differing ways. And, I believe we all can find Hope I aim to earn your trust through my authenticity. If I fail to do so, stop. It won’t be worth it. Give me a few chapters, though. You might be surprised and glad that you did. What could go wrong?
JD Fitz, MD

About Leigh

Leigh and I have been married for over 50 years! We remain best friends and true soulmates. I am encouraged, enlightened, and utterly, overwhelmingly cheered by her presence!
Leigh is an author and oil painter. Her works are featured on her blog [www.Leighdfitz.com] and in her book Art and Soul, An Artist's Reflections available on Amazon via the button below.

Let's Collaborate

Finding Hope is a book AND a ministry resource - for yourself as well as your friends, and family. After reading it, you might consider referring Finding Hope to your pastor or to those in counselling or medical practice. Or, you might want to invite others to read it with you and discuss in a small group environment.Please know that the books are available in bulk (>20 copies) at only $6.50 + shipping for the soft-cover version. Feel free to contact me using the [form] below with an order for these (as only the author has access to this price).To be clear, I make no royalties on this book. It is "missional" to me. Therefore, I can recommend it without any financial interest in it's purchase.I am also available for facilitated workshops and weekly Zoom-group sessions lasting 60-90 min per week for 8 weeks. Again, you may contact me via the form below to get more information or apply. Expectations include reading and discussing the Finding Hope principles in our meetings and agreeing to purchase 20 copies (at bulk rate) of Finding Hope to be delivered to you to distribute as you see fit.
Blessings, JD

Thank you

Thanks for contacting me. I will be in touch. Let's please respect each other's contact information as if it were our own. And, before you go, check out Leigh's work as well! JD