Rev. Malkmus Recovering After Surgery

It was 75 years ago that I had my first surgery at the age of 3 for tonsil removal. In fact, my earliest memory is as a 3-year-old being wheeled down the hospital corridor on a gurney, scared to death. That thought was in my mind this past Monday, July 9 at 7:30 a.m., as they wheeled me down the hospital corridor on a gurney. The hernia surgery took approximately an hour and a half, and the next thing I knew I was in the recovery room, alert, feeling good, and Rhonda was there in the room with me. Because it was outpatient surgery, after the anesthesia had worn off and the doctor had checked me out, we were on the road home. Doctor’s comment: “You sure have strong stomach muscles and no fat!” He went on to say that the reason the hernia protruded so significantly was because I had no fat to hide it.

Why, after more than 36 years on The Hallelujah Diet, did I develop a hernia?

The doctor said the weakness in the stomach lining could go back to childhood and that carrying 5-gallon jugs of distilled water up and down the stairs of our home could have precipitated the rupture. It was shortly after carrying these heavy jugs up and down our stairs that the bulge was first noted. Healing has been extremely rapid and Rhonda and I have gone for walks each afternoon and evening (even the day of the surgery), increasing distances each day (a total of four miles on day six). Before leaving the hospital the doctor gave me prescriptions for both a strong pain medication and nausea. We were supposed to fill the prescriptions on the way home from the hospital. But I said “No”, because “I won’t need them”. As expected, I have experienced absolutely no pain or nausea. At the time of this writing, 3:00 a.m. Monday, July 16, a few hours less than one week since the surgery, I’m feeling great and chomping at the bit to return to my regular daily exercise routine. However, my doctor told me he doesn’t want me doing any power walking, strenuous exercise, or lawn mowing for at least four weeks. My doctor seemed quite impressed at my body’s physical condition and restorative abilities at almost 80 years of age. I told him I give all the credit to The Hallelujah Diet, which I have been on for the past 36-plus years, and to Jesus Christ, my Lord and Saviour, who led me to this diet after I was told I had colon cancer. My next public appearance will be on Saturday, August 4, when I share with those gathered at Hallelujah Acres in Shelby, North Carolina, my next “’God’s Way to Ultimate Health” seminar. Hope to see you there!