On Saturday night 15th February 2015 Marnik, Suzy’s 21 year old son, had a strong headache. He had gone out that night and had a few drinks, so Suzy thought that was probably the reason. On Sunday morning she noticed Marnik wasn’t well at all. The doctor on call came at once and he immediately called for 911 and the medical emergency team. Marnik’s left arm and leg were paralyzed, his mouth was slightly crooked but he still could talk. There had been a lack of blood supply in a large part of his brain, the 24 first hours would be critical. If the pressure in his brain would increase too much, surgery would be necessary. Suzy told her sister Linda. She had talked with Hugo right away before service on Sunday morning. The congregation prayed for Marnik. The pressure in his brains remained within the limits and surgery wasn’t necessary….thank You, Jesus!
Swallowing was very difficult. The second day he could only take a sip of water. Marnik was put in a chair with a tray table. His head dropped to the tray… he couldn’t even sit up right! Still Suzy believed from the start that God wanted and would heal him. It gave her peace and she was so calm, also when speaking with the doctors. The neurologist thought she didn’t understand the seriousness of the situation and so he kept repeating what had happened and how serious it really was. After those first critical hours had passed, the doctors talked about a revalidation period of months perhaps even years… but that was of course without regard to God!
A few days later new examinations revealed the affected brain area wasn’t quite as large as they initially thought… another wonder!
After three days Marnik could move his left leg a little bit and swallowing became gradually easier… he could eat some custard or soup. Marnik was often depressed, he couldn’t see through, but this was being prayed for as well!
The second Sunday in church, the people prayed extensively for Marnik’s complete recovery. During that prayer Suzy saw an image of Marnik dancing, praising God and being very happy. She told him the image, Marnik had tears in his eyes. Now Suzy could finally talk with her son about her faith. As a child Marnik was on fire for God but after his parents’ divorce at the age of 13, he turned away from God and didn’t want anything to do with Him.
Psalm 40:2-4 featured in the ‘Good News’ of that month, encouraged Suzy a lot:
“He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock and established my goings. And He had put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.”
She prayed with Marnik every day and she could read the Bible with him.
Slowly Marnik progressed. By Monday 23rd February he could eat everything again. The doctors discussed admittance in a revalidation ward, adding there was a waiting list…. Another prayer topic! The next day Suzy learned there was room for Marnik that very week…thank You, Father!
On Wednesday 25th February Marnik could lift his leg a little, the next day he would move to the revalidation ward. It wasn’t always easy and Marnik would get frustrated at times, but again and again people prayed for him and he continued!
Sunday 1st March they went for a walk with him in a wheelchair. It was a dark day, rain was forecasted, but Suzy prayed and there was not a single drop of rain! The next day he could walk with a tripod walker plus support, on Tuesday he moved his left little finger for the first time! If everything continued this way, he could go home for the weekend… and that’s what happened. By that time he could get out of his bed in the wheelchair and back on his own. Around that time Suzy sent a message to Marnik: “Give God and His Kingdom the highest place in your life. He will take care of you in everything.” (Matthew 6:33)
That first weekend at home everything went fine, but it was really busy… many people came for a visit!
The next week in the hospital Marnik gained more and more strength in his leg and he could walk down the corridor for the first time with a walking stick and some help. The following weekend he could go home again, but this time without wheelchair! In the following week he could close his left hand and open two fingers again… his hand started to cooperate again!
Once more Suzy was encouraged by Gods Word, this time by Isaiah 29:14 “Therefore I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder…”
God would finish His work!
The next weekend Marnik could walk in the house without support. In the week that followed he became impatient… he wanted to go home. The neurologist wanted him to wait a bit longer.
The following weekend at home he walked up the stairs to the second floor!
On Tuesday 31st March he was finally released from hospital but he had to continue the complete revalidation program: every day from 1 to 4 o’clock physical, occupational and speech therapy at the hospital in Bonheiden. This in itself is a miracle: normally a non-resident patient has maximum 2 hours revalidation a day at the hospital and speech therapy is never included… the social worker was very astonished and said that to her knowledge this never happened!
On 4th April Marnik was discharged from the hospital. As for now he still has 3 hrs of revalidation every day. He is walking without walking stick, his mouth is functioning al lot better and his left hand is catching up little by little…
When Suzy asks him: “still being hopeless?” he replies “why would I?” Not so long ago it was a different story, but why would he be hopeless… we have a great God Who restores him completely and isn’t that reason enough to have hope.
