Nr.181 ended with, “He (the doctor) said to lie down and call him in an hour if things did not improve. And things did not improve, so he came back, wrote a note and told us to go to emergency…………..!” (See richardandmarina.net).

When we arrived at the hospital I gave the doctor’s note to a nurse who read it, grabbed a stretcher and told me to lie down. I had a smile on my face and she looked at me and said, “Mr. Haverkamp, you’re having a heart attack and that’s no joke.” I think I smiled even more and told her, “Don’t worry, if anything happens, I’m ready to go and I know where I am going.” She looked at me very surprised and said, “Well, we have never heard those words here before.” I was taken to the intensive care unit and hooked up to all kinds of things. The second night, I woke up in the middle of the night, tore off everything that was attached to me and got out of bed. Of course, the alarm went off right away and a nurse came running and asked me what I was doing. I said that I was going to take a bath. “You can’t do that” she said. “Oh yes, I can” I answered, “I’m old enough to make my own decisions.” (I didn’t realize that I was hallucinating).

Another nurse came walking in and said, “Mr. Haverkamp, we have the authority here in the hospital.” That word ‘authority’ struck me and I thought, “Oh yes, the Bible says we are to submit to authority.” So I said, “OK” and turned around and got into bed again. The next morning I remembered everything and apologized to the nurses, but they laughed and told me that this happens quite often, it’s the medication that does it. So we all had a good laugh together.

Thank God, Marina had been able to get her Belgian drivers license when we had returned from Canada and for a brief period were living in the church building in Eeklo. Right across the road was the drivers school and she had gone there and done both her written as well as her driver’s test and passed. A friend who was an instructor had told me that Marina would never make it because of her age and her language problems, as the questions are very tricky. But she made it and testifies that the Lord helped her through this. And what a blessing now as she could get around and also come and visit me in the hospital.

After ten days I was allowed to go home, but not for long, we didn’t know then that I would soon be back here…………..! (Go to Musings).