I 
have been asked by a few people to tell Christopher's story, I cannot really tell Christopher's story without weaving the story of others into the picture, so here with a supporting cast of many is Christopher's story:
Chris my 20 year old son was born with a major congenital heart condition, only we were unaware of the severity of his condition until he was 9 months old. I knew something was wrong and frequent trips to the doctors had landed me with the label of neurotic mother... Chris used to scream and pass out going a wonderful shade of blue in the process...
We moved house in 1986 and the change of doctor brought about an emergency hospital appointment, before I knew what was happening we were en-route to London with a police escort to get us through the rush hour traffic, a team of doctors waiting at the hospital.
Chris was admitted, x-rayed and scanned ... then the news that he only had 3/4 of a functioning heart, 3 holes and various other problems... but there was hope and an operation was scheduled for the next day.
Chris bounced through his first op and was home in a week, he grew well and strong, but another operation was on the cards and after many out patients visits was scheduled for March 1988- Chris was 2 1/2!
In the mean time I was pregnant with Sarah and all was well until February 1988 when I caught a terrible cold that developed into pneumonia- I had a raging temperature and Sarah died- I was 28 weeks pregnant... the whole experience was devastating and wonderful at the same time, We had a Christian mid-wife who prayed with us and helped us through the whole experience- because I was 28 weeks I had to give birth to Sarah naturally- although it was hard I must say it helped the healing process, we were able to hold her and that was a great comfort. Somehow through Sarah we learnt to let go- we knew with certainty that she was safe in Gods arms and that is where we had to place Chris as we moved into March.
This operation was more complicated and held a serious risk- Paul and Emma (then 7 and 4 )asked if he was going to be OK,... we could promise nothing
Chris went back into hospital on 14th March 1988, his operation was scheduled for the 16th.. it was going to take 10 hours!
It did take 10 hours, we walked and walked around London, not knowing where we were going, we tried to eat, tried to read, and walked some more...
Chris came out of surgery well, but that might complications set in, he had a massive inflammatory reaction, still on a ventilator he was sedated, his rib cage splinted open to allow for the swelling of his heart,... he remained this way for 6 weeks.
For six weeks I learnt to pray with no words with many words with tears and with frustration... each day he would settle and every night complication... my prayers led me to ask if I could stay on the unit through the night... the staff consented and so started a prayer vigil... Chris had his first good night ...
Two days later disaster, the patches that had been placed on his heart had detached, he went blue from head to foot, the staff readied him for theatre, more prayer, friends arrived from church, we asked if we could anoint him with oil and pray... no harm could be done it was decided, ... theatre was still being prepared. And God came close...
To the astonishment of all Chris turned pink again, a bedside scan revealed the patches were back in place, three weeks later Chris was home and well!- His hospital notes record a miracle.
One minor complication occurred a few weeks later which revealed he had fluid between the heart layers, a window was made in the muscle wall, and we were home again... for 16 years!
During those 16 years Chris had regular check ups, all was well, medication was adjusted until he was taking very little.
Jo and Jon were born with no knowledge of their brothers condition except for occasional visits to hospital.
Then in December 2003 Chris became very ill, admitted to Kings Lynn we were soon on the way to London again.. his heart was failing, medication was altered and three weeks later we were home with the promise of further surgery... during the next year Chris was admitted to hospital 5 times, each time a small procedure to prepare for the major operation.
14th August 2005 and Chris was admitted to the Royal Brompton, surgery was schedules for the next day.
This time the surgery took 12 1/2 hours, we walked again, and walked and walked... we called in at the hospital several times because we had been to to wait 8-10 hours before checking in. The Intensive Care Unit called- there were huge complications, his heart was stuck to his rib cage 2 hours of delicate surgery had freed it, only then could the operation go ahead...
Chris's life hung by a thread , he had 15 lines of drugs, a ventilator, he soon needed to have dialysis as his kidneys failed. The inflammation returned and the doctors asked for permission to make an incision into his leg, deep into the muscle to prevent him from loosing it... we agreed.
His A'level results arrived, Emma and Jo went to collect them, he had passed everything and gained good grades...
The consultants worried and said so, we asked how to pray. One asked for wisdom. We prayed for wisdom, sending out prayer requests by e-mail kept us sane!
The consultant made a brave and bold decision, it should not have worked but it did... Chris turned a corner...
He was in Intensive care for 7 weeks, then 3 weeks on the ward, the seasons had changed, summer slipped by last year! Chris has a sense of humour, someone brought him a toy parrot that recorded and repeated speech..twice as parrots do... he used this to play practical jokes on the physio team!
He is home now recovering still, his leg is a problem and he needs another operation to free the ligaments... it has been hard on the whole family. I had to send Jo and Jon cards to celebrate their exam results, everything was eclipsed by the operation...
But God came close again and again during this time, we were aware of being held in prayer, in being cared for by friends, who cooked meals and cakes and helped in so many ways. God came close to strengthen and comfort us. He came close and we knew we were not alone, we are not alone, even in the darkest of moments we had hope, because hope is not bound by time, it is eternal...
I learnt to pray with tears and shouts and silence and through despair... I learnt to pray for others in the same situation who could not pray ... for my God is a God who comes close,,, he understands suffering for in Christ he suffered and knows the reality of human pain and loss... I received at that time the text that has strengthened and comforted me on so many occasions:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God...2Co 1:3-4
for he comes close...
Chris would echo the testimony of God coming close, through his pain he prayed, listened to music and soon asked for a Bible to read. He speaks of knowing that God was with him, speaking to him through the night hours when we were not allowed on the unit (I think that was the hardest thing for me about Chris being an adult!)... He has applied to go to Cliff college in Sheffield in September 2007, it is a Bible college, Chris is following a call to preach. In the mean time he is doing some study at home and hopes to be fit enough to do some light work soon.
Our testimony remains
God came close!
