The reason behind this post is that, i have my own story of a miracle as well.
On 14th november 2008, my father suffered a heart attack, with no previous history of ill health, this came as a shock to everyone close to my father. I believe God works his marvels in many ways, and his plans for us will unravel itself with time, only if we trust him, keep faith and be patient as his love for us is patient.
The first thing which struck me is the coincidences which in turn led to the saving of my dad's life. God's plan? i believe so. My dad started the day as he would any other day, he sent my brother to the bus stop, my mother to work. Felt nothing amiss, just as he arrived at his workplace, he felt a strange gripping feeling at the chest, he felt whobbly, subsequently he collapsed to the horror of the collegues near him. Now the for first miracle, my dad could have collapsed anywhere from the time he dropped my mother to work to the time he reached his own workplace. the outcome would have been much more catastrophic had he collapse while driving.
I was at that time, in camp, when my sergeant shouted for me, he had received a call from my brother saying my father had collapsed and is on his way to the hospital. my heart dropped, i felt fear i had never felt before, i could be prepared for anything but not that of my father collapsing.
The following few hours, were the longest hours of my life. my father had barely escaped death, his heart had stopped for 1-2 minutes while the doctors were operating to save him. The outcome was that his heart muscles were so severely damaged that only just a little less than 20% of his heart was left to sustain his life. i could still vividly remember the heart surgeon's words that day, "i would describe your father's condition as a massive heart attack, he is lucky to even come this far, most would have gone by now. Lets just say every moment he lives, is a moment saved."
I could not believe it, a day ago, everything was fine, we were living healthy lives, in our own nice and comfortable world, and now, the bubble is burst. there was too much emotions for me to bear in just a few hours of nightmare.
My father was transferred to SGH a few hours later, where the doctors continued to assess his condition and performed emergency procedures. Their words were too, almost similar to that of the doctors at TTHS. We were told to prepare ourselves for the worst. that night, i kept vigil at the hospital, waiting for even the slightest bit of good news, that night, for the first time in a long time, i prayed, prayed to God, prayed for his grace and mercy.
A week passed with no real good news, my dad was limping on, threading on thin ice that would seemingly collapse anytime. i feel helpless, looking at him from outside the glass panel at ICU. He had been sedated all this time for his own good. I cried, out of fear, out of desperation, yet i am constantly in the awareness that my mom and brother needs a strong pillar of support only i can provide.
I prayed each day, pray to the Lord i lost my faith in a long time ago, a God that i had forgotten all this while. I asked for him to help me, help my father, help my family.
I got my answer soon enough, always remember " God works his marvel in mysterious ways" The 2nd miracle which God provided in my eyes, was the reunification of my family, that is, my mother's siblings whom i had not seen for more than 8 years, due to some petty differences. Especially my mother's twin sister who was informed of my family's plight and rushed down, the years of petty differences were thrown out of the window as my aunt embraced my mother and it was at that point in time i felt, it was a beautiful moment in a difficult time. And even now, my aunt would drop by every week to go shopping with my mother, go for a family meal together.
The 3rd miracle i felt was from auntie Kwan, who said to me, " child, i encourage you to attend the Novena at Novena church, its a church where miracles comes to those who believe and hold faith in God's grace. in my desperation at that time, i was ready to embrace anything that could help my father's condition. That saturday, i attended the Novena, its was that day, that changed my life forever. I feel peace, i felt at ease, the kind of feeling that a huge burden was lifted off my shoulders. I feel God with me, helping me see things in a different light, i felt strong, i felt the love of the Virgin Mother, praying for me.
My father's miraculous recovery spanned over a few months, it seemed long and at every turn, his recovery seem to hit a roadblock, but i never lost faith, instead i believe i start to see a part of God's plan. instead of procastinating, i grow from strength to strength, i start to take charge of my family's finances, start to feel a sense of urgency, i became proactive. life goes on, regardless of the difficulties that comes along the way. Everything happens for a reason, God has his plans for us. indeed, i believe there is some good that came out of my father's illness. I became stronger and more mature as a result, that, for me, is the 4th miracle.
My father's condition was to put it mildly, dire. he was so near to recovery and yet, close to death, every treatment he received was a double-edged sword. But he soldiered on as i continued attending Novena, i believe that one day, he can be saved. "The greatest satisfaction in life is that we learn from adversities and believe some good will come out in even the darkest of times, that the good, can only be God's grace." With my new found faith, i decided that even though my father was lying in the hospital fighting for his life, i should go on and complete the marathon i had signed up for, my first ever marathon. Even thought i lacked training due to the crisis, i believe my determination would inspire my father, give him confidence in this difficult time. The 5th miracle, i completed my first ever marathon in 4hrs 8 min. I never stopped praying throughout the run, it was a spiritual journey for me.
The 6th miracle came on a very meaningful day, it was exactly 3 months since my father had his heart attack, on 14th february 2009, (also valentines day) my Dad got his heart transplant. It was a day i had been praying for, a day i believe God had repayed my faith in him. that the Virgin Mother and I had been praying for. Faith is with me every step of the way. My faith was rewarded that day.
The 7th miracle followed a month and a half later where my father was discharged and came home after nearly 5 months of suffering and ordeal.
The Lord works marvels for us, holy is his name, i have been greatful ever since, attending Novena every week, praying for the Lord to watch over my family, thanking him every step of the way for his miracles.
