I remember the day well as it was my dad’s birthday and even though it was only morning, I was looking forward to return home to celebrate his birthday with the rest of the family when I received an SMS that James’ mum was struck down with a stroke. Initial scans showed it happened on the left side of her brain which caused immobility to the right side of her body and it left her speech impeded as well. As it was a massive stroke, a more detail scan was needed before the doctor was able to give us the diagnosis and prognosis and the medical treatment needed.
Evening came and the scan revealed grim results which required the family to make decision to operate on James’ mum. Doctor advised to gather all family members who are not in Singapore to visit James’ mum soon and to prepare for the worst. The decision was not an easy one for the family to make as the operation has a mortality rate of 50% but yet without operation James’ mum will be constantly in danger.
When Christine SMS us the news and suggested we sent text messages to James to encourage him, many ones fasted for God’s healing hand to be upon James’ mum too. James shared that night he was at a lost of what to do until he started to receive words of encouragements via SMS from brothers and sisters in Christ in JEDI. He was so encouraged and hopeful he was able to encourage his family members!
As the family decided to go ahead with the operation, the doctor dropped another bleak news saying the operation would no longer help James’ mum in any way as the damaged done to the brain was too immense. The doctor prepared the family with the worst-case scenario with James’ mum slipping into coma; her body would turn black due to obstruction of blood flow and finally she would pass away. Many ones in JEDI began to fast and pray together even more fervently for a miracle to happen and visited James’ mum whenever they could, during lunch time, after work, over the weekends and brother Yoppy and Roland even stayed overnight with James in the hospital.
Despite what the doctor said, we continued to look to God praying our requests onto him and slowly but surely, we began to experience the fruit of Matthew 18:19-20:
19″Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.
20For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”
James’ mum defied what the doctor predicted and did not slip into coma, neither did her body turn black. Her strength started to return and day by day, she improved little by little and soon she was able to respond to us with a smile, with a squeeze of the hand and even hi-5 (requested by sister Kelly J).
The family started to arrange for James’ mum to return to Chiang Rai to continue to receive medical treatment and be closer to family members as well. Finally, 15 days after James’ mum came down with stroke and defying doctor’s prognosis for her, she was able to return to Chiang Rai. Though short, the 15 days felt like forever to some of us. What happened to James’ mum was not only a miracle for him and his family, but it was a blessing for all of us inJEDI as well. It was 15 days filled with praying and fasting as we come together, allowing Him to work through us to support James and his family and how sweet it is to witness his miracle, answering our prayer request. Through this experience, I felt brothers and sisters in Christ in JEDI have grown closer and it is such a blessing to belong to this family of God.
Ecclesiastes 4:8-10
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:
10 If one falls down, his friend can help him up.
Come 