The Magic Trick is – Do It Slowly!

My dear brothers and sisters, I feel the happy obligation to share with you this good news, to give you consolation and more courage to undergo the minor operation I underwent just on May 22, 2025, when needed by you.

God gave me an imperfection of having my two big toe nails growing wrongly and hurting my toes. This happened seven years ago and I had both of them operated on. I was then younger at my 78th year and feeling so healthy.

My left foot was treated first. It needed five anesthesia injections which were very painful since my threshold for pain is low. That first operation removed the nail and the pain of the removed ingrown nail. Since the right foot toe nail was giving me the same problem, I have no choice but to have the operation too. Since I had undergone my thyroid operation several years back with a gentle-touch doctor, I went to this doctor for the second operation. I was expecting less pain because several years back I was operated on my thyroid and it was painless. Oh, oh, oh! The 5 injections were also as painful as the previous nail removal. The consolation was that the ingrown problem did not bother me until these last few months.

Whenever I have the nails cleaned, I always tell the pedicurist not to unduly cut the nails. But God permitted the wrong growth, hence the dreaded need to have the nails removed again!

I agonized over the idea of undergoing the pain for months. I then realized how coward I am… Saints and Jesus Christ suffered incomparably greater than mine. It made me increase my love and appreciation for them but my cowardice remained the same. Since I am a devotee of Our Lady of Lourdes since age 11, I said my novena to her, this time for my intention and not anymore yet for many others I pray for daily.

When I pray, I usually flow with what my heart dictates. I noticed that anticipation of the pain is my concern but when I pray, thanksgiving to the Lord was the prayer coming out of my heart. I remembered fondly all the occasions to sins I was exposed to but God snatched me away safely from them. Reaching this age and still doing the service I love to do for him makes me feel how blessed I am. Hence I prayed almost all thanking him for my life and a bit for the courage to face the minor operation.

At age 84, I had my bouts of high blood pressure several times during the last few years and this made me to be ready if the increase may happen during the operation. Frankly, I was already preparing myself for any eventuality. The pain of injection seems more fearful than the idea of “eventuality”.

When I saw the gentle doctor during my decision for operation, I told him of the pain I abhor. He then told me he will do it slowly. So when I was in the emergency room in the morning of May 22, he again said he will do it slowly. Ok, with my daughter at my side and the two hands folded together with my rosary beads in prayer, I had my less than 30-minute operation. The first one carried the pain like the previous injection. However, the subsequent ones done so slowly diminished the pain to less than half the intensity. Alleluia! I thank God and him for the less painful operation. And I told him I would be ready for the other toe too. The toe is healing so well. I was able to hear my daily mass without interruption.

My good news is if you need the same operation, insist on the injections to be given slowly. I could give you the name of the doctor if needed… Send via messenger.

Thank you Lord for the slight action of the doctor which spelled comfort and security for me. I am equally happy Lord if this information could also make others have more courage for this treatment. Alleluia!

We pray for each other until the next column.