“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” Psalms 119:105
Waiting.
Two days after the stent was placed, I went home to recover. Six days later the most unexpected event in my life so far occurred.
Six days after arriving home was Sunday. I was recovering well. Rena had gone to church and I stayed home, watching the live stream service. Worship and the sermon were awesome with Pastor Steve preaching on being thankful. I reflected on how thankful I was for God’s presence and healing in Part 1. During the alter call, I raised my hands and wept, thankful for His goodness.
That was when I experienced the most unexpected event in my life so far. In the middle of weeping and praising God, I experienced severe chest pain and significant tingling in my head and arms.
God is God and I am not, but I did pray to Him over and over that I didn’t understand. And then I called 911.
Ok, let’s pause here and again go back to the 26-year-old father of two boys at the birth of his first baby girl. When she was born, she was blue and unresponsive but eventually had a weak cry. She was flown by helicopter to a regional neonatal intensive care unit. After two days, her father was told that she had less than a five percent chance of survival.
I went to the UNC Chapel Hill hospital chapel and prayed a prayer I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. “Dear Lord, please spare our baby”, a simple prayer. God’s presence filled that chapel and He spoke four words that changed my life, “You will be ok”. I immediately realized what God’s words did not say whether Bethany would be ok, but that I would be ok. This was God’s promise to me, and to you, that no matter what our burden or cares today may be, we are all in God’s hands.
Ok, back to 2025 and the ambulance ride, my first time riding in one. I explained to the EMTs what had happened and told them that I didn’t understand why this had happened. I was praying and being blessed! Back to the emergency room, back to tests. One of the cardiology residents said that she just had to ask what triggered the pain. The EMT reports indicated that I had been watching an “emotionally intense TV show”. She wanted to know what in the world I had been watching. I told her.
Waiting.
Then I found out the ‘why’ during another heart catheterization on Monday. They found a 79% blockage that had been previously missed. Yep, you got it. Weeping before God and thanking him during that altar call led to the ambulance ride and test that found that second blockage, which would otherwise have been a future heart attack waiting to happen.
Then, things got complicated. A stent couldn’t be placed on the second blockage because of where it was. It took the cardiology team three days to decide how to proceed. The only viable option was bypass surgery, complicated by an anticlotting drug that I had received for the stent, which needed to be out of my system before the surgery. The drug had to be replaced with an IV drug administered in the hospital. It took five days to clear the drug out of my system. I lay in a hospital bed for five days before I could have the surgery.
Then, for our final hospital miracle, the bypass surgery has two options. Option one, open heart surgery, has an eight-week recovery time. Yes, two months for the breastbone to heal. Option two, robotic surgery, has a four-week recovery time. Much quicker recovery, but robots are in high demand. Since I was basically lying in a hospital waiting for the surgery with the looming risk of another heart attack, the open-heart surgery was scheduled for a week later.
But, if you’ve been paying attention, you know that God answers prayer. The day of my surgery, an hour before my scheduled surgery time, a robot became available and was used on me!
I had cabbage surgery, the funny name that they use for Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) surgery.
I don’t believe that I am that special. I’m an ordinary guy, not the best or worst Christian out there. My Story of Peace (Parts 1 and 2) shows that ordinary people can receive extraordinary grace and mercy extended from our wonderful savior Jesus.
The scripture above says that God’s Word lights our path. We don’t see a beacon in front of us revealing our full path. It would likely scare us if we did. Sometimes there is just enough light to see one step at a time, and we trust in Him as His will is revealed over time.
One of my favorite songs is “It is well with my soul”. The first verse says “Peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll. Whatever my lot, thou has taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul”.
“It is well with my soul”, just like in that emergency room, is not based on a works scorecard. It is based on a relationship with Jesus Christ. I urge you to examine your relationship with God. You don’t have to be perfect but should probably avoid ‘Lets Make a Deal” with God when this type of crisis occurs.
My testimony today is that peace like a river is already available for you. The Bethany story and this story have proved that in my life. As you face obstacles big and small in your life, what will your story be?