Francois Zietsman's Testimony

I was born in 1972, a normal and very healthy boy, finished my first school year in Vanderbijlpark after which we moved to Viljoenskroon in the Free State. We were 5 children of which I was the 4th. My 2nd school year I then started in Viljoenskroon...and in that year, 1980, my life has been changed dramatically.

We were involved in a motor accident and I was badly hurt, although, it was only face injuries. My face was actually torn from my scull and 3\4 hung upside down on my chest...my jaw was broken in 3 places, my cheekbone was crushed as well as my eye bone and my nose...my right eye was torn out of the eye-pit, my right ear was torn off my face. I was cut right from behind my right ear, 1 mm from my brain, across my face to the left cheek, cuts on my chin all over...in total, I had 147 stitches in order to have all the pieces put together again.

I fell out of the Toyota Hi-Ace van when it started rolling and we just assume that some part of the vehicle struck me in the face to cause all the damage done. We lived on a farm just outside of town and were on our way from school when it all happened. My mother, my eldest sister, my youngest brother and I, was in the accident...a front wheel burst on the gravel road and my Mom lost control. Seeing that the farms were quite a distance from one another, there was nobody in sight at the scene. A black man eventually came pass with a tractor and my sister jumped on the tractor and asked him to take her to the nearest farm, wich he did, when in the meantime, another farmer, the Gholf player Fulten Allem's brother, came by and saw us. He immediately got us in his car to take us to town where my father was at the business...my father already got the message from my sisters call and was on his way to us at the same time, so, halfway to town we met our father and from there we went to the nearest hospital which was in Klerksdorp.

We found them waiting for us at the hospital, as the doctor from Viljoenskroon phoned them, but the staff that were supposed to help us out of the car, ran away when they saw me and called for a porter to take me inn. The doctors soon realized that they could do nothing to help me, but only to give me a blood-transfusion for the meantime and sent me off to Johannesburg by ambulance. I was immediately admitted to theatre where they did the operation that lasted for about 11 hours...just to try and fix my face injuries and more or less put every torn part together again to the best of their ability. When I eventually woke up after the operation, I had this massive framework over my face, fixed with screws to my scull to keep everything in place. My face was swollen to more or less twice the size than normal and I had a tracheotomy in my throat to breath as my nose was altogether crushed. The doctors removed quite a bit of little splints of bone out of my throat, caused by all the injuries. It was a very traumatic experience for both my parents, I and my family, but we were so thankful that I survived and we gave all the glory to God for the doctors had no hope.

I did not realize then, but today I know that everything happened according to God's plan for He knew that I was to work for Him (Kingdom-work) and He prepared me for such a task as my ministry that I am involved now through My Prayer website that I created. The Lord does not want us to be hurt in any way, but He sometimes allow things to happen and then turns it into a blessing for His glory only. The enemy so dearly wanted to steel my life from me more than once, but God was in control and performed miracles. The doctors told my parents that I would not make it and that they have to expect the worse, but again, God is faithful, loving and Almighty where it concerns His children...my parents consistently prayed and trusted God to intervene, which He did in His own time. So many people asked the very familiar question: "How can a Loving God allow such a thing to happen?" I actually thought so myself and there were many questions unanswered for many years that I struggled with. It was not easy to except my situation, to be amongst people and children in school with my scared face, because the children at school mocked me time and again...I was so hurt by people's reactions towards me that I would hide in my room whenever people came to our house...I refused to go out in the open other than going to school, which I knew I had to. It was very difficult for me to associate but my parents and family were very supportive all the way to try and make it a little easier, but still I withdrew and sulked in the quite.

A while after the operation - I was still in hospital, when I developed a very high fever. So much that they had to cover me with ice. The doctors did not know what caused these terrible fever attacks and constantly did tests and then came to the conclusion that, maybe a wrong blood-transfusion in Klerksdorp, my system would not respond and rejected the blood. Eventually I was released from hospital but had to go back so many times for tests and also as a guinea-pig for the new students. My body ached from time to time and sometimes I cried at night, although I was back in school, very unhappy at the time, for I was sore and the kids ignored me and I just thought that nothing is going well for me.

About 2 years after the accident, I experienced stiffness in my body and I found it difficult to stand up when I was sitting or lying in bed and I suffered much pain in my joints all over. I was admitted in a hospital in Pretoria for 6 months. They did the one test after the other to eventually find out that I had Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis and it was not known to happen at such young age...it is something one would regard to the aged. The doctors were once again so confused and actually shocked by the realization and also declared that it could only be because of the wrong blood I received after the accident. There were much talking about the "golden injection" which was very effective when Arthritis of this sort, was discovered at a early stage, but the doctors were not in favor of giving it to me at such a young age...(I was 10 years of age at the time)

My body was in pain, severe pain and I could not bare the pain and cried myself to sleep each night. My parents had to set the clock to turn me on the other side during the night, every 2 hours they changed my position...I was so stiff and in so much pain, I  could not do it myself. My joints slowly but surely started to cripple and the doctors then splinted my knees and arms, hands etc. to try and prevent the crippling, but it did not help much. I had school lessons while I was in hospital, but it became difficult to handle a pen because of the stiffening of my fingers. (Today I can do almost anything quite normal despite the crippling; thanks to God and His grace.....it was a long, long way to here)

Eventually I was released from hospital after 6 months, where a very difficult time in my life started. I suffered much pain all over...I had to take Aspirin tablets every 6 hours for the pain and stiffness. Nothing really helped, the Arthritis just had to go its way...as the doctors said that Juvenile Arthritis burns out in about 6 to 8 years, the damage however, is permanent and there's nothing to do about it. In spite of all the operations and hospitalizations, I finished my metric successfully and although it was almost unbearable years, it became a little easier as from Grade10 and I had quite a few genuine friends. Through all the difficulties, I still moved on with my life, determined to make a success of my life. I qualified myself as a computer technician and applied for work at the Vaal Triangle Technikon, which I got and I worked in the Computer Centrum.

I may just mention that in 1991, I was in a accident where I smashed my Dad's car to a total "write off", where again, the enemy wanted to kill me but for God's grace and plan He had for my life, me and two of my friends, survived without any injuries whatsoever. The Arthritis burned out in time, but the damage was done and in l999, I had a hip-transplant which was successful in the sense that it helped me to walk and move more easily. I got my "normal" drivers license in 1990 and had my own car, also normal. In 2001 I had a knee-transplant which was also successful at the time and within 3 days, I could walk again.

For quite a few years everything went well, but then pain started in my knee, the one that was replaced...the pain was so severe, I could not move, I couldn’t even turn myself on the other side in bed. My brother and I lived together at that stage because we had a computer business which we worked from home. The pain started overnight and it was so severe that I phoned my brother to wake him in the other room, just to help me move my leg a centimeter and I actually cried. It just happened overnight and the following morning I had a "fever-rush" all over my body...the pain was indescribable. My brother took me to the local doctor, my blood pressure was very low at the time and I

was all dizzy. In the consulting room, I received 2 glucose injections and they thought that I had an allergy. I told the doctor that I had never ever been allergic to anything but he insisted that I might have eaten something that caused it, and some allergy medicine was described, after which we went home. Nothing helped and the pain got worse (if that was possible)...I couldn’t move or do anything.

The next day I asked my Mother and my brother to take me to Johannesburg Gen. because we realized that something terrible was wrong and I couldn’t bare the pain any longer...as I said, pain as such....indescribable!! The next morning very early, we went to Johannesburg and I was admitted for some tests. The doctor that did my knee-replacement operation took care of me and it was found that I had bad infection in the knee. The reason for this, my system rejected the knee-prosthesis after several years and that something must be done and the sooner its done, the more chance I have to recover, but they had to consult with the hospital board to get affirmation. The Superintendent was to give the "green-light" for there was a very long waiting list of patients to be operated on with various orthopedic disorders. The pain was so unbearable, I couldn’t even tolerate a bed sheet touching my leg and as a result of the pain, I got this terrible muscle spasms, so much so that I could move nothing but my eyes.

I was in hospital for 2 weeks and then discharged with antibiotics and a promise that they would phone me as soon as they had permission to go ahead with the operation, which never happened. For more than 2 months, I was in bed at my sister's house (my Mother, a widow, stayed with them at the time). My whole body was in spasm and my knee started to swell and some fester started dripping out...the swelling developed a small little hole through which the fester was dripping. I went back to Johannesburg Gen for at least 6 times to try and get some help...it was unbearable, but still the same result, nothing they could do unless they had permission, although they realized that my case was very urgent. Once again, I waited in vain, nothing happened....and in the meantime, the infection got so bad the tissue around my knee, started to disembody.

Once again I was in the claws of death and once again God's mercy came through. The infection got so bad and spread right through my body that it infected my transplanted hip as well and again I went to Jh hospital and all they could say was that there were no space and they had not gotten permission yet as to operate, but they will try their best. Every time I had to see another doctor and then they cut the already existing wounds to drain the fester and put a plaster on. For 11 months I survived with all this infection in my body (which was a miracle) for people having this serious infection, usually goes into a septic shock and die. That was another indication that God had plans for my life, for He really carried me through the most traumatic experiences. I was a 100% conscious all the time amidst of the most terrible pain and discomfort, although, overall, I was actually very healthy....the doctors were amazed that I could endure and survive.

I even went on my own to some of the hospital's senior people who then sent me away to see someone else....I just wanted them to see how very serious my problem was and that I could suffer no more. They agreed though, that it was pretty serious but still did nothing to help (maybe they thought I was going to die anyway, so why bother).They all agreed that it was unacceptable but still did nothing and for 11 months we tried to get someone's attention regarding this matter because it was obvious that time was running out on me. Eventually in 2004, I got to see Dr. Kyte from the Johannesburg General...he could not believe his eyes when he saw my condition and the fact that I was alive and "well", except for my knee being rotten away and the infection that had caused it and that I still was alive and conscious...he said that it was an absolute miracle. He then immediately admitted me in hospital and they started tests, x-rays etc. which revealed that 80% of my white blood cells have already collapsed....God's grace for He was in control all the time. According to Dr. Kyte, I should have died during this horrible time...I had a few blood transfusions and many tests done and was scheduled for theatre the next week. Dr. Lautenbach came to see me, and then told me honestly that, because of so many white blood cells having died, it was a very risky operation and that it maybe fatal, however, they will do the best they can.

We, my Mother, family and me, trusted God however and I did not fear. Dr. Kyte told me that he had to remove my knee as well as my hip-prosthesis and therefore has to stiffen my two legs permanently....I had a choice as to having a sitting or a standing position. Trustfully I asked him if he could not then please do another transplant but there was no way for my tissue has been "eaten" away as from the infection for such a long time, so, new prosthesis was no option at all. It was a very difficult decision to make, stiffened in a standing position or a sitting position and I wanted to know whether I should walk ever again and the answer was NO! That night I had struggled through with the Lord...I was confused and my faith was at zero-point...I actually prayed rather to die then facing this ordeal...I felt as if though there was no God, and should He really exist, He does not know anything about my existence. I just gave up...but still, deep inside of my, I experienced a wonderful peace that everything will eventually be o.k. although the doctor's were not so confident.

That evening I was talking to my ex-girlfriend with whom I was working things out before I got sick, just to tell her what the doctors had said and then she gave me the shocking piece of mind..."if you can walk again, then we can talk and try to work things out". I was so deeply touched by this and then I struggled with God again as never before. The next day I asked Dr. Kyte if it would not be better then to amputate my leg and if he thinks that I then could perhaps walk again one day. He replied that I might have a better chance of walking, should they amputate just above the knee, but he was still very hesitant about my surviving it all, but deep inside I knew, that this was the best option. The doctor asked me to think seriously about everything as they could not promise anything, but I was adamant at the time...as a matter of fact, I did not care much because I prayed so many times to rather die that I couldn't care less.

The doctor again asked me whether I gave it a thorough thought and I gave permission for them to go ahead. It was very traumatic for my Mom and family, but I wanted it all to be over and done with as soon as possible. I couldn't care whether I should die or not, although I knew my Mother suffered a great deal although she trusted the Lord in every way, and funny enough, deep inside of me I had peace and was nevertheless, positive. The doctor squeezed my hand before the operation and said: "Mr. Zietsman, you are a very brave young man" I told him that I'm o.k. and they may go ahead, I will see them when I wake up. Today I know, it was consistent prayer and the grace of God that carried me through, even when I wouldn’t believe.

The operation was done and everything went well...I just had much pain, very much pain. A week later, they operated again, removing the hip-prosthesis and was then placed in traction and was full of antibiotic tubes, some to drain the infection and other to feed antibiotics. I was in hospital for about 50 days in all, of which I was strapped in traction for at least 6 weeks. During that time, 3 people died in our ward only, because of infection and septic shock, and I then realized again how great was our God that saved me through it all. My infection was healed and I went home in a wheel chair.

Once again pain struck me, so unbearable that I could never describe and I prayed again to rather die because for more than a month, I could not turn to my other side in bed, I could not even move a finger or a toe without the most terrible pain. My Mother and family had to move my leg sometimes, just a centimeter at a time because then I would scream of the pain it caused. When I think back, I still get Goosebumps all over when I'm reminded of the terrible pain. Nevertheless, many people prayed for me, even before my operation, even long before that when I first got sick, and afterwards and I know, prayer is powerful indeed.

Slowly but surely I started to feel better and could sit in my wheelchair for short periods before I had to go back to bed, which my family did...they carried me wherever and even then I sometimes cried because it hurt so much. But after a long time, I recovered to the point where I could work at my computer and even work from home to fix computers.

A year after my operation, I got this terrible pain in my "Hamstring"...it felt like a muscle cramp and I thought I hurt my Hamstring somewhere without knowing. We used Voltaren ointment, rubbed it in and eventually got some Voltaren injections...even the Physio Therapist came along to massage me and we all thought it was only some muscle problem and that it must just be kept warm. I so desperately wanted to believe that it was only a spasm or a muscle hurt...it was so sore when I sat in my chair and then I had to lie down for a bit.

So, this went on for about a week...my Mother had to wake up during the night just to cover me with ointment or to message the area because I couldn’t sleep, the pain was horrific and this Sunday, week after it started, Dr. Gerhard Bergh (psychologist) visited me. I was surprised to see him for I have worked on his P.C. about twice some time ago, so I thought he had a problem with his computer again. I said to him that if he has a problem, my brother would help him because I am not capable at this stage, to which he said he had no problem, he just had this funny feeling of visiting me to see how things were. He did not know I was in bed but when we told him what the matter was, he just had one look at my "supposed Hamstring"....he then said that he knew nothing about such matters but will phone his son-in-law, who is a surgeon and ask him for some advice. Dr. Bergh visited for about 20 minutes and we chatted about computers and ordinary stuff and then he went off, promising me that he would ask his son-in-law if he could advice some medication to use and that he would visit again. He is also a Christian and I always had a great deal of respect for him and I still believe today, that he was guided by the Holy Spirit to visit me, for he lives about 30 kilometers from us...if that was not ordained by God, then what is?

Dr. Gerhard went off and about half an hour later there was a knock on the door...my brother opened and here stood this man, asking for Francois Zietsman. My brother brought him to my room and he introduced himself as Dr. Ettiene Marais. He said that he had a quick Sunday afternoon-siesta, but Dr,.Gerhard woke him up with a urgent request that he should come and have a look at my "supposed Hamstring"...he also was a precious Christian. Doctors do not do house calls anymore but here he was, on a Sunday afternoon, concerned about me....is that not God's working? When he looked at my leg he immediately realized that it was infection again, although he knew nothing about my previous experience. He did nothing, haven’t even touched my leg, he just told me to be at his practice the next morning at 7 o’clock, before he opens for consulting. He then went, but after a while came back with a morphine plaster that he placed on my stomach just to help me through the night. The next morning my Mother and my brother took me to the rooms, doctor Marais looked at me sitting in my wheelchair and asked me whether I care for blood and cuts etc. because he has to cut. I replied that I was used to these sort of things and nothing could really scare me anymore. I wangled my body to a position that would make it easy for Dr to work, he took the scalpel and cut while I was looking...the fester that came out was more than 2 kidney-buckets full.

Dr. Marais then had me admitted to our Local hospital, Cormed and did some blood tests which again revealed that 80% of my white blood cells were already dead. He told me that if I waited another few hours, I would be dead as well....most probably I would have died in my sleep and wouldn't even know....he then told me that he had very little hope at first. He immediately started blood-transfusions and antibiotics for more than a week after which I was released and the infection was healed...praise God. There was this very precious sister that came by at our house every day to fix and clean my wounds. I realized again how great our God is and that He never slumbers or sleeps, that He is aware of our every need and that His love is never-ending for He rescued me from death so many times, that He is alive and cares for us.

Four times God saved me from a definite death had it been the enemy's choice, but God is faithful to the one's who belong to Him. I have not always listened to the Masters voice and today I know, He wanted me to move into His plan for my life....then He had to work another way to get my full attention. Even when everything went well with me, I still had my one foot in the world and with one I tried to please Him, although, one could never please God by good works....if not from the depths of ones heart, it doesn't

mean a thing...one should never be "Luke-warm" for that is not pleasing to God. I did not grow spiritually because I did not spend time with the Lord...I always pitied myself being in a wheel-chair and therefore did not go to church. God spoke 4 times, and I was still ignoring the precious voice of my Master....He called me for a specific ministry and I did not recognize the Calling.

23rd of June 2007, my sister's child Daantjie (we were very close) were in a tragic motorcycle accident. His neck was broken, he had 4 fractures, 5 ribs were broken, his pelvis, his knee was broken and he had so many cuts and bruises that one could not believe him surviving, but he survived which was a miracle. I was so deeply hurt by this, because we were so close...he always came to visit my and my Mom, we played computer-games and could chat about almost anything. Holidays, he usually came to stay with us and it was good to have him around. The 25th of June however, he stopped breathing for more than half an hour and he had no heartbeat. He was in the Millpark Trauma ICU....when his Dad phoned us to start praying and I heard him cry like a baby, the Lord once again spoke to me. I wrote a letter to send out by e-mail to about 10 friends....I told them all about the accident and asked them all to pray urgently....my heart was broken for him. It so happened that my e-mail reached so many people at the end that I was amazed when I realized it reached more than 2500 people by e-mail and they started responding, assuring me of their prayers and deep concern. On a daily basis, I received e-mails, inquiring about Daantjie's situation and reassuring us of their prayers. Once again, God came through miraculously and Daantjie recovered within 3 1\2 weeks time which was so amazing that even the doctors at Millpark, could not believe such a miracle. The 19th of July Daantjie was released from hospital and he could walk!!!!

I sent out "updates" on a weekly basis about his recovery and received so many encouraging messages back and when people realized that Daantjie was healed miraculously, they started sending their prayer requests to me...people knew then that we serve a Living Gracious God and by prayer and trust and the unity af 2 or three in the Name of Jesus, things can happen. Daantjies recovery was such a miracle that people still talk today and got so busy with this e-mail business that I barely had time for myself and my own miseries.

This is where God started dealing with me the plan He had since the beginning of time. He urged me through His Holy Spirit to start a website where people can be reached and for people to reach out to one another, because we live in a very broken world with many broken people who need help, in need of God's healing power and financial difficulties and other needs. Through all of my experience, it took more than 27 years to come to realize what God had planned all along, a Ministry to lead people to the Lord, to encourage and to motivate, to pray and to advice through this wonderful e-mail process. This is where "myprayer.co.za" started in August 2007...at first it was just a "local prayer website", but it expanded and exploded in such a way that it became a "Global Ministry". I thank God every day for trusting me with such a wonderful work, to use me as a link to the world out there, to be active in His World, for I am only the clay...He is my Potter...without Him, I am nothing, so all the glory to God.

Today I look back and thank God for His faithfulness during this time, for putting me through ordeals as to draw my attention to His bigger plan, I thank Him that He guided me safely through it all and that today, I can accept the fact that I am bound to a wheel-chair, but that I can still serve Him, and praise be to God that in all things, we are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ our strength. He surely molded me and now I know, it was worth it all, for He has rescued me from death, and now, I can do all things through Jesus Christ, my Victor. The fact that I am in a wheel-chair, is the place where He wanted me to be, for now I know, was I healthy and able to have a normal life like the majority, I might not have committed myself to a Ministry as this, which was needed for so long. Today I look back and I only see one row of foot-tracks and I know....God has carried me for a purpose such as this and I am so thankful....I have discovered so many secrets of the true Love of God, the Father's heart and I know...what He did for me, He will do for others who seek His face diligently.