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A True
Experience
Written at Greenville Memorial Hospital, Greenville SC - September 8, 2005 Heart Surgery and Repair- In
April 2004, while
working part-time in
the Bi-Lo Photo Lab,
I experienced about
40 minutes of chest
pain. My wife,
Kitty, urged me to
call my physician
for an appointment.
Testing and follow
up seemed to go very
well. The doctor
told me that there
was a 50 percent
blockage, but it
could be treated
with Plavix and an
aspirin. There’s
nothing to worry
about, you’re in
good hands.
Physically, all
seemed to be working
well. However, in
March 2005, I began
to feel tired more
often. I took
frequent naps or
just could not stay
awake for long
periods, and on
occasion had dizzy
spells where I
caught myself from
falling. As my wife and I began planning which doctor we should see for our medical needs, we learned a young doctor would be coming to fill the void created by our physician’s sudden departure. We made appointments with this new doctor in August 2005 to conduct our physicals and to learn more about her.
The new doctor
turned out to be a
wonderful, caring,
physician who
immediately handled
our medical needs
with excellent
attention to detail.
We were pleased.
During my visit, the
doctor reviewed the
April 2004
report of results of
my stress test and
asked more detailed
questions. She was
concerned because
the test was over a
year old, with no
follow up stress
testing. She called
I called my brother,
a seasoned
cardiologist in
The
cardiologist appointment
was August 26th
at I relied on the doctors, and called my brother for advice and reassurance. I knew nothing of these heart procedures and had no real choice. While in the hospital the doctors talked with my brother and he said, “go for it, you don’t have but one other choice Joel.” When I met the surgeon, he impressed me with his attention, kindness and quiet manner and I asked him to proceed. Surgery was set for August 30, 2005. The condition was too critical to send me home, so I remained in the hospital after the halted catheterization procedure. After a long, but successful surgery and appropriate healing, I returned home on September 6, 2005. A thank you paragraph is inserted here to tell my readers that this hospital stay was not stressful because of many caring and dedicated people. The hospital nursing staff cared for their patients with love and kindness, making us feel more like pampered guests in a 5-star hotel rather than patients in a hospital. The entire hospital staff worked as a well-oiled machine, pulling together more closely to heal their patients than is imaginable. On a scale of 1 to 10, they rated a 10 in every category. Surely, you picked up comment on the gentleness and expertness of my doctors. It was a good experience and I need to share this with each that contributed to my heart healing. In addition to everything going so well for me, there is another factor that MUST be shared: my vision, which I want to share. Sleeping deeply on Monday night before surgery, Jesus Christ visited my room. He was cloaked with what appeared to be grey netting from the top of His Head to the floor where He stood. His profile was clearly visible to me – strong, lovely, and peaceful – similar to the many pictures we have seen in churches. His height was average and weight about 150 pounds. Joel, I want to introduce you to My Father. The Father appeared almost identical to His Son and dressed in like manner, with the grey netting from the top of His Head to the floor. Yes Joel, this is My Dad, and a pleasant smile appeared on each face. You may think we have come to take you to Heaven, but Joel, you would have been blinded by Our Glory and Grace and been there if that were true. I wanted you to meet My Dad and let you know that all is well. We are personally invested in each of Our creation and assure you of Our Peace and Love for you, Joel. The two then rose slowly to the top of the room and were gone. Wow! Did I immediately awake? No, I had to savor this moment of Peace with Christ and His Father! Shortly, I did awake and was filled with wonder and the assurance of Peace that came down to visit with me in this wonderful vision. Before being taken to surgery many thoughts filled my mind. Should I tell anyone of this vision or should I be silent?
I pondered what Luke
said in Acts 1:3.
After His
suffering, He showed
Himself to these men
and gave many
convincing proofs
that He was alive.
He appeared to them
over a period of
forty days and spoke
about the This scripture seemed to suggest a sharing of the vision with you. It is very encouraging to me that Christ, The Father, and The Holy Spirit are Alive, Personable, and touching the lives of each who believe in Jesus Christ. |
