So after 3 weeks in hospital-2 in Llandough and 1 in the Heath, I am eventually home after having an ERCP procedure yesterday. Basically, the endoscopy-like procedure removed the obstructions from and cleaned out my bile duct and also took a gallstone from the duct. All being well, I'm on the road to full recovery but I will need to have my gall bladder removed at a later stage.
I have lost a lof of weight due to being in so much pain after eating, and needing a low-fat diet whilst the bile duct was blocked. About a month ago I was 95KG (14 stone 13, or 209 pounds) now I am 83KG (13 stone 1, or 183 pounds). I'm actually now about the correct weight for my height and build but it hasn't been a good way to get there, and my energy levels are very low.
I'm convinced that the prayer support I've received over the last weeks has been crucial, and I am overwhelmed and humbled by the folk who have lifted me to the Lord in prayer. There have been a few times when I was in so much discomfort and so mentally drained that I wasn't really able to pray much myself, so to have the assurance that others were interceding on my behalf was tremendously comforting.
As far as I can tell, and this might not be an exhaustive list, the following were praying:
*My family, here in Wales, in parts of England, and in the USA.
*My church, City Temple- pastors visited me regularly to pray, and the congregation prayed on several occasions. Many members called, texted, sent cards, visited, to assure me of their prayers.
*The guys on the Third Day MAKE YOUR MOVE TOUR- I had regular emails from either Lott the tour manager or some of the guys in the band themselves, to remind me that they were praying.
*The Ignite office here in Dinas Powys, Wales, joined in a day of prayer and fasting for me, initiated by my friend Emmanuel Jonah and Ignite Liberia as they mobilised the whole of our Liberian network to pray.
*The Ignite India network, Gateway Pastors, Pastor Prasad's family, spent several days in fasting and prayer for me.
*Third Day fans from all over America, gradually realising I wasn't on the road with the guys, let me know they were praying.
*Missionaries in the Philippines, in conversation with Queenie Chen ( a doctor who is a member at City Temple) realised that I was her pastor and mentioned that many young people in their church read my youth ministry books. They arranged for the young people to pray!
*Several other churches lifted me up on the prayer network, in their home groups, or in their services.
2Cor. 1:11 You and your prayers are part of the rescue operation—I don’t want you in the dark about that either. I can see your faces even now, lifted in praise for God’s deliverance of us, a rescue in which your prayers played such a crucial part. The Message,
Wow....shows how you are loved by so many, Nigel.
Praying for increased strength.
(Ask your doc if you can take high potency B-complex vits from health shop..)
Posted by: Teresa (auntie gomer) | 04/07/2011 at 09:47 PM