When I awoke at about 9.30 a.m. on 21 May, 2002, I was perspiring profusely. In addition, I had a splitting headache, a horrible nauseating feeling and my legs felt like lead. I then realized that I could not move. 

My wife, my maid and my neighbour's maid were unable to lift me from the bed in my upstairs bedroom. Just then, my driver arrived and single-handedly carried me to the car and rushed me to a local hospital. 

The pain was excruciating, and I was bleeding. What transpired that day was a blur to me. I probably had lost consciousness and regained it later at night. A scan revealed that I had bleeding in the brain and an angiogram of it was carried out in the evening. It was confirmed that I had 'aneurysm' in the brain (i.e. a blood vessel had burst). As there was some delay in the arrival of the neuro-surgeon, my wife decided to transfer me to another hospital. 

I was transferred on the morning of 22nd May 2002 to a more modern and better-equipped hospital and operated on at about 6 p.m. on the same day. The operation was supposed to take about 2 hours. The tension and anxiety in the waiting room were high when I was wheeled out of the operating theatre after more than 4 hours! Praise the Lord! 

The first few days of recovery were unbearable. I had a fever and several tubes in and out all over my body. The pain of the wound, due to being strapped to the bed, was unbearable and I had a terrible backache after the operation. Indeed, it was horrible and agonizing. I was waiting for the days to pass and it seemed like eternity. I was in the hospital for 14 days (10 of them in ICU) and the doctors and nurses said that my recovery was fast. I was discharged on Wednesday, 5th June to recuperate at home. Of course after such a life threatening and major operation, I was weak especially in my legs but I was able to walk about. 

Later, the neurosurgeon told me that he had to take a certain amount of risk to operate immediately for fear of further bleeding. At the same time his task would have been made more difficult because of the blood still being fresh and it would be harder to locate the blood vessels and to clip them. 

The event he related came as a shock. I was then able to experience the tremendous love of God and to me it shows that God is on the throne. In addition, it is also as what the psalmist wrote in Psalm 23:4 - Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me.' 

I believe the fervent prayers and intercession of the brethrens had sustained me. I could feel a tremendous amount of love and inexplicably no fear. This is the peace that Jesus talked about. Now that I had survived, the brethrens also confessed that the calmness with which I approached the operation had strengthened their faith in Jesus tremendously. For me, it showed that God was in control all the time.

Firstly, in retrospect, it could not have occurred at a better place and time, (I was a walking time bomb though I didn't know it). It was fortunate that the master bedroom door was about a foot ajar that morning and my wife could hear my shout from the study room, which was a floor lower. I shudder to think what if the door had been closed or she was out of the house.

Secondly, what if my wife had not made the crucial decision to have me transferred to another hospital where they had better equipment and facilities coupled with a reputable surgeon? Thirdly, what if I had gone into a coma and not even had a second chance! Fourthly, there were others who were not able to survive the rigors of the operating process and all its accompanying risks. I am therefore grateful for the grace, mercy and love of the Lord Jesus Christ for my family and me and the episode had further reinforced our faith in Him. It clearly demonstrated His omnipotent power to intervene and protect.

Praise Be Unto God.