A strong faith in God enabled Stuart and Sandra Anderson to deal with a life-threatening illness. Last November the honeymooners’ world turned upside down when 43-year-old Stuart suffered a sudden stroke and had to be rushed to the Lahey Clinic in Boston. The couple, devout Seventh Day Adventists, said their faith in God was undaunted throughout and served as a source of strength getting them through the really tough time. “I had a feeling that I’m going to be gone. At death’s door the feeling was intense. All my resources were depleted. You either fight to live or that’s it,” Mr. Anderson said. “I felt people praying for me. It was an intense spiritual experience and I had a real sense that the prayer warriors at different churches made a request on my behalf. I thank the various churches.”

And his wife Sandra said she prayed all the time. Mrs. Anderson said she was comforted by going to a small church in Boston. “It was a small Adventist church with only about 12 people. They picked me up every Saturday,” she said. And she said it was particularly trying for her because although she is a medical professional there was little she could do. “I had to meditate on the verse ‘Be still and know that I am God’,” she said.

Mr. Anderson said the ordeal solidified their marriage. “The stroke strengthened my faith and our relationship,” he said. “ We laugh a lot more now, because we realise better how fragile life is.”