Please pray for Ravi's surgery tomorrow

From Ravi Zacharias: Recently a doctor friend gave me the totally unexpected news, after he had seen my most recent MRI, that the surgery that was done in 2002 to fuse three discs in my lower back had actually not been successful and that there is no fusion.  Not only that, the bolts that were in place to stabilize the back are loose.  One thing led to another and a series of other tests, due to some new symptoms I am experiencing, was set in motion.   The net result is that I found myself in late February sitting in front of a surgeon at Emory Hospital being told that not only was a major correction needed to the surgery done in 2002, but the disc above the fusion was now also involved.  He described the surgery he was recommending as “the big enchilada”: the surgery itself was very drastic and would take the better part of a day, and I would be sidelined for about six months.  When I suggested that we wait until the end of the year to schedule surgery he said that it couldn’t wait until then.  That I was in a state of shock is an understatement.  A further round of tests was suggested before the date was set. The odd thing is that during this time, I had been getting some oil, to address the pain, provided by a very large hospital/wellness place in India where such maladies are treated.  Frankly, those oils, which have natural anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxant properties, have provided incredible relief to me.  With that treatment I have been off any medication for pain and actually have seldom taken any over the years and just lived with the pain. Now I feel so much better.  Two weeks after our meeting, a myelogram, and much prayer, Margie and I returned to the doctor resigned to the surgery.  He said,  “You have three choices: do nothing, which I would not recommend, go ahead with the major surgery we have planned, or just take care of the new disc that has become a problem.  Even though there is no fusion and the bolts are loose, something is holding you up.  My recommendation is to address only the new problem at this point and see if that takes care of all your symptoms.”   If the first analysis was a shock, this one was quite confounding.  Naturally, we had a lot of questions, to which we have only now received satisfying answers.  The less invasive surgery is scheduled for May 19.  The recovery time will obviously be less.  The Lord has answered my prayer and the prayers of many and spared me from that huge procedure.  Having already gone through a triple fusion and remembering quite well the horror of the pain involved, I dreaded the prospects of this surgery, which would have been even more painful than the last one was.  Now the “big enchilada” will not be needed and that the surgery I am scheduled for will be, by comparison, though still not to be minimized, chips and salsa.   I have continued the specialized massage therapy with the oils under a doctor’s supervision during this time and will continue it in preparation for the surgery.  The pain relief it has given me is amazing and is such an answer to prayer.  What this situation has done for me, though, is to give me some down time to think, pray, take care of my back, and spend some very meaningful times with the Lord.  It is my hope and plan that during my recovery time I will be able to do some writing, radio programming, and new study for sermon preparation.  The rest of the team will pick up for me.   Thank you for your prayers for our family and for standing with us at this time.  Without you we would not be able to see the wonderful results that we do see.  God bless you.  I look forward to returning with full and renewed strength.  With my love and appreciation, Ravi