The Miracle Man

 

A few Sundays ago after church I had a cup of coffee with Joyce and Dan Naidoo. I was sitting in the presence of a miracle.

I had been involved with Joyce’s writing of Dan’s story. It’s amazing and I’d like to share it.

               

           Dan Naidoo

 

Pains and the diagnosis

In 1985 Dan began to get severe stomach pains. Tests revealed he had a malignant condition needing urgent treatment. Joyce and Dan tried another doctor but unfortunately his condition was confirmed – it was cancer needing surgery.

 

Prayer

The Naidoos’ family and friends began a prayer chain, so there was constant prayer for Dan. Joyce and Dan prayed and cried. Every night when they prayed together, they were so traumatised they just clung to each other and wept, finally saying ‘amen’.

 

On the night before Dan’s operation, the surgeon phoned Joyce to tell her there were fourteen lymph nodes outside his stomach needing to be removed. It would be a huge operation.

 

God promises a new stomach

That night, in the midst of their desperation, Joyce heard a voice saying, ‘A new stomach, A new stomach, A new stomach!’ She felt sure the voice was from God and soon fell into the most peaceful sleep she had had ever since the diagnosis.

 

The operation

The operation took seven hours. Dan had a total gastrectomy and oesophagojejunal anastomosis, meaning his stomach was removed and his small intestine joined to his oesophagus.

For two weeks he lay in the intensive care unit, with seven tubes connected to his body.

 

Palliative Care

Dan was given only three months to live.

He was transferred to the palliative care unit where his diet was only Survimed, a nutritious drink used by astronauts.

 

Home Again

Dan’s brother arrived from their homeland, South Africa, to visit him. The doctor agreed to let him be discharged from hospital if he could shower by himself. The nurse gave him waterproof dressings for his wounds; he showered himself. And was soon home again.

 

Joyce looked after him physically and spiritually. She dressed his wounds and did all the basic care. She fought for him in prayer. She prayed diligently and passionately. Satan and sickness would not have him. She claimed the new stomach God had promised. She read healing scriptures over him.

 

Dan believed Jesus was his healer. But at times the physical treatments became too much for him. Chemotherapy began after two months and he battled severe nausea.

 

A visit home to South Africa

Dan’s family in South Africa wanted to see him so, with special assistance, he travelled to South Africa. The family were shocked at the skinny, thin-haired man who arrived there. He was like a shadow of himself.

‘God is going to give me a new stomach!’ he insisted. ‘I’m going to be well.’

But when he left, they wondered if they would ever see him again.

 

 

Chemotherapy

Dan’s return home meant chemotherapy every six weeks, a regime that continued for two and a half years. Joyce would drive him to the hospital. As they approached the hospital, he would sometimes say, ‘I can’t do it. I can’t bear another dose.’ But Joyce would drive him around the block – and around again – reassuring him until he felt he could face it.

Sometimes the nausea was so severe he was admitted to hospital and put on drips for a few days.

 

Work

 On the days he felt well enough, Dan’s main desire was to be able to go back to work. For normal life to resume.

His boss had been faithfully paying his wages all this time but he suggested it was time for Dan to go on the pension. Soon he had a part pension and Joyce was doing some part-time work for the company. Eventually they started their own company and made sandals for the tourist market.

 

Recovery

After three months, Dan felt tired of Survimed and pureed food. He felt ready for ‘real food’. The doctor had told him he would never be able to eat normal food again – but he longed to eat. He persuaded his wife to prepare him a normal meal. With some trepidation, in case it harmed him, she made him a lamb stew. He enjoyed it and has eaten normal food of all varieties, in small helpings, ever since.

 

A new stomach!

Around this time, he had another CT scan of his stomach area. Sure enough, there was a small stomach-shaped bulge in the wall leading to his intestine. The surgeon, when showing the Naidoos the results of the scans, said, ‘Look, he’s got a new stomach!’

 

Time to celebrate!

The Naidoos are thrilled. Dan is a walking miracle. On the 9^th January 2015 he celebrated thirty years of extended life – ‘grace life’ – since his miracle (yes, thirty-six years now). During those years they have seen their three children get married and have been blessed with eight grandchildren.

They have also done missionary work in three places, teaching people to make sandals.

 

Wherever they go, they share this amazing story of God’s grace and healing power.

 

                                          Dan and Joyce Naidoo

 They are humble people. 'Why some people receive healing and some don't, we will never

 know.' That's what some of the great healing ministries have said.

It is not for us to understand. 

I (Jeanette) believe prayer played a part. He and Joyce fought for his healing in prayer. But it

 is never the whole story.

Whichever way you look at it, it's a miracle.