Christmas Day, 2005, Part 2...

When Dorothy and I went in to see Kechi, her temperature was fine, her pulse and blood pressure were fine and she was stable. That magic word.

The plastic surgeon, Dr. Slabbert, (Dr. Nel was on vacation) had seen her and was going to have her back in the OR the next day to clean her wounds and check on their state. The physician, Dr. Pahad, examined her and said she was better than the day before and the infection finally seemed to be under control. God be praised!

Kechi was super-responsive that day, moving her legs when we talked to her, moving her head, and even trying to open her left eye. I asked permission to touch her and the nurse said yes. So I had to kit up - disposable apron, gloves - and look for a patch of uninjured skin to touch. 

I finally settled on a spot on her shoulder and stroked it gently. It was such an awesome moment for me. That was the first time I had touched Kechi since the accident...

To be continued...

Christmas Day, 2005...

I spent my praying time thanking God for the best Christmas gift He could have given me - my daughter's life. But I also had a burden in my heart and in my spirit for all the families with grief instead of joy on that day. I prayed for God to continue to comfort them and my mind kept going back to the seconds before the impact, when they must have realized that the plane was going to crash. 

I was probably punishing myself, but I kept praying that they went to Jesus without pain and agony. I even asked Jesus to promise me that they were all with Him. By this time, I was quite upset and melancholic, and went downstairs for breakfast with a heavy heart.

I was now missing Mike in earnest and was glad he would be coming soon. I prayed that Kechi would look better so that he would be able to handle seeing her.

I had been dehydrated for a few days, following a bout of diarrhea, which explained why I was feeling so weak, so I forced myself to eat, took some drugs I got from the pharmacy, as well as the multivitamins Betty had bought for me since the previous week, which I had ignored. I gave myself a serious talking-to. I could not afford to fall ill, so I prayed for healing for myself...

To be continued...

Thankful For My Daughter And For The Days Unfolding...

Christmas Day, 2005...

I spent my praying time thanking God for the best Christmas gift He could have given me - my daughter's life.

But before I continue with this story, I thought I should share this video on Kechi's graduation speech. I hope it inspires you... Do let me know what you think.

"Christmas Day 2005", to be continued...

Pause The Past, Basking In The Present…

My daughter Kechi... yes, the one all the testimony I am telling is about, did a post on her facebook page a few days ago. I thought it was so profound, and I felt I should share it here to bless you. Click here to like her page on facebook, I am CERTAIN you won't regret it.

HEY GUYS! 

Been a whiiiiiile huh lol, sorry for the extended absence… I was just thinking. 

Exactly 10 years ago today I'd been awake from a coma for only a couple months and I couldn't move or speak, I couldn't even breathe without tubes down my throat. Now, I'm lying in my bed, binge-watching Criminal Minds, and my only immediate concern is that I need to stop being so lazy and start working out.

Life is so weird, isn't it? 10 years ago, the doctors in South Africa were sure I wouldn't survive what they called 'a huge insult to her body'. Today I'm a college graduate, about to start my Masters in the fall, God willing.

Sometimes when it's dark all around you, it's all you can see. Light seems non-existent, or maybe it's there but it's just so, so far away or so, so small. Press on! Press on because when you give up, it's just over and done, but when you don't… the possibilities are endless!

I can't tell you how many times my faith has pulled me from the brink of hopelessness in the past 11 years, and how many painful things I believed would be a part of my life forever that aren't an issue today. There was a time my scars would never stop itching as they healed, and it drove me mad 24/7. I cried every single day for years because of it. 

Today it takes about 2, 3 days off my drugs before I feel even a slight discomfort. I didn't see this kind of progress in my future 6 years ago, not to talk of 10, but here I am.

I don't know who this might encourage or IF this will encourage anyone at all, but I sincerely pray it does…