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My Operation in October 1997

Two years ago (almost) I had an experience which I feel will be with me for a long time if not always. To some it may seem like nothing much, yet, based on stories I have heard and my own experience I would say that my experience with my wisdom teeth operation was a confirmation of God's presence and care in my life. I will keep it short - otherwise nobody will read this!!

I remember my experience very clearly. As my wisdom teeth were beneath the gums and in an odd position I would need to be 'put to sleep'. As it so happened I am glad they did because one of my teeth had to be chiselled out from the jaw bone. Hence, I was very anxious the night before the operation. Two things got me through the operation - thoughts of my up and coming trip to Europe the following December and a small prayer, which I said every time I experienced extreme anxiety and fear - "Jesus, I trust in You". I remember thinking just how much that prayer actually did help. Thinking of Jesus being in control did have an impact but the prayer also gave me added strength.

I went into the operation with the attitude that I was prepared to suffer and to offer my sufferings, together with the passion of Jesus, for sinners. From my teenage years I had understood this special calling of all Christians - as the salt of the earth and as part of the mystical Body of Christ -our very life, including our prayers, sufferings and joys, indeed everything, can be united to the sufferings and merits of Jesus and have power to be used by God for good. St. Paul speaks of this mystery when he says in Colossians 1:24 "I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church". So, I expressed this attitude to God in prayer.

Below is a diary entry i made on October 10, 1997 and describes how I felt the day after the operation.

10 October 1997

My experience yesterday was miraculous! After my panic attack earlier in the week in Sydney, when I didn’t get to sleep until 4.30 AM, experiencing heart palpitations, I experienced very little fear whatsoever - throughout the 4 hours I awaited the pre-op, the hour and a half until the operation, my presence in the theatre etc. I felt that God was with me all the time, as well as our Blessed Mother and my angel. The aneasthetist said I was nervous when he discovered he couldn’t get access to my vein. I said that I was actually quite calm.

After what seemed like 2 minutes, I had awoken. I got out of the hospital at 8.30 last night. I had been a bit nauseous so they kept me in longer than planned but I was fine. I didn’t vomit at all. It is now the following afternoon and my face is still partly asleep. I expect there will be more pain. But, if I have learned anything , it is that God is faithful. How can I judge him when I don’t always know the rules?

After this, I continued to feel no pain from my operation. What was even more evidence of God's grace was what the specialist said when I went to see him two weeks after the operation. "You must have experienced much pain" he told me, and I responded, "Actually I haven't had any pain at all".

I wondered why God had done this for me and I have speculated that, apart from the fact that Jesus loves me very much, He wanted me to thank me for being willing. Maybe He was saying, "On this occasion, your faith and trust was all I wanted".

I won't forget this moment of grace in my life.