Your Witness
After a powerful retreat I remember thinking I wish I had a “story.” I learned we all have many stories! Some may not be as earth shattering as others but all need to be shared because someone needs to hear it! The definition of a witness is a person who sees an event. So to be a witness, for God, you just have to share what you have seen. I have to share one of my most recent stories of God’s goodness!
A few weeks ago my daughter, Sarah, had a successful surgery and was in the UNC PACU (Post-Anesthesia Care Unit). I panicked when I was told they were taking me to the consultation room and a doctor would come talk to me. My prayers were many and I prayed, specifically, for several things. I prayed with an unknown doctor who came in to tell me they were going to do a "procedure" because Sarah's lungs had collapsed and her blood pressure was below 70. They were trying to find the first surgeon. I asked her to tell Sarah that I was praying and that God was in there with her. I fell apart as a panicked mother but I heard God tell me, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. I am with you and Sarah.”
I remember asking God to heal Sarah. I thanked Him for being in that room with her and I asked that the Holy Spirit blow through that room so that everyone in that room KNOW, without a shadow of a doubt, that God was there and in charge! I asked that they know they were witnessing a miracle. Not knowing what surgeon would be available, I asked God to bring the right people to Sarah right then. And I thanked Him for how he would use this in Sarah’s life.
Hours later as I was escorted to Sarah, I shared my prayer with this man. He looked at me so funny and said, "oh, God WAS in that room! It was all God!" He went on to tell me how traumatic it had been. Since he was dressed differently I asked what he did. He said he was a paramedic. Weird! I asked why he was there. “I was just walking by and saw they needed help!" Chills! Thank You, God for answering prayers!
When I got in the PACU, nurses were hugging me and visibly shaken. They were telling me how traumatic things had been. Sarah later told me her version. She knew she could not breathe and told the anesthesiologist who dismissed it as chest pressure from surgery. He ordered an EKG which came back normal so he said she was fine. Sarah, while trying not to panic, kept telling them she couldn't breathe. She could hear the noises from the machines and everyone started running around yelling, "stay with us." A resident doctor came in and stood by Sarah. Seeing Sarah in danger and turning blue, she took charge, over her superior, and ordered a cardiac work-up which is what found the collapsed lungs. She could not breathe!
Sarah said she took her mask off long enough to ask the resident if she prays. The resident said yes and prayed with her. She held Sarah’s hand and did not leave her, except to go into the hall during the chest x-ray, where she stood so Sarah could see her. Sarah asked if she was going to die and they told her they were doing all they could. Two days later this resident came to visit and told us she knew Sarah was a miracle. She went on to say she was not supposed to be there that day. She “was walking by and saw they needed help!” Chills! Thank You, Jesus, for hearing our cries and being in charge!