I am Mario, a South African from Portuguese origin.Married to Asha, we run an organisation that provides long term residential help to widows and orphans. We also aid men living on the margins of society. We have 2 children, Athissii and Deborah.
On 28 August 2014, while riding on my motor bike, I unfortunately ran over a dog that suddenly crossed the road. I lost control of the motor bike. My daughter and I crashed onto the road. No physical injuries on Deborah but my injury was serious. At the hospital, the doctors told me my right tibia bone had cracked in 14 places.
Urgent surgery was required. Just as I was about to be anaesthesized, I had a sudden rise of temperature. Surgery was aborted. I was sent to ICU. 2 days later, I was diagnosed with dengue fever. The doctors told me that I had been very lucky. Surgery with dengue condition would have resulted in post-surgery infections and amputation would have been certain. But this was no luck. It was God’s hand protecting me. Even then, there was still a risk of amputation because they could not operate unless the dengue fever abated. Again by God’s miracle, my platelets returned to normal and the fever was gone after 10 days. Surgery proceeded and 14 screws and a long metal plate were inserted.
I am a missionary for the past 10 years and I do not take salary. The money that I took with me to hospital was for our children’s home rental. But God provided! The total cost was covered by friends. In my most difficult and painful time, I enjoyed an overwhelming and blessed time in His presence!
However, post-surgery, my leg was still not functional. Part of my knee had been crushed. I was advised to have a total knee replacement because I was still unable to walk without crutches and the pain was unbearable. But God had not finished showing his favour on his servant.
Last month, I was invited by my good friend to celebrate his church’s 7th anniversary. He told me that Pastor Hong Seng would be there and so I decided to go. Pastor Hong Seng spoke about miracles and how to receive God’s miracle. At the end of the service, I approached Pastor Hong Seng and told him about the great things that God had done for me and then he prayed for me. The next day, most of the pain on my knee was gone. Day after day, it just kept getting better and better until I was actually able to walk for some time without crutches. Some days, the pain would seem to return but I just kept saying that the pain was a lie of the devil because I knew that God had done another miracle and I was not going to give up receiving the fullness of what God wanted to do.
A few weeks later, I visited the doctor and showed him that I was able to walk without crutches. He was overwhelmed! As there is no more pain, the next surgery will be only a correctional procedure to straighten the tibia and to remove the screws and plate. The knee replacement will not be required for now. I have not stopped telling people about the miracle I received at church. I thank God for a church that believes in miracles.
I thank God for Pastor Hong Seng and my friend, and I pray that God will continue to use their faith in bringing healing to many more people.