My Testimony of Healing

“I shall not die, but live and declare the works of the Lord”- Psalm 118:17

In August, 2004 I went into hospital for a hitatus hernia operation which had caused a paralyzed diaphragm resulting from a car accident many years prior. Surgery to repair the hernia was to take about two hours and a five day stay in hospital. I was elated as I had suffered breathlessness for quite a few years and the condition was growing worse.

My daughter, Lisa and granddaughter, Amanda flew from the United States to be with me and spend a few days helping me recuperate at home. In reality, it became a ten and half month stay in three different hospitals. I had no idea I would be grappling with near death and a fight for my very existence.

During surgery my oesophagus was punctured by mistake. They did not realize this until the third day when I began drinking liquids. The liquids were pouring into my chest cavity through the hole. I fainted into my daughter’s arms. Unconscious, I was put on a respirator as I could not breathe on my own. A few days later Lisa and Amanda had to return home not knowing if they would ever see me alive again.

I woke up in intensive care where they had given me a tracheotomy. I also contracted MRSA, the

hospital super bug. My chest was raging with infection. An intensive care nurse told one of my

pastors I was not going to make it. I could no longer walk, talk, eat or drink. I spent months in

intensive care and had a series of surgeries. I was battling for life.

Late in November, 2004 I was transferred to another hospital where they put feeding tubes in my

stomach. There was another surgery to try to correct the mistake made from the previous surgery.

My family were told I had less than a forty percent chance of surviving. Again I found myself in

intensive care, being hoisted out of bed into the chair beside. When I was hoisted up I could see out

the window to the street below. I had walked on that street many times. I began to declare, “One day

I will walk on that street again.” But first, I had to learn to stand, walk and talk again.

In February 2005, I was transferred to a private Christian hospital, Burrswood, in the Kent

countryside. Upon admission doctors knelt to pray for me. I knew I had made the right decision in

choosing this hospital. My specialist, Mr. Atkinson, even knew about it and approved my transfer.

They had healing services twice weekly which I attended in a wheelchair. The grounds spanned over

230 acres of beautiful countryside with a stunning view from my window. I benefitted also from their

counselling and rehabilitation ministry. Thanks to their rehabilitation program I was now able to walk

and climb stairs.

On arriving at Burrswood, I was still being fed through a feeding tube as my oesophagus had not

healed. I also had an open wound from the initial surgery which had not healed. Each day I was

prayed for by the doctors and nurses for about four months. During my stay my oesophagus was

divinely healed and I was able to start eating and drinking. It was truly a place of healing.

Burrswood had healing services in the church every Thursday and Saturday. I would go to each

meeting and Sunday services in a wheelchair as I was not strong enough to walk that distance from

my room. As I was not allowed communion so they prayed for me each Sunday. On Easter Sunday

2005 after service, Dr. Michael Harper handed me a little chocolate Easter egg. He told me to put it in

my bedside table in my room and one day I would be able to eat it. I put it in the drawer in my

nightstand. A couple weeks later I pulled it out of the drawer and ate it. In a routine x-ray on my

oesophagus they found that the hole had disappeared.

As time to be released was approaching, doctors were still concerned that I was only able to eat small

bites. Their fear was I would not be able to eat enough to sustain my strength; I would need

supplements via a feeding tube. They began teaching me how to feed myself with the feeding tube. I

asked them to remove it as I did not feel I would need it long term. Reluctantly, they went away to

discuss and pray about it. They decided to proceed with removing it. The feeding tube was taken out

three days before I was discharged. I was praising the Lord. Somehow I knew the Lord would do

something powerful.

Mid June, 2005 I was released home, at which time I was on several medications: anti-sickness, anti-

depressants, sleeping tablets and various other medications. I still had an open wound which was still

infected with MRSA and needed dressing three times a week from my local General Practitioners

office.

A month after being released from Burrswood I flew to the United States to stay a few months with

my daughter and family. I was quite frail so a friend accompanied me. They learned how to dress the

wound and took very good care of me; making me get up, get dressed and put on makeup. A friend

introduced me to manuka honey which my granddaughters put on the wound each day. Shortly after

arriving I stopped taking all medications with the advice of a doctor, as I no longer needed them. I

was now eating more regularly, although still in small portions.

I returned to England a few months later resuming tri-weekly visits to the GP surgery to dress the

wound. I told them about manuka honey on the wound. They were hesitant until my tissue viability

nurse said dressings were now available with manuka honey. My MRSA infection disappeared.

Because of the blunder no other doctor wanted to attempt the close the wound nor treat me; so it

looked as though I would have to live with an open wound. One surgeon said it may be my cross to

bear. I said, “it is not my cross to bear as Jesus already bore this on the cross”. A dear friend found a

Harley Street specialist hospital and surgeon who was a Christian. After seeing him for about a year

and a half, his office called to say they wanted to make preparations for the wound to be closed. He

was able to close the wound. Where other surgeons said this was impossible as it would not last; the

Lord proved them wrong. It has for 15 years now. With God, all things are possible!

While the initial hernia was never fixed properly, I thank God for His miraculous healing power and

the authority of prayer. While I still have an issue with the hernia and fatigue, I can eat, drink, walk

and talk, whereas I once was not able to do so. And, I have not given up hope that one day the Lord

will complete that which was started! People from all over the world, known and not known, were

praying for my recovery. I know that the corporate prayer of agreement does change things.

My consultant surgeon said, “I prevailed against all odds; it must have been the prayers that brought

you through.” He asked, “Who will you be giving credit to, Him or me?” as he pointed upward. I told

him, “Both of you, because you were the most prayed for doctor there ever was.” He smiled.

While many things are not possible with man, With God, all things are possible!