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20
REMINDERS
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It is a medical fact that anyone
who suffers paralysis in the legs for three months or more suffers muscular
atrophy and must undergo physical therapy to regain his normal gait.
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Nita Edwards was scientifically
documented as completely paralysed for a year. Her normal gait returned on
Friday, February 11, 1977, at 3:30 p.m., Sri Lanka time, the very moment of
her healing.
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She bore three reminders of her
personal holocaust. First, she had lost weight, and had to have new clothes
tailored, but eventually she gained back the lost pounds.
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Second, the soles of her feet were
tender after a year of non-use. For a few weeks after the healing, it tickled
her to walk. But this reminder disappeared as well.
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The third reminder is still with
her. To this day, she bears scars on her body from the pricking, cutting, and
"testing" of the medical experts.
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Nita Edwards told her story in
public for the first time in church on Sunday after the miracle. She was
bashful about appearing in public, but she felt God had given her something
too astounding to conceal.
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Many who had scoffed at the
constant prayer requests for Nita were in the congregation that day. The
youth of the church experienced powerful revival as a result of her
testimony.
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Nita's
Buddhist attendant had no choice but to accept Jesus Christ as her personal
Saviour. She is an active, enthusiastic Christian today.
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Brother Andrew jumped for joy when
word reached him that Nita Edwards had been healed. He never doubted.
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Back in the United States, when
Nita and Syvelle met in person for the first time since the miracle, Syvelle
sobbed openly. He was thrilled that he had been wrong.
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Sandy Koelmeyer rejoiced and wept
when Nita called her with the news. Father Shirley beamed with joy when he
first encountered his old friend made new.
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The day of Nita's healing, the
first call her mother made was to England. Ted had arrived home only ninety
minutes before, still emotionally strung out, when the phone rung.
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"Son, Sissy got healed,"
she said breathlessly. "She can walk."
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His response was instantaneous.
"Are her hands normal?"
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Nita's crooked fingers had made
the deepest impact on him.
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He was hurt, however, when he
found out that Nita had known of the impending miracle and failed to tell him
about it or to keep him in Sri Lanka for it. As her brother, he saw no reason
to have been deprived of that. There was a strain in the relationship between
brother and sister for a long time afterwards. But overpowering family love
and Ted's respect for the power of God eventually mended the tested
relationship.
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Dr. Shan, the specialist who had
scarred Nita's body, soon heard about the miracle. Each time Nita visited
people in the hospital later, Dr. Shan studiously avoided her.
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Dr. Pieris, the Buddhist neurophysician,
told the medical staff that her healing was a hoax, a psychological stunt. He
crossed Nita's path a few times in public places in the ensuing years, but he
pretended not to know her. To do otherwise, presumably, would mean admitting
that his therapy had failed - and that indeed Nita's recovery was a miracle.
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But the facts were undeniable, and
the two doctors who witnessed the miracle arranged to have the case fully
documented. In the end, there was only one truth that could be absolutely
verified: Nita Edwards was no longer a hostage in her own body.
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She was free!
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She is free!
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And
ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel,
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and
that I am the Lord your God, and none else:
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and
my people shall never be ashamed.
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Joel 2:27
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20 REMINDERS
