You know we have waited so long for some closure to this constant dealing with the consequence of the critical surgeries done in emergency situations to save my life; the continual battle to avoid system infection from an open wound more than 2-3 inches (6-8 cm) wide and over 8 ½ inches (22 cm) long, the risk of re-rupture or growing weakness. These past six months have also been an ongoing display of miracles. I am a walking, talking, singing, speaking miracle fresh from the regenerating hand of God. You who have helped us so much in both warm little ways and sometimes huge and generous gifts of encouragement and blessing; you have invested so much in our lives to make this passage so much kinder than it might otherwise have been, thank you. He has been so good to us, and often through the hearts and hands of His friends, been our benefactor. We embark now on the final operation. As of last week, we met with the team who we believe is the one who is going to help us in this last stage of preparation for recovery.
From the beginning, I have had three criteria in mind for this last surgery that involves stitching back together the large fascia tissue that holds the muscle groups together to repair what amounts to a huge hernia running down my middle like a missing tissue tie. The operation though not critical, and could be counted as cosmetic is not without risk. When piercing the outer shell of the body in any situation there is always the danger of admitting infection to the inner systems, and with any traumatic wound the possibility of a hematoma, or subsequent blood clots that can in turn bring on stroke, heat failure or lung embolism. Professor John Windsor the first surgeon who so generously made time for us to discuss in detail what was involved and also took the trouble to re-state simply what actually happened to me and the steps to save my life taken in Korea from the translated surgical notes they supplied said it best: “It’s not a haircut”. In undertaking this, we are already aware of and reminded again of the risks by these great consultants we have had, but the alternative for me was hardly livable. To spend the rest of my useful life without the freedom to run, preach strongly, or even play tennis well, requiring constant extra care and clothing restraints is of course possible. I could still function and there would be no critical risks living like that. I, for one, am glad and thankful that through the prayers of the saints, the dedication and skill of those who first undertook to save me, and over it all, the grace of God, that I am still here. There are many who would perhaps be content of course, to just be alive. But I have never lived, nor ever wanted to live contented to be “just alive”. I want to be fully alive, as great as I can be for God and for His Kingdom with what He gives and graces, and until I see Him face to face, want to go to the very edge of what He wills. “Whatsoever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.”My Dads’ book finally came out a few weeks ago for national release here as one of the three cycling legends of our nation that span the key generations of championship competition in this world sport. Titled “Bill Pratney – Never Say Die” it is a wonderful compilation of some of the career highlights of this great and good man I had the privilege of living with and loving for more than sixty years. I have written sometimes about him, spoken often about him both in public and private and certainly missed him many times now since his death in 2001 aged ninety-two. We gave our lives to Jesus together, my Daddy and I, in a little Auckland street mission where I got in the same night a new Dad as well as new Father. He was more than a champion to me, more than a icon who was the first to be called the original “Iron Man” more than the man George Bernard Shaw on seeing him compete called him “one of the three greatest natural athletes of our time.” He also was my brother. I never was or would be able to even come close to what he did on a bike, this man who would think nothing of getting up at 4:00 am and riding a hundred miles before breakfast on a daily training run, who won almost every major event in our nation in both speed and stamina, whose career nearly ended at 16 after a near-fatal road crash but who recovered from a coma and was still competing on an Olympic level at the Masters Games in Brisbane at 86. I probably never will, even if they have bike races in heaven.But as I told the cyclists in attendance at the book launch, when I was in critical condition on Korea and all the major systems of my body begin to shut down and die, though I had nine tubes and thirteen drips in me to keep me alive, one thing kept on going – my heart. And I told them; “I got my heart from my Dad.” As I mentioned in my previous blog I have thought about and prayed about what we would need for this completing surgery. I was looking to the Lord for three threads to come together for whoever might head up the surgical team. (1) A real Christian, a real child of God that genuinely knew Christ so that there would be more than one hand on the scalpel and the scissors; (2) someone who really knew their stuff, with a wide and deep knowledge of what they were doing (3) if at all possible, the operation performed as a public service instead of the somewhat costly ($8-10,000) private alternative. Both men we consulted with first met all these conditions for me; both John Windsor and Ian Bisset were part of the same team of specialists in Auckland Hospital, both with missionary backgrounds, both teaching professors, both willing to undertake this operation in the public or private sector. We learned so much from them both, and appreciated both their wisdom and personal interest in my situation. I also had as I last mentioned, an unspoken wish; more like an unvoiced trust; that if it was really God, there would be no need to push for things, to attempt to manipulate or have to try to pull strings. While there must always be our own choices and personal responsibility for our actions, especially for those that affect our whole life and future, I believe as I have said before that living by faith is living without scheming. I believe, and have lived like this, that if it is really God, He will make it plain and put it all together for His children. He did after all say, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you.” There is always the possibility of demonic and human resistance, but the life of faith does not require striving, but trusting. We fight from a place of utter rest. What is interesting with these godly men, is that when we first asked for some contact with those recommended to us by friends who visited me in Korea, we were unable to reach them for various reasons. Two of them were actually out of the country. The first contact was eventually made by one of these surgeons himself to us by phone, and all subsequent connections were then done on a personal and relational level. The Kingdom of God is built on friendships. We have found these men who invested time and concern in us not only to be of the highest medical standards, but with genuine personal commitment and convictions wrapped in a wisdom that transcends mere practice and professionalism. They really cared, and we are truly grateful for their help and advice. The surgeon who will head up my operation on the 6th of November is the culmination of all these consultations and recommendations. Like his fellow-surgeons, he also has a missionary background with three years in Africa. He is likewise an experienced teaching professor who heads up his division of the surgical department. The hospital (Manukau Counties) is not only one of the newest in the country with top equipment and facilities, it is literally ten minutes away from our home, making it the closest hospital to us. And because of its location, I qualify for a public operation there, not needing a private undertaking. And because it is in a public hospital, there is at-hand an entire backup in case of complications, rather than the smaller assembled team of a private surgery. We had our preliminary meeting last Tuesday. On that day he scheduled the surgery, another small miracle when there can be a waiting list for public surgery sometimes literally longer than a year or more. Yesterday we spent a couple of hours of preliminary operation preparations, in discussions, asked and answered questions with nice nurses and doctors. I had my height measured (no doubt in case I shrunk from this commitment) was weighed (in the balances and hopefully, not found wanting). I had my blood pressure measured (good), blood taken for tests from a highly trained phlebotamist (you ask? –from the veins), my lungs listened to (still breathing) And oh yes – I also had an EKG. The verdict? My heart is also still good. Thanks Dad. We value your prayers. Surgery is scheduled the morning of November 6th Manukau Counties Hospital. Lord willing, I will spend only 3-4 days in the hospital for initial post-op recovery, and then be free to return home for the longer task of healing all over again. Remember us now, that all the time, love and gifts invested us over these past six months will be brought to a great close in this. As Dad also said “Son, its not how you begin the race that matters. It’s how you finish that counts.”Blessings in the Beloved –

Winkie and Fae

Posted by Israel Anderson