My husband Rene complained of chest pains for months. On May 3, 2016, we attended church. Rene was having pain, so from church we went to the hospital. The doctors admitted him, and we stayed in the hospital for two and a half days. They found nothing to worry about, so we went home and Rene went back to his usual routine.
In the third week of May, we went to Bukidnon for a family reunion. Rene felt chest pains again when he lifted his grandchildren. We went to a doctor in Iloilo and she confirmed that Rene had had a heart attack based on 2D echo results. Tests showed he had severe aortic stenosis and needed a heart valve replacement and possible coronary heart bypass. We anticipated medical expenses to be more than a million pesos for an open heart surgery.
On June 5, at 3 a.m., my husband complained of having chest pains once more. We rushed him to the hospital and he was confined in ICU because of his critical condition. I asked the Lord where this was leading because it seemed like I wasn’t sure what to pray.The fact is we have prayed for many people and still they died.When I opened my Bible to Philippians 1:21-24, Paul was saying,“For me to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in this body, it will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain…” I shared this with Rene and he said, “You mean I will not die?” I said, “Yes.”
Rene’s doctors recommended immediate heart surgery. I conferred with family, and researched possible help we could have from the government. Finally, we came up with a total pledge of P400,000 from family members. We were still short P600,000. After six days, Rene was discharged from the hospital. We had a week to prepare to go to Manila for the operation.
That week, there was a meeting with church members to raise funds for the church air conditioning system. Being the treasurer, I presided over the meeting. Five minutes before I left for this meeting, my husband mentioned that if he were not going to be operated on, he would contribute his retirement pay for the project. Having known and experienced the principles and promises of God, I said, “I think it should be the other way around.” The scriptures say, “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full–pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.“ (Luke 6:38) Immediately, my husband said yes, without arguing.
I got the full amount of Rene’s retirement pay and gave it to church. We had peace when we left Roxas City for the Philippine Heart Center. When we released Rene’s retirement fund, we also turned over our burden to God. After all, even if we had millions, there is no assurance Rene will get healed.
At the hospital, Rene’s cardiologist told us he had to undergo cardio angiography to confirm the procedures he would need. While waiting for Rene’s turn for the tests, I prayed, “Lord if it is your will, you can go ahead and operate on him so that the angiogram results will confirm you have touched him.”
In less than an hour the doctor called me and showed me the film. Rene didn’t need heart surgery. The doctor couldn’t even see traces of the first two heart attacks. When I heard that, I told the doctor God had healed Rene.The following day, his two cardiologists visited him and confirmed there was no need to perform surgery.
We stayed in the hospital for 10 days to check other heart problems.A cardiogram is the gold standard, but for the sake of comparison they performed 2D-echo again which was also the test done in Roxas City. This one showed a big difference. He had an MRI but they found nothing to do with Rene’s heart condition.
The whole experience just strengthened our faith. It was also a break for me, and we enjoyed the support of friends and relatives. We had lots of food in the hospital, had a free concert by a missionary family, time to meet old friends, and all our needs were met from vehicles to laundry. To qualify for PCSO assistance we had been scheduled to stay in the ward, but instead we were accommodated in a private room with a wide sofa where I could sleep, and we had access to a garden where Rene could stroll.
In times like this, the Father is in charge; we just need to obey. Since childhood I have seen how God provides when we honor him with our tithes and offerings, which came from Him in the first place. Death is not something to be afraid of. If it’s not yet our time, God will make a way to fulfill His purpose in our lives.
