undergo operation four days after my initial diagnosis, another provision from God.
GOD’S LOVE IN ACTION Now, my concern turned towards my family. How would my wife cope with our two kids? It was already a challenge when I was fit, healthy and present.
to tending to our patch – children, marriage, work, and finances – that He had been cut out of many of these aspects of our lives. Through this ordeal, God reminded us that when we ask, He hears. And delivers. We just have to obey, no matter how tough it could be.
How would my wife cope with our two kids?”
STAGE 2: RECOVERY Unknown to the both of us, a Trinity pastor who visited me at the hospital had gotten in touch with some of my former carecell members. Our family had not been regular in attending the carecell because of our trying work schedules while caring for the kids. She saw our family’s needs and asked for volunteers to help my wife and children as I went through the surgery and recovery. And volunteered they did. While I spent time in the hospital, various people from the carecell helped out: feeding or entertaining my children, bringing the kids to play during the weekends, or ferrying all of them to visit me. They really came through for us. One of them even sacrificed his mornings to ferry my wife and son to work and school during the haze period. “You’ve been the church that I read about in Acts – giving of all you can,” my wife told this friend. She is not wrong. I previously thought that we only receive God’s love through worship or His Word. I was wrong. These “care acts” were God’s love in action. This season was also a time for my wife and I to learn to obey God. In this case, it was to depend on God for everything. We were so used
Before surgery, my doctor had detailed my expected recovery timeline: 1-2 days in the ICU and 7-10 days in the general ward. I would be assessed on suitability for rehabilitation before being transferred to another facility for 2-3 weeks more. In all, my time in hospital was expected to be about six weeks. By God’s grace, my recover time was shortened to a total of 21 days and I was discharged on October 9. I know that God was there in every step of my recovery process. For example, I was transferred to the rehabilitation hospital on September 30 and had my first physiotherapy sessions a day later. I was still slightly unsteady on my feet and my head felt heavy. I was also easily tired. During the first session, the physiotherapist had me do a balancing test where I scored 44 of 56 points. Usually, people would achieve a perfect score. A weekend passed and physiotherapy sessions resumed. Activities such as kicking a ball and endurance walking were attempted and overcome. Another balance test was conducted on Tuesday. My score: full marks! That was another tick off the mental 3 5