It was just gastric pain, I thought, but it became worse on a Monday night. I writhed in pain the whole night and dragged myself to school on Tuesday morning. Seeing my pale and contorted face, my concerned colleagues demanded that I go to see a doctor immediately, but I flatly refused. I was more in a dilemma than in pain as I think back. It was the busiest time of the year, right smack in the middle of the final exams.
“Who will do my work if I go back? I have to submit a number of reports. I have to mark the exam papers. I have to collate the results and prepare the final analysis. I have to complete my School Excellence Module report.” With such thoughts racing through my mind I decided to bear the severe pain and stay on in school. My colleagues had to literally evacuate me from school.
At the hospital I was kept under observation from 10am till 2,30pm and the diagnosis was ‘acute colic’. When I returned home with my husband the pain grew worse. I was throwing up even sips of water. By 5pm my condition grew worse and my husband rushed me back to the hospital. This time they admitted me saying I might have gall stones. A scan taken the following day showed something else. The doctor told me that I had obstructive Para-umbilical hernia and needed to be operated on early the next morning. He said that the part of the intestine, which was obstructed, could burst thus endangering my life. Even then, the doctor said that the operation involved a risk because of the hernia operation which was performed in my umbilical area in 2008. According to him the mesh which was placed in that area (It was secured with 8 swiches and 16 staples) had to be ripped off and that would cause some bleeding and scarring. To remove that, he said, they would have to cut me open vertically and horizontally.
My head spun upon hearing that. Numerous sms’s were made to my family, colleagues and friends in church. Everyone prayed fervently and kept enquiring about me anxiously. My family was with me all the time. Church friends sent out prayer requests and continued praying fervently. Some church friends came to my side to pray that night. My colleagues came to visit and cheer me up. I was greatly consoled and felt immense peace in my heart. I knew God was in control and that I would not need an operation. Although frightened of the unknown, I surrendered the unknown into the hands of my Lord Jesus, thanked Him for my family, colleagues and friends and dozed off. That was the first time I slept peacefully in that whole week.
The next morning my Prof entered the room with a team of doctors saying that the operation will take place at 10.00am as scheduled. Upon examining me he was surprised. (So was I) There was no pain when he pressed on the affected area. He could not feel the hardened obstruction which he had felt the previous day. He told me that the obstruction had moved from where it was lodged. Therefore, he said, that the operation was not in immediate need, but if something like hardened bowel gets lodged in there anytime I would have to be operated on without a question. Therefore I must ensure that constipation never occurs.
It was a time of jubilation for all of us. We thanked God the almighty for hearing the prayers of His people and healing me.
This was a very good learning experience for me. First I learned that I am not indispensible. When I fell sick the work which I had left behind was completed by others. Secondly I learned that by my absence a vacuum will be created in the lives of my loved ones. I learned that, that vacuum can only be filled by God. Thirdly I learned that good health is never to be exchanged for anything in this world. One cannot do anything worthwhile in the absence of good health. Next I saw the goodness in those around me and grew to love them and appreciate them even more. My family who were there all the time for me even when they had to attend to important things, my friends who prayed around the clock sacrificing even their sleep and my dear colleagues who notwithstanding all the mountain load of work they had during the most busiest time of the year, after SA2, chipped in to cover all my duties without complaining. That was the beauty I saw in each one of them and I appreciate their help in my time of need and I owe them a lot. Finally I learned that when God’s people pray in faith claiming His healing, He hears them and healing takes place without a doubt.
I thank my family, my friends and my dear colleagues for their unflinching help in my time of dire need and I thank God my Father Almighty for letting me go through this experience and teaching me important lessons which I will treasure all my life.
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