My name is Praise Mapfumo Mubayiwa and in 2021 my baby, Giselle Mubayiwa who was by then only 9 months old fell sick, she started to nose bleed. That first time, her nose bleeding was not severe so we were not alarmed. But when it happened on the second day we took her to Kwekwe General Hospital and she was diagnosed with what they called Nasal Polyps. The doctors explained that the membranes in her nose were getting inflamed causing them to crack and bleed. They also said that Nasal Polyps can obstruct the sinuses, causing further complications such as chronic or frequent sinus infections.
That’s when the series of sinus infections and endless hospital visits started.
Giselle started snoring, we observed that she was struggling to breathe and used her mouth to breathe when she was sleeping, what we later learnt was called obstructive sleep apnea. From that time we became permanent hospital patients, we would visit the hospital at least twice every month. Sometimes Giselle would have a very high fever and we couldn’t just stay at home, Doctors said she had pneumonia. They would stabilize her temperature; give her antibiotics and nasal spray to help her breathe.
One day after work, I was told my daughter had been inactive the whole day. I examined her and gave her the usual paracetamol, amoxiline and nasal spray. But on this day things took a turn for the worst, around midnight my daughter started having fits and was groaning. We rushed to Mbizo clinic and we were immediately referred to Kwekwe General Hospital. When we got to the district hospital, she was immediately admitted.
She was 2 years old by this time and that’s when she was referred to an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist because of the recurring history of illness. In my husband’s family there is a history of asthma so we expected a diagnosis of asthma but it was not so. Friends and family could not believe the complexity of her condition because on most days she would be playing normally days prior to an episode. Yet we were being told we needed $US1200 for Giselle to immediately have surgery if we were to use a private surgery. Since we did not have the money we had to go the government hospital route and this meant we had to wait for a longer period for the surgery to be done. The ENT specialist said she had upper respiratory infections (large and inflamed adenoids and tonsils) and needed adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy corrective surgery. She was scheduled for surgery to be done on 23 February 2024 at United Bulawayo Hospital (UBH).
We were left speechless and wondering what to do for our baby to find relief!
As parents we were under a lot of stress and pressure. Some family members said if we opted to do the operation my baby would die. I was tired and weary; we could not even raise the money needed for the surgery.
In September 2023 a friend of mine invited me to NCL and I attended the Kwekwe City first service. I felt right at home and I decided to become a member of the church. One of the days, I approached my Pastors’ wife Mrs Mzondo and told her about my daughter’s condition. She advised me to bring Giselle to our father Apostle Joy for prayer. Pastor Mangilazi who is responsible for the prayer line assisted with writing my baby’s condition on a flyer. As Apostle Joy was ministering, he said he wanted to pray for someone with an asthmatic condition. I was confused, I knew my child didn’t have asthma but I had hope because of the relatedness of the conditions. I ran to the prayer line with my child with the assistance of the Pastors. Apostle prayed for my daughter and declared “it is done”.
After prayer I did not immediately notice the change. I felt that if her condition didn’t change it meant that I had not followed instructions. But as days went by we realized Giselle was no longer using her mouth to breath! There was no snoring, no fever, the obstructive sleep apnea stopped! She slept peacefully; we were amazed at the change.
Soon after I joined NCL, in October there was the Apostolic Summit, during one of the services there was a call for partners. I decided to be a part of this program and Apostle prayed speaking blessings to everyone. Since then my life is a testimony, a lot has changed, I am seeing the hand of God in every area of my life.
But Giselle was still booked for surgery and we went to the hospital on 23 February, this year. The doctor in charge of her case ordered a re-examination before the process was done as he noticed that Giselle was not exhibiting any physical signs relating to her diagnosed condition. The re-examination showed that there was absolutely nothing wrong with our child. The miracle had happened and everyone was amazed. The surgery was cancelled as God had done it for us through a word from our father. Giselle is now a perfectly healthy and glowing 3 year old. There is healing power and a great covering at NCL.
We were once regulars at Kwekwe General Hospital but it is now history. What the Lord has done for my daughter and my family is beautiful. I thank God for my husband who was there all the time through the ups and downs and sleepless nights. I did not have an idea or expectations that God would bring me peace this way. I feel there is now a covering that covers my life and my family. This is a great miracle to us as a family and Apostle Joy and Pastor Mary kindly receive our heartfelt gratitude.