G’day, I would appreciate prayer for myself and my family.

On Wednesday 17th October, 2:45 pm I collapsed at work due to a virus which attacked my nervous system, leaving me parallelized on my right side and extremely week on my left and a hight temp which at times went over 40 degrees. I was laying on the ground for about a hour and a half before I was found.

I now have full mobility, though am weak and walk with a walking stick. I am currently in rehabilitation at Camden hospital, and am at home for the weekend for home leave and go back Sunday afternoon.

The Tuesday night before my collapse I was reading 1 Peter 1:1-10 about going through various trials which refine our faith and I really felt God speaking to me through that passage and on Wednesday when I collapsed and was praying that I would be found my mind was filled with that passage and has been a great strength for myself.

My prayer request is more so for my family, as my boys are taking it hard and have been a bit teary at school as they miss me and worry about their dad, and my wife is faced with the extra work of looking after our family on her own. God has been generous in answering prayers in regard to my own strength and healing as many have remarked about how quickly I am recovering in comparison to others who have suffered the same thing.

I would also ask that you would pray that I would have boldness and wisdom in rehab, as it is a real mission field filled with people who are generally forgotten, ignored and misunderstood by society and it is rather sad that it is easier to minister as a patient in the hospital system then it is to come and minister to patients as a chaplain, minister or part of a ministry team coming in from outside the hospital.

On a side note, it has been a eye opener to myself to see / hear just how many people do get struck down by a virus / flue and encourage that if you have a virus / flue that you don’t work through it, rather give yourself plenty of rest.
In my case it came on gradually from lunch time and I thought not much of it, thinking I could work through it…

Blessings craig

Craig, I’m thinking of you and praying you will recover fully and soon.

Craig
I don’t remember you asking for an OK to get sick!
Really! Next time, permission first OK?

Prayers indeed for your recovery, for your good lady and comfort for her and for the boys.
Indeed prayers for a dad who is not one to lie down and be inactive.

Praying for you Craig. Thanks for letting us know about it, and God bless.

Amen to all these, especially for the family.

Praying for you brother

Craig B

Please excuse my tardiness - I’m afraid it’s a (one of many) fault amongst us unbelievers.

I am deeply saddened that you are still not well, and you and your family have been much in my thoughts.

The boards here have not been the same without your regular participation.

I hope that you will soon be fully recovered, and perhaps honour us with your contributions on a more regular basis.

I miss you

Rob

Be assured of my prayers, Craig.

G’day all.

Thanks for your prayers.

I’m home for weekend leave and go back to rehab this afternoon, and have a couple of tests to go through this week, and if clear will most likely will be coming home for good next weekend, and going to rehab as a out patient a couple of days a week. I am regaining my strength, slowly and my hand grip is about 1/2 of what is normal for my age group.

The virus had played havoc with my brain and muscle response in regards to walking, and was causing the toes of my right foot to press into the ground, making it hard / impossible for me to lift my foot of the floor, and made me walk with a funny gait. Then I found I could walk near normal if I walked with my toes pointing up, and it kind of locked my leg. Last week this problem resolved itself - praise God for every breakthrough that is happening.

This week I am having a ultra sound done of my heart and need to wear a heart monitoring vest / halter for 24 hours - I have had 2 unexplained collapses over the last 3 weeks, the last requiring a met call as I became totally unconscious for nearly a minute with my blood pressure going up to 160 / 90 - my normal is 115 / 60.

Its been a interesting experience to say the least, and dealing with centre link was a emotional nightmare that caused me to break down in tears. My wife phoned me saying she received a letter from them that day, asking me to personally hand it in the following day, asking how many jobs I had applied for over the previous fortnight. I think that was a trigger point of release for myself as the nurses had been expecting it, saying that it happens to every one who becomes hospitalized over a long term.

It became a freeing experience though, as I felt the Lord say to me, “Craig, now you have been honest with yourself as to how you truly feel, we can do business”
Up till that point, in hindsight I had been putting on a religious mask. The following Friday, when I had a collapse and my right leg stopped working -they transferred me to Cambletown Hospital to ensure I had not suffered a stroke and I was truly peaceful about it, even filled with a surprising quiet joy - with a scripture coming to mind about being joyful in all affliction.

I have been told that it could take up to 2 years- even perhaps longer for total recovery to take place though I believe the Lord will heal and restore me before then, having experiencing his healing me many years ago from chronic fatigue

Thanks for your prayers, thoughts and comments - God is good, he is faithful, he is just, he is merciful and he is the same God today, as he was yesterday, and will be the same tomorrow.

Blessings craig b

Thank you for the update Craig, which reminds us to keep praying for you and your family. This sounds like a very difficult time for all of you. It is great to read your expression of faith, despite what you are going through.

Blessings and prayers young Craig.
Hey, did the hospital social worker sort out Centrelink? That’s supposed to be their job!

I hope you are doing ok, Craig. Praying for you.

I’m thinking I should make a trip to see you sometime. The last time I saw you probably 2 yrs ago.  I work Mon to Fri business hr.

So, I only have weekend for you, please let me know through PM if you are willing.

Hi Craig, Just letting you know im praying too. Recovering from a car accident four weeks ago, im relating to the body and mind healing sequence that you are moving through. it seems you have to heal to some degree in your body before your emotional healing can start and it is definitely pain filled too… not what we would choose hay but it is a sequence that the nurses have seen time and time again . your family are in my prayers also.  Aren’t boys great. They seem to be so strong sometimes and its great when they can be themselves and be sad for their dad. Our lord wept for the bereaved widow. your boys are beautiful.  Being Christ to you. When you are better and even while you are healing my prayer is that you will be Christ to those around you.

G’day Helen,

Thanks for your prayers, and I pray that you to are OK from your car accident.

I am home from hospital for good and will be going to rehab as an outpatient in the new year. I came home last Friday on the 7th December.

My strength hasn’t increased a great deal, and my emotions are all over the place - and I have holes in my memory where I don’t know things that I once did.

Despite the emotional upheaval - I know I am in Gods hands and that he is faithful and is holding me in his hands and will not let me go.

Thanks for the prayers, craig b

Thanks for the update Craig & glad you’re home, sounds like it has been an incredibly tough time so far so it must be somewhat of a relief to be home, and I hope you can enjoy a bit of a break at home over the next couple of weeks. It’s one of life’s more interesting aspects in that we have to be at our strongest in some ways when we’re at our weakest physically. I’ll definitely keep praying for you & your family too!

Craig,

I pray that you will be doing well and recover it soon.

Ray