Valley of the Shadow of Death
“In March, 2002, I was diagnosed with a rare and potentially fatal liver disease – Budd-Chiari Syndrome. I rapidly deteriorated and was transferred from Ninewells Hospital to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary (ERI) to await an emergency liver transplant but I was running out of time…â€
On April 2nd, the transplant team came to the bedside and said that a liver had been found, and I would be on the operating table at 4am the following morning. I was told I had only a 60% chance of survival.
My husband Gordon and I spent the night talking and praying together. His prayer for me had been Psalm 91 and he had been reading it over me since I arrived in ERI 36 hours earlier. Those were precious, safe hours when I knew we were in the shelter of God’s wings.
The following day, the transplant team was amazed to see me sitting up in bed sipping some tea – they hadn’t expected my recovery to be so fast! Two weeks later, I was allowed to return home.
I remember talking to God and asking Him why it was I had survived. He told me it was because He loved me, and He was singing songs of love over me. I lay and listened to those songs. I continue to hear those songs today.
I want to thank God for delivering me in my situation and for being there in my darkest hours when I ‘walked through the valley of the shadow of death’ (Psalm 23). To Him be the glory forever and ever…
Margaret Gillies
18 April 2007
