In the waiting room of death, Tonny and Barbro found life

Just over a year ago, just after Tonny and Barbro Rosqvist got married, a time of chaos, pain and joy began. Barbro lost one leg, but at the same time they found a whole new life.

Barbro has diabetes, and as a consequence, blood circulation in the legs easily deteriorates. After injuring her foot and getting a wound, she met an AT doctor who did not understand the seriousness of the situation. Eventually, she had to have her toe amputated.
Due to the diabetes, it was difficult for the wound after the amputation to heal and the cold fire spread. It all ended with Barbro first having to amputate half of his foot, and then amputate his leg just below the knee.
When Barbro thinks back to this time, everything is like a fog.
– I have probably suppressed everything because of the pain, she says.

Death Waiting Room

But her husband Tonny remembers all the more. When he arrived at the hospital after Barbro’s amputation, she was not contactable. The situation was serious.
– It was like the waiting room of death. Her blood count was down to 52 and the doctors said they did not know if she would survive. I thought, “Is it like losing a wife?”
One of the nurses asked Tonny if he knew God. In that case, it was time to pray now, she said.
Tonny was not a Christian and prayer was not something he was familiar with. Although his parents were Pentecostals, their faith did not cling to him. Even when his cousin met Jesus, Tonny did not want to listen. He just thought the cousin was annoying.
But when the nurse asked, it took a turn for the worse.
– She said God was there and he never leaves me. Then I went home and started praying. I walked around, around when I prayed. It was like in the Disney movies – there were almost tracks in the carpet after a while.

Incredible inner peace

Tonny, who all his life worked as a musician and was out playing at dance restaurants, also liked Christian music. After a search among the TV channels for a move, they saw the Christian TV channel Kanal 10. Both Tonny and Barbro liked the music and the joy.
When he now walked around and prayed, he put on Channel 10. It was a live program where you could call in things you wanted help to pray for, so the presenters and viewers then prayed for it.
– I asked myself what I could lose by calling in, and then I called and told about Barbro.
While Tonny was waiting for his prayer topic to come up, Britt, one of the presenters, asked if there was anyone watching the program who wanted to receive Jesus in his life.
– I turned around and thought “Do they mean me?” When Britt then prayed for salvation, I prayed. I experienced something I did not think existed. It was like a heat went through my whole body. The tears started to flow and I felt such peace that I had never experienced before, says Tonny.

“Gunpowder”

Later in the TV program, people also prayed for Barbro’s health. When Tonny called the hospital the next morning, he was told that the blood value had risen from 52 to 74 and the nurse was a little surprised that Barbro suddenly responded so well to the treatment.
– I thanked Jesus. Whoever asks, he gets, it’s just that, says Tonny.
When he met Barbro the next day, she was awake and happy. When the physiotherapist wanted to move over Barbro in a new wheelchair, she chose to jump on one leg herself. In the corridor stood doctors, nurses and occupational therapists, only gaping when they saw her.
– The doctor said “What a gunpowder bitch! I do not understand this. “
– I did things that are not usually done so quickly after an operation. They were afraid I would break my leg if I jumped like that.

Burying the Old

When Tonny told Barbro that he had prayed for her, and also about his newfound faith and his experience with Jesus, there was nothing strange about Barbro.
– I replied that I have believed all my life. I went to the Salvation Army’s children’s activities when I was little. Then I told him that his faith was my faith if we were to live together now. When I then prayed together with Ingmar, who is now our pastor, it felt good in some way, says Barbro.
Unfortunately, it turned out that Barbro’s legs did not heal as they should. In the end, she had to cut off her entire leg. But that has not stopped Barbro and Tony’s eagerness to pray to God, big or small. After the operation, Barbro could not sleep due to all the pain.
– They could not give her a higher dose of morphine. Only Alvedon. I put my hand on her and asked her to avoid the pain. Then she slept like a log, says Tonny.
After a while, it felt natural for Tonny and Barbro to be baptized. They wanted to put an end to their old lives.
– I wanted to belong to God and be part of everything he had for me, says Barbro.
– Yes, and I wanted to start a new life and bury the old, says Tonny.

Cleaned out the closet

At the same time, they also began to speak in tongues.
– The pastor said that “now you should just open your mouth and something wonderful will happen”. I thought I would never be able to speak in tongues. But right what it was, I said something I did not understand a bit of. But I felt so uplifted by it, says Barbro.
Before another operation, where the vessels in the bone that Barbro has left were to be opened, she received intercession and also felt the same uplifting feeling.
– Everyone prayed for me and it felt like I was just lifted higher and higher. Finally I started laughing. I was so happy and happy and I just could not keep it inside me, says Barbro.
Later, the doctors said that the operation exceeded expectations.
Tonny feels clear changes in his life after meeting Jesus.
– It is a feeling of not fearing anything, or being ashamed, and a feeling of wanting to help. We’ve cleaned things out. It’s like losing weight and replacing the whole wardrobe because nothing fits anymore.
Tonny likes to talk to people he meets everywhere. He wants to tell about what he experienced.
– I sow small seeds everywhere. I want people to experience the same wonderful life that I have done, says Ronny Rosqvist.

Maria Johansson

With permission from the magazine  Inblick.

INBLICK  is the news magazine that describes the surroundings from the little person’s perspective. With weight in Christian opinion issues and a clear stance for “these my little ones”, news reporting with a social focus is conveyed. In each week’s newspaper there are also several wonderful reports about  what Jesus does in ordinary people’s everyday lives.  Coming out on Thursdays. Contains detailed TV appendix from  Kanal 10  and Kanal 10 Norway.