If the above is interpreted literally, I would say that it applies to my life here and today. Following a heart attack in May 1986, I was given an ultimatum by Dr. Michael Sole, at the time research director of cardiology at Toronto General Hospital, to expect to live only 2 years if I did not have a cardiac surgery that would involve the replacement of my aortic valve in the ascending aorta. Out of fear, I went through the surgery on January 25, 1987 - It lasted six hours rather than the expected 3 hours. The surgery was carried out by Dr. Hugh Sculley and involved the replacement of the aortic valve with a mechanical valve and a double bypass surgery. The surgery lasted so long because Dr. Sculley had to sew the enlarged aorta. Time passed-by as I had an echo-cardiogram every year but troubles started again when my family physician, Dr. Shields found I had an enlarged prostate in 2001, followed by aortic aneurysm found in 2002, kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma) treated with a partial nephrectomy surgery in 2005, and stroke in 2007 following my prostate surgery in Montreal. For the depression associated with stroke, I was given an anti-depressant. But throughout the period from 1986 to 2007, I had to take and change heart medication which I still take daily. In July 2008, I wrote an account of my suffering and new life in the post "A Living Miracle" on my blog here: http://todayquestions.blogspot.ca/2008/07/living-miracle.html The reader who wishes to know about the development of my health situation, can read it in the post.
I continue to thank God for giving me life and giving it abundantly. I have to add that since early 2017, my life was again saved and extended through my current physician Dr. Michael Vecchio who is a Christian missionary too. He found a low level of Oxygen in my blood and sent me to Toronto General Hospital (TGH) where again I was cared for by specialists. In February and again in August 2017, specialists at TGH found out the real problem of poisonous Carbon Dioxide in my lungs. X Rays showed that the left lung was not functional as the Aortic Aneurysm has grown and covered it, leaving only the right lung for breathing. This caused me difficulty in breathing when going upstairs that requires some walking exercise to maintain the muscles of the body. Thank God again, I was seen by Dr. Ryan, a specialist in Respirology, while I was at TGH in August 2017. In an appointment on January 10, 2018, she ordered a BiPap machine that helps me daily at night to breath better and to reduce Carbon Dioxide in my system.
I cannot stop thanking our God and Lord who offers me, my family and friends, and indeed the world, abundant life not only here but in eternal life through the Sacred Heart of the God-Man Jesus Christ. I pray the Blessed Virgin Mary to help all in every way spiritually, physically, and psychologically; "for nothing will be impossible for God" (Luke 1: 37).
Note: I am convinced that God, in His wisdom, gave me life abundantly in spite of my pride. I was 32 when my heart troubles started – Near mid-April this year I will be 64 which means that I lived double the expected life if I did not seek the medical assistance. God's love works through medical experts, but why me? Why did He let me live when many younger ones are taken from this life? It is a mystery in God’s caring love for his creation.
Here is something else about
how my life started in a near-extraordinary way in which heaven was involved: When my mother felt that her first
pregnancy was heavy, she implored St. George to help her and made a vow to name
her child "George". When the child was delivered in April 1954, my
father wanted to name him "Shaker" after his father (it is a custom) but as the
doctor closed my mother's womb, his assistant doctor said "there is
something else inside!" so they opened the womb and found me hiding in the
corner inside and took me out. Then my mother rejoiced and gave me the name
"George". Shaker and I are twins...
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