I have to keep my promise and tell you all about this

[Rhubarb]

Because I promised God I would.

dh is going on holiday on Sat with a dear friend. This friend of ours never has any luck at all. Many years back he saw a woman getting beaten by her boyfriend, he intervened and got the living shit kicked out of him by this boyfriend AND the girl he'd tried to rescue. The stress brought on an underlying eye dystrophy. For years he made do with deteriorating eyesight and couldn't drive. Then he had a corneal transplant and regained the sight in one eye, the other was considered too much of a risk to operate on. He was able to drive, got a good job, his own place etc. Then 2 years ago nearly he was out with a friend and they got into an argument. He, admittedly, threw the first punch, but the other retaliated and punched him with such force in the face that his good eye literally 'burst' and his lens came out.

They failed to save that eye. But he refused to blame this guy, saying that he threw the first punch (even though he didn't actually start the argument) and the other guy was just defending himself. They even went on to write songs together afterwards. But as you can imagine, his sight was now very bad as he only had his bad eye to rely on. The doctors didn't want to do a corneal transplant on this eye as it really was too much of a risk, so, 18 months later they've come up with a special lens. It's like a contact lens, but he has to train his eye to use it and his cornea has had to be stretched to accept it. He had it about 6 weeks ago and was chuffed to bits with it. Booked this holiday with dh and we thought things were looking up.

Then last weekend we got a text off him to say that he was in casualty. His eye had developed an ulcer and they were trying to save it. He said the holiday would have to be cancelled.

I prayed. I got the kids to pray. I said 3 decades of the rosary and promised God that if he did this one thing, if he saved his eye, I would never doubt him again. I would bring my children up in faith, I would say a whole rosary and I would tell everyone what he had done.

The following day our friend had an appointment with the consultant who said that it didn't look as bad as they initially feared. He's on strong abs and he agreed that he could go on holiday - although without the lens he wouldn't be able to see much at all. We then had texts on Sun from him to say his eye did appear to be clearing up. Yesterday he went back to hospital and the consultant is amazed at the progress. His eye is healing remarkably well and if it continues at this pace, they would consider letting him wear his lens by this weekend, in time for his holiday!

I am so so pleased for him and so utterly grateful that our prayers were answered. I'm a cynical old hag sometimes, but this king of thing has happened before. I ask for proof, and then when that proof comes I tend to think "oh well, that would have happened anyway!" Not this time, I have a promise to fulfil.

So hopefully I can give any doubters some hope that he does sometimes listen, and that bargaining does sometimes work!

[katiek123]

oooh. i am SO pleased for your friend rhubarb, so so pleased. i've just been outside in the garden chatting to God (a rare occurrence since i have more buddhist leanings than anything else) and having a little low moment over some of my patients and my perceived failings as their doctor. so it's LOVELY to hear your story with its twin themes of the spiritual and the medical! thank you

[Rhubarb]

When I was a kid I just used to presume that God would answer my prayers. I knew he may not answer them in the way I wanted him to, but he would answer them. I never once questioned him. And yes, I did have prayers answered, including another medical one.

Now, to my shame, I find myself praying 'If you're real....' which is awful! I pray as a last resort and even then I feel almost ashamed to be praying.

But this time I got the kids involved, they possess much more faith than we do. I got my rosary out. I pleaded and bargained. And if I doubted now I would be a very poor person.

[ajandjjmum]

We can all be guilty of that Rhubarb. Thrilled for your friend - wishing him well.

[sobloodystupid]

thanks for sharing that story rhubarb. How wonderful!

[MaryBS]

That's incredible, Rhubarb!

[wahwahwah]

So lovely to have good news for a change.

[JohnnyTwoHats]

Fantastic

[BetsyBoop]

brilliant story, so pleased for your friend

Having had two eye ops for a detached retina & my catract done in the last 6 months, I can empathise to some degree with what your friend has been going through (although his situation is far worse obviously). Sight is such a precious thing.

I'll say a pray for him too & ask for his amazing progress to continue.

[Rhubarb]

His eye is going from strength to strength. Last night he was able to wear his lens for a little while. He's a very happy bunny! Just hope no other catastrophies await them during their holiday - he's got to get from Preston to down here first by train. Knowing him he'll end up in Glasgow.

I've insisted he get travel insurance that covers his eye!

[Jux]

Thanks for telling us. I'm glad your friend is doing so well and hope it continues, and that he enjoys the holiday.

[totalmisfit]

i totally agree, Rhubarb. Whenever i pray for something and it happens i have a canny knack for dismissing it and forgetting it ever happened. Really hope your friend recovers fully, sounds like he's had some rotten luck (and some good friends to pray for him and pull him through)

[BelfastBloke]

Cheers, Rhubarb.

[copycat]

Ah Rhubarb praise God ... and you are! That story has made me smile and brought a tear to my eye. I so hope that your dh and friend have a blessed, healthy and happy holiday and that you are also refreshed, uplifted and encouraged in your faith :-)