Six months after Gentry's birth, the Lord began to deal with me concerning sharing His miracle in sparing my life. The following testimony was written and first published in 1974.
In April of 1973, Mike and I were happy to learn that we were soon to be parents. The doctor told us that if his calculations were correct, our baby should be born on December 26, 1973. Mike and I were evangelists at that time. A few months later, we were in Iowa at a little church in evangelistic meetings. One day I went into the auditorium to pray. I was praying in the Holy Ghost, weeping, when I heard myself pray "Lord, let the birth of my baby be a testimony to many, to win many to You." Little did I know at that time that I was actually interceding for my very life.
The scripture in Ezekial 16:6 which is in the testimony is one which my father spoke over me when I was small, about age 5. Running and playing, I slipped on a rug, striking my chin on the corner of a bedpost. Blood was spurting profusely. My father picked me up, put his hand over my chin and quoted Ezekial 16:6. The bleeding stopped immediately. This never left my mind or my spirit. This was my first experience of the awesome power of the Word of God. How could I think of this suddenly while in and out of consciousness and shock? I didn't THINK of it, rather it came right out of my SPIRIT, where it had been placed when I was a small child. This testimony has been shared many places and has been sent to other countries with wonderful testimonies returning to us. OUR GOD REIGNS ! Each and every Christmas I am reminded of His love. Praise You Jesus for allowing me to raise my son and for allowing me to enjoy family and friends.
My Christmas Miracle
Do you know that God still performs miracles today? You may have read in the Bible how Jesus healed all who came unto Him and how He performed miracles when He walked the shores of Galilee, but I want to tell you that He is just as much The Great Physician today as He was 2000 years ago. He still hears those who cry unto Him, and He will not turn one away. That is why I would like to share this testimony with you. If you don't know this Healer, my prayer is that this testimony will point you to Him who can save and heal because He cares for you and gave His life a ransom for many. If you know Him as your Savior, may your faith in Him be renewed as you realize He is your miracle-worker and healer too.
It was 4:09 a.m., December 26, 1973, when my doctor said to me, "You have a little boy." Just outside the Delivery Room I heard the excited voice of my husband exclaim, "Well praise the Lord!" as the nurse told him exactly what he had been waiting to hear. This was our first child and a beautiful baby boy.
Little did we know we were about to face an impossible situation as far as man was concerned. The doctor had difficulty trying to stop the excessive bleeding; but finally after what seemed an eternity, I was taken to my room and our little boy was laid in my arms for a few short moments. Then Gentry was off to the nursery. After a while I began experiencing terrible pain and more bleeding. I began losing consciousness and was gradually slipping into deep shock. The doctors told us later it was the deepest shock a person could have. But even while in this state I was crying out loudly "Jesus help me." I would regain consciousness ever so often but only for a few minutes.
I remember awaking in my room to find my bed surrounded by nurses and doctors talking quietly to each other and working very fast. I had an oxygen mask on and IVs were being administered. My daddy, Rev. Alton W. Robbins, was standing by my side. My husband, Rev. Michael D. Pate, (Mike) was kneeling at the foot of my bed crying out to God. Then I realized that something unexpected must have happened. I asked my dad to read Ezekial 16:6 to me which he did. The Word says, "And when I passed by thee and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thine own blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thine blood, Live." Then my pastor, Rev. H. M. Bowley, came in the room and talked with me. Faith began to rise in me because I knew Jesus was with me.
My state was so critical I could not be moved, so all the furniture was taken from my room so that my bed could be rolled to the Operating Room. Mike was crying while walking by my bed telling me, "Everything's going to be alright. People everywhere are praying. God has made too many promises to us. He won't fail us now." That's when I began to have a sweet peace and assurance that my life was sheltered in the arms of God.
In the Operating Room three doctors threw up their hands in despair and utter helplessness. They had never witnessed a case such as this. The uterus had inverted--something which occurs 1 out of every 30,000 deliveries. During this time Mike had knelt down in the waiting room and was crying out to God. One of the nuns of this Catholic hospital came and told my dad they would have to take Mike to a room because "he was beside himself." Daddy said, "No, he's not beside himself. He's travailing in prayer to God who hears and answers when we call." One of the doctors told Mike they had called a major hospital, which is about 32 miles away from where our baby was born. He said I would be as well off in the ambulance as I was there. All hope seemed gone. Mike asked if there was time to get a helicopter. No, there was not. While the ambulance was preparing to leave, another nun came by and asked Mike, "Would you like to go to the chapel to pray?" As they entered she said, "You can pray as loud as you want and any way you want." So they did! Praise the Lord! What a testimony to that hospital staff.
Then we were in the ambulance on our way, siren wailing constantly. The nurse would slap my face to keep me conscious; Mike was trying to encourage me. By the time we reached the Emergency Room, I had lost complete consciousness. My eyes had already set. My father saw this and went back to the car to tell my mother "She's gone." My mother's prayer was "Lord, she hasn't lived long enough, we haven't gotten to enjoy her. Please let her live." What incredible faith! A team of six specialists were waiting at the door. Upon examination with their powerful instruments they could find no pulse, blood pressure would not register and the heartbeat was very faint. The doctors told my family I would be taken to the Operating Room and given more blood before surgery could even begin, and all the while they were not sure I would live. But with God's help guiding the mind and hands of a skilled specialist, the organs were placed in correct position, and all of this was done without an incision. What a miracle! But even greater still, I can write this testimony and tell you that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.
About six hours later I was taken to Intensive Care for 24 hours. The next day I was taken to a room where strict orders were left to keep me under close observation because of the high susceptibility to infection. The doctors were not sure that I would be able to walk since there was no circulation for so long. There was also the possibility of brain damage. I was still in the critical stage, but because my Jesus had control there were no major complications. God's children everywhere had been contacted and asked to pray. The doctors were amazed at such miraculous and speedy recovery.
On January 3, 1974, eight days later, I went home to my little boy. God has given me renewed strength each day to continue working for Him, helping my husband on the evangelistic field and caring for our precious little Gentry Tobin.
Jesus said, "I am come that they might have life and have it more abundantly." I am so glad because "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life," John 3:16. "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed," Isaiah 53:5. "For with God nothing shall be impossible," Luke 1:37. I'm so thankful I serve a living God that still performs miracles today just as He said in His Word. "If thou canst believe all things are possible to him that believeth."
As I look back at the dark valley I walked through, I can hardly comprehend it all. God is so good to me. I'll forever give Him all the glory and tell others what Jesus has done for me. Surely this has strengthened my faith in God and drawn me closer to Him. To God be the glory forever and ever for the thing He hath done. Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and all that is within me. Bless His Holy Name !