An Angel Came

   
            Luke 22:34 "An Angel appeared to him and strengthened him." (NIV)
 

by Annettee Budzban

     I will never forget the incredible blessing I received seven years ago. I can never doubt God's existence, or His love for us, since this experience . . .

     After a typical day at work and dinner with a girl friend, I came home to some distressing news. I was greeted by my youngest son Adam, whose words came at me like a nightmare. "Mom, the hospital called and said Jim has been in serious accident while riding his motorcycle. You need to get there right away. He is in surgery, due to severe brain injuries."

    Being a nurse myself, I knew just how bad this could be. I felt fear stricken. I paused to compose myself as my next thought was  . . . "Pray." As I prayed, it came to me to call a friend from church to alert the Pastor and the prayer chain. After completing this task, my son's girlfriend arrived and we set off for the hospital.

    As I walked through the entrance to the Emergency Room, I felt as though I was in a fog. The first person I saw was my friend Mary who was an R.N.  She explained that she didn't normally work the evening shift, but she was working overtime due to a staff shortage. God had provided a loving familiar face for me. She hugged me as said the comforting words . . .  "I believe he will live." I felt her message touch my heart.

     Mary escorted me to a small waiting room. There I joined my x-husband and my other son. They filled me in on the details as they understood them, while we anxiously awaited further information on Jim's condition.

     Shortly after this, the neurosurgeon entered the room to speak with us. He explained that he was planning to place a shunt in my sons brain to relieve the pressure; due to a malfunction with the equipment he was unable to perform this procedure. He continued on . . .  "I can't promise you that your son will live. We will have to wait. We will be moving him to the Intensive Care Unit, you will be able to see him there."
 
     Upon arrival to the ICU, I eyed my son for the first time since this ordeal. My heart grieved at the site of his convulsing body lying there on the bed. All I could do was pray. The nurses requested that I go to the waiting area, so they could tranquilize his seizures.

      In the waiting area, I was greeted by numerous friends and support people who flocked to our side. A few hours later our pastor, a deacon, his wife, and the friend I had called, arrived and gave us some extra prayer support. We all said a short prayer together as the pastor anointed my son with oil. Then, I slipped down to the chapel with my friend and the deacon's wife. I lost all
track of time as I prayed there. It was just the beginning of an evening that would increase in intense prayer for my son.
                                                                                                            
        As time flowed on, it must have been 11:00 p.m. Everyone was gone including family and friends. My closest friend had now arrived and she joined me in prayer.

    I stood vigilantly at my son's bedside as I prayed over him.  I found my hands positioned to hover over his body, while I waved them across him as I prayed.

     I was caught up in a Spirit of prayer I had never experienced before. I heard a soft voice from inside of me whispering  . . .  "You can't stop, you must keep going."

     As I continued on, my petition was not for the healing of my son, but that of thanksgiving and loving words for my Creator.                
    
      It was getting late. My friend was getting tired, so she continued her vigil sitting in a chair across the room. I was driven to stay riveted right where I was, as the voice continued saying, "You can't stop."  

    Time stood still as I went on and on in prayer. I had no comprehension of it or my surroundings.  All of a sudden . . . I felt an incredible heat coming from my hands and an indescribable peace. The voice gently whispered to me . . .  "You can go now." 

    I  looked at my friend across the room and repeated those words . . .  "I can go now."  Then I walked over to take a seat next to her.

     As I sat beside her, she appeared to be dazzled. Bewildered myself, I looked at her as she said, "When you said that you felt heat come from your hands, and incredible peace, I saw an angel strewn across you.  Her hands were positioned on top of yours, and her hair draped over your hair.  I asked God to please give me a better look. He said . . .  ‘You are seeing her with your heart.'"

    We stared in amazement at each other as we proceeded to leave his bedside to go into the lounge.  Entering there, we found the most peaceful place.  Worship music was coming from the television. It sounded . . .  Heavenly. We marveled at what God had done and reveled in His peace.

     The next few days proved this experience, as the peace continued within me. Each time the doctor's came at me with their gruesome news, "We don't know if he'll make it."  That voice inside of me said . . .  "Don't listen, he'll be just fine."

     Mother's Day was in three days. I started telling everyone, "that is the day Jim will come out of his coma and know me."

     These words came true. Not only did he come out of his coma as I suggested, but within two weeks he was out of the hospital. Within six weeks he was released to go back to work, and the doctor's were startled at his amazing recovery.
                                    
    I was not baffled or bewildered as the doctor's and staff had been. My friend and I got to experience a miracle in the making. We knew exactly how my son was healed . . .  "An Angel Came."

Annettee Budzban 
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