Our Hospital visit August 10, 2010 – August 25,2010
We went to a health clinic on Monday August 9th and had a blood test taken to check my potassium level. I weighed 200 pounds. On Tuesday morning the clinic called me and told me that my potassium level was dangerously low, and that I needed to get to an Emergency room as soon as possible. On August 10th we went to the hospital around 1 pm. That night I was admitted around 8 pm. On Wednesday the 11th I had a colonoscopy. They went in about 17cm and found a blockage. My stomach area had a massive amount of fluid in it. Later that afternoon the doctor came into our room and told us that he was sure I had colon cancer, and because of the fluid it for sure had spread to my liver and kidneys. I told Amanda it looks like I was going home to be with Jesus. She said no God was not finished with me. The next 3 days consisted of cat scans, x-rays, and a mri. The doctors were looking for evidence of widespread cancer in my body. On Friday the 13th I was tapped in my abdomen to drain the fluid from my midsection to relieve the pressure. They took 5 liters of fluid about half of what was in there. On Monday the 16th they tried to put a stint in my colon to help me pass the stuff that was backed up in my colon. It didn’t work the largest stint was a lot smaller than the stretched out wall of my colon. On Tuesday the 17th they decided to do surgery on me and remove my colon and then hookup my small intestine to my rectum area. This surgery did not work either. When they opened me up they discovered that I had what they called a mesh of tumors all around my colon and on part of my small intestine making it very difficult to remove anything from my body. They decided to put in an ileostomy, and a colostomy, sucked out the remaining fluid from my abdomen, and colon. Over 6 liters. Then closed me backup. Then the surgeon told my wife that they could make me comfortable for 6 months with chemotherapy. I was thinking that I was ready to go home to heaven to be with my Lord Jesus Christ. Amanda my wife did not believe this. She was sure that God was not finished with me here on earth. On the 18th I got a word from God around 8am. An African nurse from Ghana whose name is Mercy came into my hospital room and told me she had been praying for me. She was telling me that God was not finished with me yet, and that I was going to be healed. As she spoke, prayed, prophesied, and proclaimed the power and love of God to me for that hour, I could feel the presents of the Lord there. Then as God’s angel of mercy was speaking to me I looked deep into her eyes and I saw God looking back at me. He said to me you get up out of that bed I am not finished with you yet. If you believe that I will heal you need to proclaim this. He said many other things to me that encouraged and strengthened my soul. On Wednesday the 18th of August my life changed from believing I will die and go home to heaven, to believing Gods miracle in my life and continuing His work here on earth.
The next day Thursday the 19th Amanda started to fast and seek Gods guidance for our life. Later that day the chemotherapy Dr came in and wanted us to start chemo soon. I didn’t have a good feeling about this, and Amanda told the Dr that she was going to send our records to a cancer institute in Kansas City to get a second opinion. The Dr left only to come back around an hour later with a consent form in her hand wanting me to let them start chemo that day. I told her that I will not sign anything without talking to my wife first. God spoke to me and clearly impressed in my heart NO CHEMO. Amanda had come back into the room with the Dr and God had given her the same message. Amanda told the Dr that they have given me a death sentence and now two days after major surgery they wanted to give me a treatment that will make me sick. We choose to wait for a couple of weeks to heal from surgery before making any kind of decision about the future. I personally believe that satan was trying to kill me by starting the chemo right after surgery. God wants us to wait on Him. Not make decisions from what pagan doctors stay but get our answers from Him. That night around two a clock in the morning I started throwing up green stuff. Then around 7 am on the 20th the doctors put in an N G tube in my nose to suck out the green fluid in my stomach. On Sunday morning the 22nd the tube was taken out. They had collected almost four liters of green stuff out of my stomach. On Monday the 23rd my potassium level was starting to drop and it needed to be 3.0 for me to get out of the hospital. Tuesday the 24th every one was sure I would go home so they took the staples out of my stomach area and started working on my discharge papers. Later that afternoon my potassium level had dropped to 2.5 so going home was not going to happen. The next day God sent a nursing student our way and we were able to share with her the love of God for her. Around 4 pm that day we were told that my potassium level was 3.2 and we were able to checkout of the hospital around 6pm on August 25th.
Things we took away from our hospital visit
I went into the hospital weighing 200 pounds and when I left the hospital 16 days later I weighed around 160 pounds.
I think all the fluid and bowl removed from my abdomen and colon area was around 26 liters.
I went into the hospital thinking I was going home to heaven. I came out of the hospital knowing that God was not finished with me.
Amanda and I have had people praying for us from all over the world, thousands of people from different religions who trust in God.
Amanda and I have experienced more of God’s grace, blessings, assurance, and closeness than we have in all of our marriage.
Pray for Us
Pray and give thanks for Mercy the nurse and all the others that God sent our way to pray with us!
Pray for wisdom as we make decisions about treatment.
Pray for us as we endure pains from the surgery.
Pray for us as we share our testimony with others.
Pray for the people of NYC that they will know HIM.
Pray for us as we continue to do the work that God has called us to do!
As you pray GIVE GOD GLORY and thank Him that He is the Great Physician who heals us! He is the Mighty King Master of everything HIS NAME IS WONDERFUL JESUS OUR LORD!!
By Mark and Amanda Burgos
August 31, 2011
