Jean Grotgen

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:6-7

In 2016 I learned that I needed open heart surgery. This was a shocking surprise, as my only symptom was shortness of breath with minor activity. Initially I was quite anxious since I had never spent one night in a hospital.

In the weeks prior to the surgery, I remembered the words from Philippians 4:6-7. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

With those words I experienced a sense of calmness, peace, and a certainty that I would be fine, regardless of the outcome. By 6 am the morning of the surgery, Jim Everette walked in with his beaming smile and offered a comforting prayer which conveyed his amazing love and support to John and me.

I had triple coronary artery bypass graft and then went to ICU. Early the following morning my surgeon came to check up on me and talk with staff about how the overnight shift had gone. My first clear memory of that morning was him saying, “I don’t see any reason to keep her here any longer,” so I was moved to a regular room and was discharged three days later.

God was with me throughout this major surgery, and that was all sufficient. This happened over 9 years ago, and I still know that God is with me today. He was then and He will be with me forever.

- Jean Grotgen