A Prophetic Dream Comes to Pass

Cross of Steel Dream was one of my favorite dreams in 2016. I had no idea at the time how prophetic this dream would become. The insight the Lord provided at the time laid the foundation how to pray and trust in God no matter what challenges I would face. I encourage you to read the dream and the initial interpretation before proceeding.

I had no idea exactly 12 months after the dream (June 30, 2016) I would be on a gurney heading into heart surgery (June 30, 2017). A God-dream that exhibits God’s immense love and care in a mighty way.

In my dream, there was something “lurking in the shadows,” which represented the unnerving fluttering in my heart. When my right arm began to hurt, I wasn’t having a serious attack, but the palpitations in my heart were cause for concern.

Rick took me to the emergency room and I was admitted into the intensive care unit (ICU). I was diagnosed with ventricular tachycardia (VT).

I was discharged on the third day with the possibility I may undergo a cardiac ablation with an electrophysiologist. I had a good night’s rest my first night home, however, shortly after I woke up I had a severe attack, unlike anything I had experienced before.

A tightness and pain surged through my chest. I was close to passing out and vomiting, and my oxygen was starting to get cut off. (In the dream the alligator made a direct hit and with great force to my heart.)

I notified two of my friends who work in the healthcare system, letting them know I wasn’t doing well. Sheila lives in Michigan and Bethany lives in Belgium.

A little background how I met Bethany. It was a little over a year ago when God arranged for our paths to cross. When I met Bethany, she was working for a company that develops treatments to address heart failure and cardiovascular conditions. She worked directly with heart surgeons and the knowledge she has of cardiac distress caused her concern. She recommended I call her sister-in-law, Kelly, a cardiac nurse in California.

I’ve never met Kelly and hesitated contacting a stranger. Within 30 minutes, Kelly called me. She ran through my symptoms, medical history, and quickly determined the physical danger I was in. She urged me to call 911. I wasn’t entirely convinced. Thankfully, she pushed.

I’m a new resident in Pennsylvania and she offered to contact friends and get me admitted into the best cardiac unit in the area. She contacted an electrophysiologist who happened to be out of town at a conference. He agreed with Kelly that I should get to the hospital immediately. He contacted his partner and within a half hour I received another text from Kelly that the doctor was waiting for me in the emergency room at Holy Spirit Hospital.

I was immediately wheeled into triage. Nurses worked simultaneously sticking me with needles, putting IV in both arms, hooking me up to an EKG, heart monitor, and checking blood pressure. Soon after, I was admitted to the cardiology floor, with cardiac ablation surgery to be scheduled as soon as possible.

Throughout the process, I continued asking doctors questions that came from Sheila, Bethany, and Kelly. I have no doubt these individuals represented those in my dream that I could not see or recall. From Belgium, to Michigan, to California, to Florida, to Pennsylvania, God worked miracles, through friends and strangers to get me where I needed to be.

The closer I got to the surgical room, God would drop a ray of sunshine and blessing. His loving care to detail was a way the “steel-plated cross” was sealed; protecting my heart, mind, and body at all times. Never did I fear.

I cannot end my testimony without highlighting the day-to-day blessings from God that often go unnoticed. Don’t ignore the little things that reveal the miracles of God’s greatness.

“You’ve heard, of course, of Job’s staying power, and you know how God brought it all together for him at the end. That’s because God cares, cares right down to the last detail.” James 5:11 MSG

• A dream how to pray is where it all began.
• Three weeks prior to being admitted into the hospital my sister-in-law, Linda Odden, sent a Facebook text on heart awareness and possible symptoms for heart attacks. When the pain in my right arm suddenly started, God brought Linda’s message to mind.
• Three days before surgery (June 27, 2017), my friend Kathy received a prophetic word from the Lord to pray specifically for me. She wasn't notified that I was in the hospital awaiting surgery until July 29, 2017. In the midst of all that was going on, God had people in the shadows praying for me.  
• God orchestrated the details for friends and strangers to get me into the best cardiac unit and electrophysiologist in the area. God’s love in action.
• Leading up to surgery, Kelly, a stranger, never left my side. She called her friend in Florida several times. One call was to confirm what tools would be used. She sent me a smiling text that HSH had the most advanced technology. I was in good hands. (Don’t underestimate what God can do through you by taking time out of your busy day to help someone in need.)
• Only the best for God’s children: Nurses and medical staff asked how I was able to get one of the best rooms on the cardiology floor, with the best view. God, of course!
• Night nurse: The night before surgery, my nurse was holy spirit filled and spoke a blessing over me. “Doctors and nurses use their hands to bring healing, but it's God who guides their hands."
• Day of Surgery: A volunteer pastor visited my room. He told Rick and I that he had cardiac ablation surgery nine years ago and with the same doctor. He confirmed the doctor is well respected in the region. I asked if he was on medication and he said that he was. One of my prayers was that I wouldn’t need to be on heart medication. He prayed with us and shortly thereafter, I was wheeled down the corridors on my way for heart surgery.
• “God bless you,” were spoken over me by the gentlemen who wheeled me into the preoperative room. It sounds like a small thing, but when people say “God bless you,” I receive it. It was no small thing to be reminded that God was with me. Another ray of God’s light and peace.
• Catheters (wires in the dream): The alligators hanging on the wires were symbolic of the need for the catheters to “zap” the areas in my heart.
• After 3-1/2 hours of surgery the doctor told Rick they performed a ventricular and supra-ventricular tachycardia and all was a success (two alligators).
• Medication: The next thing I knew I was in recovery and told I didn't need to be on medication. Prayer answered.

When I got back into my room, a gentleman began reciting the Lord’s Prayer over the PA system. I had an overwhelming joy of God’s presence. From home to hospital, room to room, God was with me. “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news.” Isaiah 52:7

I don’t say this flippantly, but I’m alive because of the love of God, family, friends, and strangers. God prepared the way and led me forth in peace.

If a dream is prophetic, God will put all things into place and at the proper time. God revealed through this dream how to pray, which set things in motion for my miracles. I pray that all who hear this will recognize the greatness of God. I give Him all the glory. He is worthy of all my praise.

“You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever.” Isaiah 55: 12-13, NIV