Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

About me

I was born in a traditional Christian family and brought up in good Christian values (Thanks to my parents and Sunday School Teachers). However, as I entered my teens, I went astray and led a worldly life. I was blessed with a job as a Software Professional in the US after working for a few years in Chennai, India. I married Jessina on 29th Dec 2005 during my vacation in India. Though I realized that it was the Lord who had blessed me in life, I was lagging in my spiritual life.

Diagnosis

We came to the US on 14th Jan 2006 with huge aspirations but our world came crashing down when I was diagnosed with an auto-immune disorder called Ulcerative Colitis on 23rd Feb 2006 after symptoms of severe bloody diarrhea. Me and my wife were devastated by hearing this news as we have never heard of this disease. All the resources that I read online were consistent in one statement – that it’s an incurable disease and I would eventually need surgery to remove the entire colon (Total Colectomy).

An evangelist from India, who visited our home prophecized during prayer was that I’ll be completely cured of this dreadful disease. Though I believed it, I didn’t take it very seriously as whatever I had read on the internet was still on my mind. Somehow, I managed to go to work for a couple of weeks but I had more than 25 bathroom trips every day (bloody diarrhea) and had to be hospitalized. It was just 2 months since we got married and all our dreams of a happy married life were shattered.

Hospitalization

At the hospital, my gastroenterologist put me on TPN using a PICC-line and was given IV steroids. I was told that I would be sent home within a week but I started getting other complications. Three weeks passed and my symptoms were not controlled as I was under a lot of physical & mental stress caused by the disease. I cried every night as I was in severe pain. I couldn’t understand why the Lord allowed this in my life.

The Surgery scare

One morning, I woke with a high fever and severe chills (shivering). The doctor told me that the PICC line (a catheter that’s used for TPN) got infected and had to be removed. But the doctors also suspected a rupture of the Colon and called the Colo-Rectal Surgeons. Two Surgeons stopped by and told me that I had to undergo emergency surgery to remove my entire colon if the results of my abdomen X-ray showed Colon perforation.

I had previously read that surgical removal of the Colon was the last option when patients don’t respond to medication as it’s not reversible and there are a lot of complications associated with this surgery (Total Colectomy). Many patients had reported in online forums that life after surgery was miserable. I had never thought about surgery as I was just diagnosed with the disease and whatever the surgeons told me was a huge shock for me. It was 29th March 2006, exactly 3 months after I got married and I couldn’t accept it. Me and my wife were crying uncontrollably and badly needed somebody to pray before I went for the x-ray.

Surrendering to the Lord

Our family, church members and a lot of other people had been supporting us with fasting prayers ever since I was hospitalized. One of my Church friends led me in prayer and guided me to surrender myself completely to the Lord’s will and I did immediately. As soon as I surrendered completely to the Lord, I noticed a sudden change within me. I felt peace and calmness that I haven’t experienced in the past month and the fear that gripped me had disappeared.

T’was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Later in the day, I was told that the X-ray result was negative but the talk of surgery was not over as my body had not responded to any medication for over a month. I had been bleeding severely for more than 2 months and the doctors were concerned about Colon rupture.  I was told that surgery would be the only option if my body does not respond to medication in the following days.

Neutropenia and quarantine

To make matters worse, my blood test results showed a sudden drop in my White Blood Count (from 10 to 2.5) due to a drug allergy. I was diagnosed with Neutropenia (my neutrophils count was < 1000) and was quarantined as I had a high risk of picking infections. Being quarantined meant that I was moved to a private room and my wife was allowed to stay with me at the hospital. This gave us the opportunity to spend more time in prayer and listen to gospel music.

My White Blood Count dropped below the critical level to 0.8 in the next couple of days. I started having high temperatures at least thrice a day accompanied by severe chills and was given strong IV anti-biotics continuously to fight the infection. A team of Gastroenterologists, Colo-Rectal Surgeons, Infectious disease specialists, Hematologists and General Physicians were monitoring my progress.

Our church members were upholding us in fasting prayers. Lot of people whom I didn’t know before my hospitalization supported me in chain prayers and the Lord answered our prayers. Three days had passed since I was quarantined and by God’s immense grace there was a sudden change in my symptoms. The rectal bleeding stopped and the diarrhea was also controlled. Amidst all the complications related to Neutropenia, this was a great improvement for me and the Colo-Rectal surgeons finally said that surgical removal of the colon was no longer required.

In spite of severe rectal bleeding, the Lord protected my colon from rupture. I still wonder how my body which did not respond to the same medication for more than a month changed just 3 days after I completely surrendered myself to the Lord. I believe it was the Lord’s healing hand that touched me and delivered me out of Colon rupture and Surgery. This miracle was a major source of inspiration in the years to come.

The white blood count started improving gradually and went past the critical levels. The fevers reduced and I was shifted back to the semi-private room after 10 days of quarantine. Just before discharge, my doctor stepped in and told me that I was at a high risk of various complications due to Neutropenia and it was a miracle that I recovered so fast.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
‘Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.

I was finally discharged after 5 weeks of hospitalization and it was a great feeling to be back home. Medically, I was in remission. If my symptoms weren’t controlled, my doctors would have pushed me for Surgery (Total Colectomy) just after 3 months of my marriage and the wound would have taken months to heal because of my low WBC count. All my symptoms changed within 3 days when I surrendered to the Lord and I started having solid food by the time I was discharged from the hospital. I also recovered from Neutropenia quickly and it was the Lord’s mercy that I came through all those perils unscathed.