Stories of God’s intervention
Healed from a stroke
Last August I went to my daughter’s wedding, but there were times when I thought I would not be able to make it as on 5 June 2020, out of the blue, I had a stroke and was admitted to hospital. Then after a week, I was transferred to a rehab unit where I stayed for six weeks. The first three weeks were very traumatic as my physical symptoms got worse and I completely lost the use of my right side. I had suffered from a blood clot in a vein in my brain, which is very rare and this resulted in extensive bleeding and swelling.
The world of wheelchairs, commodes and total dependence on others had become a shocking reality. And the damage in my brain initially had a huge impact on my thinking – I was unable to complete simple everyday processes like making a cup of tea so underwent lots of assessments to look at the effect of the brain damage. The rehab centre had the most amazing team of therapists – physios, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and psychiatrists.
It was very traumatic to discover what I was now unable to do. I was also aware that the medical staff were puzzled and concerned that I appeared to be losing ground rather than gaining it. I knew that many people were praying for me, and the verse from the Bible that says: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you” (Isaiah 43:2) took on a whole new meaning. The bottom line was that I knew that God had not caused my stroke to happen. The truth of his goodness and kindness had not changed, nor the fact that he still loved me completely, but there were some very bleak days. I listened to worship music, and one line from a song, “You light up the darkest night”, was on repeat! It really did feel like the darkest night I had ever experienced.
The team began to plan how I could get to my daughter’s wedding in a wheelchair with a nurse to accompany me. The occupational therapist also visited our home to assess how it would need to be adapted for a wheelchair and my projected physical needs.
As well as all the ongoing prayers of so many faithful friends, Chanctonbury Church was offering live online prayer for healing on Sunday evenings, and I was prayed for several times. Each time I felt so encouraged and supported as they spoke words of life and faith over me. Then on one of those evenings, about four weeks after the stroke, I really felt as though something shifted supernaturally. The week before, I had begun to sense some movement in my right leg and, with what felt like superhuman effort, I had lifted it an inch off the floor. It was so exciting but exhausting! However, there was still no response in my right arm. But from that Sunday evening on, my recovery was incredible. I can only describe it as the resurrection power of Jesus bringing life back to me!
One of the occupational therapists said that in her ten years of working there, she had never seen a recovery like it and that it was miraculous! I really looked forward to the therapists’ visits as they were constantly amazed. I began to walk unaided and started to practise going up and down stairs. I was sent home three weeks before my discharge date…with no wheelchair in sight! To be able to be at the wedding, walking and able to fully take part was so wonderful. It was a joy-filled day.
Over the last year, my movement and strength have returned to normal. I am on medication, as it was discovered after I left hospital that the clot had probably been caused by a rare blood condition. I am continually grateful for things that I had not given a second thought to pre-stroke. Only last week we had a few days away, staying on a campsite in Dorset. I was able to walk and climb steep inclines along the coastal path and swim in the sea!
I am so grateful for all the love, support and prayers of many friends and the care and kindness from those involved in my medical care. But the biggest thank you goes to our amazing God and his miraculous intervention in my life!
Sally, via email
Healed of psychosis
In 2010 I got seriously mentally ill, to the point where I had to be sectioned. I ended up in the mental health unit of a nearby hospital. The diagnosis (after the event) was that I had experienced an acute psychotic episode.
I was admitted late Friday night/early Saturday morning and given anti-psychotic medication. In spite of this, for the whole of Saturday I was doing all sorts of strange things, including trying to drink shower gel, which I was convinced was cough medicine. My husband visited me on the Saturday afternoon, when I was fast asleep. He was at his wits’ end, having never seen me like this before. But when he had been seriously mentally ill 17 years previously his father had spoken 2 Timothy 1:7 over him – “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (NKJV). So he sat by my bedside and spoke that verse over me again and again.
Fast forward to the Sunday morning and I was back in my right mind and sufficiently recovered to be able to phone home. My family and my husband were amazed – as were all the staff in the mental health unit, who had told my husband when I was admitted that it could be weeks or even months before I was well again. The staff still wanted me to take anti-psychotic medication on the Sunday morning, saying that it was the only thing that was making me well, but I refused, knowing that I did not need it. Fortunately, they respected my wishes.
I was kept in hospital for a further two days, just for the staff to make sure the transformation was permanent. On the first of those days, I had a visit from one of the doctors who said he had just come to see me because he wanted to have a chat with me about what had happened. He had never experienced it before in the whole of his medical career. On the second day, I was able to speak to a panel of four mental health professionals; they subsequently agreed that I could safely be discharged without the need for any further medication. I have not had another episode of psychosis since.
Praise God for the power of his word and for the reality of his healing, “for with God all things are possible” (Mark 10:27, NKJV).
Hilary, via email
What’s your story?
Testimonies are an important way of encouraging each other in faith and we’d love to hear your personal experiences of God, whether that’s a miracle story or Jesus standing with you in the storm. Email us: womanalive@premier.org.uk
Please include your first name with your correspondence – but do let us know if you want to share anonymously. Entries may be edited for length and clarity.
