Dora sent us the following testimonies:

“Earlier this year, my father fell twice in quick succession at his home, without being able to remember what exactly happened. The doctor suspected a mild TIA (transient ischemic attack, a brief interruption of blood flow to the brain). The blood test showed alarming elevated thrombosis levels. He was urgently admitted to Gasthuisberg.

The diagnosis was pneumonia, four stomach ulcers, and a fourth-degree esophagitis. Antibiotics were started. Initially, my dad seemed to be recovering slowly, but he continued to complain of an unexplained headache. We were forced to celebrate his 91st birthday in the hospital.

For further recovery, he was transferred to Pellenberg in early February. He still wanted to go back to his house and was willing to work hard to get there. Although things seemed to be improving at first, he suddenly developed a fever again. A new pneumonia was diagnosed. Two new courses of antibiotics were tried but didn’t work. The fever continued to rise.

One Saturday afternoon at the end of February, a doctor met me with the message that they were going to isolate my father. Based on the x-ray of his affected lungs, they suspected tuberculosis, and they had to rule out whether it was contagious. That was completely unexpected news, and none of us really knew what to think. A phone call to Ann that evening brought peace; we didn’t need to worry and needed to keep trusting. After a week, the diagnosis was confirmed: tuberculosis in the blood, not contagious, but deadly if untreated. There was only one option: to choose the heavy TB treatment (similar to chemotherapy) that needs to be followed for at least 6 to 9 months, and which offers little perspective for someone of his age. I told Ann, and she gave me a prayer card, “You Lord, are my healer”.

My father was transferred back to Gasthuisberg, and the treatment was started. The disease took a hard toll, and the side effects of the treatment were particularly severe. He was taking up to 22 pills a day. His condition deteriorated visibly. He could only take a few steps and was on oxygen 24 hours a day. He was only sat up in a chair for one hour a day, became more and more confused, was incontinent, and eating became increasingly difficult. There was little hope for improvement. We continued visiting him every day, and in the evenings, I would pray the title of the prayer card with him; he would answer, “Who else should I expect it from?”. After three weeks, blood tests showed signs of slight improvement.

For the hospital, my father’s condition had stabilized enough, and he had to leave. The search for a nursing home was urgent, not an easy task these days. I decided to place it in the prayer box. The hospital’s social worker contacted the WZC Ter Vlierbeke. This nursing home was our preference since it was close to where he and we lived. There were 300 people on the waiting list, so direct placement there was not possible.

We were referred to the WZC in Wilsele. There, he was placed among the “first three” on the waiting list (those with the highest Katz score or the most care needs come to the top). There was a chance of a quick admission, but the social worker asked for a clear commitment from us. It had to be a final decision, and the intention was not to change nursing homes afterward. We decided to be honest and told them about our preference for Ter Vlierbeke in our area, but also about the long waiting list. She promised to contact her colleague at Ter Vlierbeke herself.

A few days later, we were invited for a conversation at WZC Ter Vlierbeke, and his placement request was approved. A week and a half later, he was transferred there. A great miracle, and we were thrilled to have him back in our neighborhood!

However, the adjustment at Ter Vlierbeke didn’t go smoothly for my dad. He became even more confused due to the move, his incontinence worsened, and he fell out of bed three times. Moreover, communication with him became increasingly difficult, and he had to switch to mashed food. We could no longer pray together. His physical condition gradually improved, though.

Ann suggested visiting my dad. He was very alert that day. She briefly told him about Psalm 92 and the promise he too could look forward to: “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree, they shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing.” This immediately gave him the strength to get up and go for a walk…

My father continued to recover well. Walking in the adjacent park is now easy with the walker, and he is eating well again (the caregiver told us that he eats up to 5 sandwiches per meal without problems). Moreover, he is no longer incontinent! The confusion still occurs occasionally, but we see improvement here as well. On Pentecost, my dad, my sister, and I were happily playing a game of Rummikub in the cafeteria. A moment of deep joy. Afterward, my sister went to get fries for him at the local fair. He enjoyed them!

At the end of May, we suddenly received word on Friday night from the nursing home that they had found him on the floor. He was immediately transferred to the emergency room at Gasthuisberg. He couldn’t remember what had happened. His blood oxygen saturation was too low. The administration of oxygen immediately helped, and all tests were reassuring.

On Saturday morning, we were called to say he had had a mild heart attack during the night. They wanted to perform a catheterization. It was a tense weekend in the ER, but ultimately they decided not to go ahead with it. Given his age and weakened condition due to TB, the risks were considered too high. He was transferred to the cardiac intensive care unit.

On Monday evening, they wanted to transfer him to another department. I pleaded with them not to do so to avoid confusion. When I asked why he needed to be moved, they said they urgently needed the room, and that he was the best patient on the floor! On Tuesday, he was transferred back to the nursing home, where he could continue his recovery. The medication for his TB was halved. He is doing well again. God continues to faithfully care for my father, and we are thankful for many more beautiful days together.

I also have a beautiful testimony about my mother-in-law. After a fall in the nursing home at night, she had a large open wound on her leg. It became so infected that she eventually needed surgery. The dermatologist said there was a high chance of amputation, and the whole family assumed this. I placed it in the prayer box and prayed Isaiah 58:8: “Your healing shall spring forth speedily.” I had to pray this prayer for a long time, from December to Easter, but eventually, you can’t see any trace of it now…God is good, He is true, in Him is no injustice!!!”