For the last several months my mom has had a difficult time breathing. The doctor ran some tests and found that there was a valve in her heart that was leaking. She needed to have open heart surgery to repair or replace the valve. Many years ago she was diagnosed with congestive heart failure so due to her current health condition, the surgery would be very high risk. Mom’s ejection fraction was 36% (a normal, healthy heart is 55-70%). The decision her and my step dad had before them, was not easy. If she didn’t have the corrective surgery then it would have eventually resulted in heart failure and if she did decide to have the surgery the chances were high she wouldn’t survive. Mom knew in her heart she had to have the surgery and soon. She had gone to the doctor a few times but it seemed there was always a delay in getting the surgery scheduled. Finally, the date for her open heart surgery was set – Monday, 12/19/11.

Mom has had open heart surgery before and had her share of hospital visits but this one was different, she requested that all of us kids were there. When I came in for the surgery, she told me to take home the special light night I love so much (its two turtle-doves that so beautifully lights the upstairs bedroom where I stay). I knew mom was feeling something in her heart she didn’t want to verbalize to any of us.

We had a nice visit that weekend. On Monday morning we all headed out to the hospital and waited patiently in the waiting area while mom underwent the surgery. Six hours later mom was out of surgery and it went well. The first hurdle was behind her. We were so thankful God had pulled her thru the surgery. She now had another hurdle to get over and that was the healing required to get her off of the breathing tube. They expected her to be in intensive care 7 to 10 days. Mom did incredibly well after surgery, better than anyone had expected. She got out of ICU in a couple of days and was moved to a regular room. I headed back to Chicago with plans to come back when she came home from the hospital to help her and my step dad.

That week I had a dream. My mom was in the hospital and had died right before me. I was by her side praying for a miracle. But in my dream it was up to the surgeon (the man upstairs) when he would bring her back to life (not IF but WHEN). When I woke up, I couldn’t wrap my head around it because the surgery was behind us now and mom was doing wonderful. I told my sister and said, “Well maybe I am seeing what happened while she was in surgery last week because we were praying the whole time on Monday.” But I knew in my heart God always prepares me for every major event in my life through a dream so He was showing me this for a reason.

I called to check on her Friday, 12/23 and mom wasn’t doing good. I was reminded of my dream and knew I had to go. I packed up my car, arranged for the kids to be with their dad and hugged them tight telling them I loved them and asking them to pray for grandma. Samantha didn’t want me to go. I kneeled down and said, “Honey, grandma needs me. She is very sick. I know it is Christmas but it could be the last Christmas I have with her and I know in my heart I have to be by her side.” She hugged me even harder – there just weren’t any words that could be said at that time to make it any easier.

I got to the hospital and I could tell Mom was relieved we were there with her. My sister and I stayed at the hospital in her room. It brought me back to all of the times I was the one in that hospital bed over the holidays. During those times I always had an extra sense of comfort and peace when someone would stay with me. It felt good to be able to do the same for my mom. They had put her on a bi-pap machine at night to help her breathing. Christmas Eve I told Susan I would stay with mom so she could go home to be with her family. Christmas morning while I was helping her God gave me a vision of her walking down the hall in her gown. I was so thankful and had hope that soon she would be up and walking. Mom was doing okay and seemed to be pretty stable so I thought I may head home for a day so I could see the kids on Christmas (it’s about a 3 ½ to 4 hour drive to Ft. Wayne, IN). My step dad, sister-in-law and sister would be coming to the hospital late morning so we would work out a schedule so someone would be with her and she wouldn’t be alone.

Mom was tired and wanted to rest but couldn’t get comfortable. My dream played out in front of me again and although she looked okay I felt she could slip away any second. I pressed the nurse’s button. The nurse tech came in and was trying to check her oxygen thru her finger but it wasn’t registering. She was trying to warm up her finger to get it to register.  I looked at her and said, “Something is wrong, something is really wrong – please get help, please.” I know they medically know better than me but my heart knew any minute she would slip away just like in my dream. I am so thankful the nurse ran out to get help and didn’t question it even for a second. As soon as she stepped out of the room to yell for help suddenly, I mean within a matter of seconds, mom’s lips turned blue, her eyes opened wide and were unresponsive. Her pupils instantly reduced to the size of pins. I then saw my mom’s spirit leaving her body. I prayed and prayed and prayed asking for God to save her … please bring us a miracle on this Christmas day, please Father.

Within moments her room was flooded with doctors and nurses and they made me leave the room. I called my step dad, sister and brother and told them mom was coding and they needed to get here as soon as possible. I stood in the hospital hallway alone praying for a miracle. Soon I felt the Angels surround me and flood my mom’s room (since my miracles, God has blessed me with seeing Angels ascending and descending from Heaven just as it is written in scripture). I knew everything was going to be okay despite it appearing that everything was anything but okay. My step sister was crying and scared, my step father was petrified at the thought of losing his wife. I had this unexplainable peace beyond comprehension. From the outside I’m sure it must have looked cold and uncaring but I had peace that I couldn’t describe because God had prepared me for all that just happened. As a result, I was able to be His pillar to help bring comfort to my family while it appeared everything was crumbling around us.

They hooked mom up to the breathing machine and settled into ICU. They did a test on her heart to see why she took a sudden turn for the worst. The doctor came in the ICU and was sharing the results with us – results they did not expect to see. Her ejection fraction worsened after surgery instead of improving. It was now 20%. The outcome did not look good. I said, “Doctor we are praying for a miracle.” I shared with him a little of what has happened in my life and despite what seems medically impossible it can become possible. I smiled and said, “God gave me many miracles and can do it for my mom too.”  I have to say many doctors look at me like I’m speaking a foreign language when I share my experiences but this doctor I could feel that his heart held onto hope right along with us.

My sister shared a dream with me that she had Christmas Eve. She dreamt that mom was sitting up happier than ever saying it was rough but she feels incredible now. I said, “Susan we have to hold onto that. God is showing us what is to come. She’s going to be okay.” She said, “I hope so.” I said, “She is.” Mom made a miraculous recovery, within two days she was off the breathing tubes and doing unexplainably great. She was full of life more than I have ever seen her. She began to tell us how she didn’t remember anything that happened on Christmas day. She said, “But I saw myself grayish and I looked dead.” She described exactly what she looked like Christmas morning. I said, “How did you see that?” She said, “I was out of my body.” I had chills run through me because I saw her spirit leave her body. She then said she was in a room that she looked up to the ceiling and it was the most beautiful bright pink you’ve ever seen. I wanted to cry because to me pink has always symbolized God’s Pure Unconditional Love. She said she then saw Angels floating all around (different colors like rainbows but the most vibrant you have ever seen). Tears welled up in my eyes, I saw the Angels flood her room and know those colors all too well :) She said, “I then saw the brightest white light I’ve ever seen.” I smiled and said, “Mom, God sent you a miracle on Christmas day just like He did me. What you just experienced has forever changed you. It is impossible to experience a miracle and not bring a piece of Heaven here. Welcome to the Miracle Club.”

I look forward to mom sharing that Beauty, that Love, that Light with the hearts around her. We are all so thankful for the best Christmas gift any of us could have received … Life being returned to a very special heart, a very special woman … our Mom.

We ARE in the time of Miracles … Believe.

With much LOVE, hugs!!!

Ammie :)