Prayers Answered

Prayers answered


Little did my husband and I know while sitting in the waiting room that he would only have two years to live if he didn't get surgery. The news was quite a shock to the both of us. I couldn't stop the tears flowing down my cheeks. Even with the distressing news, I felt blessed as we left that day. If it wasn't for the Holy Spirit prompting me to get my husband to see the doctor a month before, the doctor wouldn't have done the heart test. My husband Burton always avoided doctors so I helped to save him in a sense and I was grateful to God for His guidance.

Burton ’s had a heart murmur since childhood, but now he needed three valves replaced. His heart was only functioning 25 percent and blood would back up into his lungs. It's no wonder why he would always get respiratory infections.

We had a big scare when Burton 's health started to decline rapidly. I felt like I was watching him die on me. He had to get dental treatments in order to have surgery because of the threat of bacterial decay moving to his heart would have been fatal. The dental clinic appointments were few and far between and Burton needed a lot of dental work done. We couldn't afford to go to a regular dentist so we had to be put on a long waiting list. I felt time was running out.

It got to the point where Burton couldn't eat and at the time we thought he had a virus that was going around. He was nauseated and bloated and would only drink nutritional drinks.

It wasn't until I noticed he was short of breath and his ankles were swollen that I panicked. Although my stubborn husband blamed his swelling on the summer heat, I had a different opinion. I tried to get him to go into the ER but he refused. He wanted to wait until his next appointment with the cardiologist which was only a few days away.

I packed some things for the hospital since I knew it didn't look good. He could barely breathe and I even had to help him get dressed for his appointment.

We took a taxi and the hospital staff had to get Burton a wheelchair since he was so short of breath. The doctor came in and I couldn't stop crying and shaking. He said, "You have severe congestive heart failure. It is almost too late for surgery."

Burton was admitted to the hospital and they gave him various medications and fluids. He felt better right at first, but still had the bloating. His stomach looked like it wanted to pop. Then he threw up blood and I knew something else was going on.

A CAT scan showed a non-cancerous blockage that needed to be removed. I wasn't worried that it was cancer since God eased my mind the night before and gave me the wisdom that it was just a blockage. Now the heart surgery would have to wait and I was so afraid they wouldn't get to him in time.

I fell on my knees to God and prayed. I gave Him all my burdens and gave my life over to Him. All I wanted in the whole world was for Burton to live. I would have given anything for that.

Not only did Burton have an intestinal blockage, but he had hepatitis due to alcoholism. He wanted to quit drinking and now that he was hospitalized, it was the perfect opportunity. Shockingly, I found out that Burton had a massive heart attack as well. He said he was having excruciating pain one day while I was at the grocery store, but he never told me. Somehow he survived it. I knew God was looking out for him. It wasn't his time to go yet.

I prayed for Burton day and night. It was hard for me emotionally and physically. It was hard for me to eat and sleep. I was living at the hospital every day practically for six weeks. I held his hand while he was going through alcohol withdrawals and I was there to help take care of him.

While sitting in the waiting room when Burton was having abdominal surgery, I cried and God spoke to my heart and said "You came up to Oregon to save Burton not have him die on you." It was the encouragement I needed since I felt so alone. This was the first time that we were apart and I just couldn't bear a permanent separation from my soul-mate. He just couldn't die on me.

Many times my faith was tested during this period. A chain of events occurred and at times it seemed Burton wasn't doing well then all of a sudden he would improve. Then the doctor gave Burton the okay to go home.

Nine hours after Burton came home he had a coughing attack and I was afraid his stitches would burst open. Then a little later I noticed a few drops of blood on the bathroom floor. Just as I was going to ask Burton about it, he was asleep. Poor guy didn't get any sleep while in the hospital so I didn't disturb him. It wasn't until morning that I saw that his shirt was drenched in blood. He looked like a war victim.

We called for his nurse to come and fix his wound dressings. We thought maybe she could repair the damage and do some stitching. When she arrived she took a peek at Burton 's abdominal area and said, "Uh oh, this doesn't look good. I need to call 911" and Burton went back to the hospital via ambulance.

Burton 's stitches ruptured like I had been afraid of, but he was in good spirits that day and joking with all the nurses. He was a trooper and now it was time for a surgical repair.

After the surgery, it was discovered that Burton had an infection and was running a high fever. It was such a long struggle and he was in the hospital for another two weeks. Burton certainly had a lot of heart. Not only is his heart big physically, but also emotionally. "God please save him." I kept praying. I had to have faith everything would be okay.

I never prayed so hard in my life. My mother bought me a prayer box keychain and I put in my request on a small piece of paper for Burton to "Live a long life and to have heart success."

Burton came home and I was nervous as ever, but God assured me not to worry this time that Burton would heal nicely. The doctor's said Burton is a miracle patient, and I know that God bestowed upon Burton grace and mercy to save him.

Two years later and Burton finally got his heart valves fixed. It's amazing that he made it so long without the surgery. The doctor's were baffled. I know it was God's big miracle that saved him and I thank Him for answering that one prayer that I wanted more than anything else.