After 3 days of feeling sick I went to see my GP. He prescribed me some medication and advised me to go back and see him if I didn’t feel any better.
By the weekend, there was a burning sensation on the side of my stomach. I was hoping the prescription would do the trick, so I gave myself time to recover. On Sunday, I went to the service at the Universal Church of the kingdom of God (UCKG) and spoke to the pastor. I couldn’t walk properly because of the pain so the pastor called the ambulance.
At the hospital, I was immediately taken into the emergency room. The doctors did a scan and after two hours, two doctors and some specialists came back to me asking if I had travelled abroad or drank acid. I said no. The medical team then confirmed that the tissue on the left side of my stomach was rotten and I needed to undergo an eight and a half hour operation to remove it. I was shocked!
Right: The scar from Joseph’s operation I had a 50% chance of survival, and if I survived, I might not be able to walk. I was given the option to sign the consent form to proceed. I signed the form and said, “My God, I give my life in Your hands.”
The operation went ahead, but there was a complication along the way, and so they aborted the procedure. At 2.30am, the hospital called in my wife and informed her that, during the operation, I was bleeding heavily and that a hole was found in my stomach, which meant that no medication could remain in my stomach, and that I was clinically dead.
I was put in intensive care for one week. Thereafter, my family were asked if my life support machine could be switched off, given that things didn’t look too good. Only a miracle could bring me back to life.
My family told me that the pastor of my branch came to pray for me regularly and also anoint me with the Holy Oil. I believe that the medical treatment coupled with the spiritual help I received really played a positive role in my eventual recovery.
I remember feeling a hand touch my heart and hearing a voice telling me to wake up; suddenly, I opened my eyes. I turned my face to see who had touched me, but no one was there. Not long after this, a doctor was passing by the room and noticed my eyes open and called my name three times. I responded very slowly as I didn’t really know what was happening, I didn’t even know where I was. All I could remember was someone touching my heart and telling me to wake up, but I couldn’t see anyone!
My family were called and informed that I had woken up. It was all too much of a miracle for everyone, including the doctors, as I had “died”. After recovering, doctors told me that they needed to go ahead with the operation to remove the rotten tissue that was still there. This time the operation was successful. The wound healed bit by bit until I was discharged and, after one year, I returned to full-time work.
I believe that God performed this miracle through a touch of faith! I am also thankful to the pastor who came to anoint and pray for me often, my family, and my employers for their support; not to forget the amazing on-going support and care I have received from the medical team at the Homerton Hospital. It’s so good to be alive!”
Joseph Obeng