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“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Hebrews 4:12, NKJ). “

There is nothing so mighty as the power of prayer. An Elder’s wife of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in March( 2026), prayed over me two days before having a main aorta heart valve replacement. Her persistence, stern expression, and powerful words to Heavenly Father pleaded for my life; it was my personal death row in a surgical operating room that would last approximately seven hours. No matter how comforting and encouraging words from family and friends extended, nothing penetrated more in my mind except that woman’s prayer for God’s intervention -a woman I hardly knew. Faith and desperation depended greater on God’s saving grace than on the surgery awaiting that frightening morning.

Since childhood and throughout my adult life, I have taken life for granted, reassured that my physical well-being would never fail; how wrong I was. Always awakening to a glimpse of the sun and blue skies, except for those rainy and snowy days. God blessed me for decades to enjoy His creation, UNTIL!!!

I have not written for a few months because of illness, in addition to having writer’s block, a wandering mind, and no motivation. So, writing these thoughts in ink (keyboard), I am brainstorming where this train ride is taking me.

Over the past few years, an increase in shortness of breath. and coughing uncontrollably (asthma/allergies, etc.) increased. While on occasion, it landed me a couple of trips to a local hospital for congestive heart failure, and heart specialists began looking more closely.

Before treatment and surgery, disputes between a hospital cardiologist and a pulmonary doctor could not determine whether my medical condition was a result of heart or lung issues until heart doctors explored the heart through various catheterization processes, scans, ultrasounds, echocardiograms, and X-rays. Specialists determined that a severed and leaking main aorta needed replacement. A surgery date (March 2026) was reserved. It was something I never thought would happen so suddenly, and I had to understand the earth was a ‘short-stop’ for humankind–I could not exist here forever.

The gloom for surgery arrived and was wheeled into the early morning operating room. The prayers from the elder’s wife stuck like a glue stick on my mind; it was the only plea to where I might be in the event I did not return to this life. Disregarding the positive intentions of the greeting anesthesiologist, who reassured me how well all would be, my thoughts dwelt more on the inevitable as I entered the operating room. I became intensified with fear and overwhelmed by the cold atmosphere and all-white walls and ceiling. Masked surgical technicians and a hundred fingers immediately launched on my being. Suddenly, the anesthesiologist placed a mask over my nose and asked, “Where are you from?” I replied: “New England, formerly.” And the Doctor replied: “So, you’re a Red Sox fan.” I began to respond, and the lights went out.

ICU (Intensive Care Unit)...a day and a half later.

The Power of prayer from the Elder’s wife reached the doorstep of God’s Kingdom. I was saved by grace and not by the bell. When I awoke in the ICU, I thought about this woman praying before my surgery.

In the ICU, I was wired with devices like a puppet on a string. I was told the length of my surgery and how long thereafter I slept before awakening. I knew God’s grace and love reached out to me. Skilled technicians and a chief surgeon were most important and instrumental for the outcome and success of this surgery. Subsequently, the deciding factors of life and death are from God.

Each month, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints welcomes a congregation to share a brief testimony significant in one’s life and experiences noteworthy to the Gospel of Jesus Christ or the Book of Mormon, reaching out with messages of hope, perseverance, and faith, regardless of any situation. And to know through Jesus Christ, Heavenly Father intervenes in our best interest, regardless of how one might suffer.

 ²⁸ Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am ^[f]gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light (Matt. 11:28-30, NKJ).”