Wednesday, 28 April 2021

Life is the Sweetest of All - Alexandra Lanz

  


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This story goes back a very long way. It's all about Alexandra Lanz.  This is her story.

Alexandra was fourteen. She was, as usual, at school. About mid-morning she began feeling unwell. She got worse, and all of a sudden  collapsed. Her liver had completely stopped working. Her condition was critical. She was taken to hospital. She was to stay there for 5 very long years.

Alexandra's stay in hospital was pain, suffering and despair. And, worst of all, time that never moved forward. Her youth was draining away; there was nothing she could do. She was stuck where she was. But, where there is life there is hope. And, where there is hope there is faith. And, Alexandra had both in great plenty. She knew she'd recover one day.

Then, one day, a light came on at the end of the tunnel. A liver transplant was agreed. The first ever in Vienna. The operation was a total success. And, from that moment on, Alexandra's life began coming back. But, it was during her operation that Alexandra Lanz experienced something not only unique, but very special, too. An out-of-body experience.

Alexandra was floating gently above and watching the surgeons below. And, this out-of-body experience was the most wonderful thing Alexandra had ever experienced. It was powerful and soft. She knew the worst was behind her. Her hope had not been in vain.

And, coming back to life meant other challenges, too. Alexandra had lost 5 years of school. There was much to catch up on. But, her hard work paid off. Alexandra finished her schooling and went on to medicine. And, then she met Harry and married.

But, another miracle was waiting for her.

After her liver transplant, Alexandra was told that becoming a mother would never be possible. Again, Alexandra never lost hope. Then the impossible happened. Alexandra became the first ever liver transplantee to give birth. A wonderful son.

In her darkest of times, Alexandra discovered there was a life after life, and, now she knew, too, there was a life before death. And now, with husband and two healthy sons, she's living every minute to its full. Life is the sweetest of all.

Alexandra Lanz. She lost a few years, but never lost hope. Stronger then ever, she came back again. Dreams can sometimes come true, but faith can even move mountains. Alexandra Lanz – a woman of faith and great courage. A woman who never gave up.

Alexandra Lanz - Life is the sweetest of all.




Wednesday, 21 April 2021

Oskar Magocsi - He went to the stars!

 

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Oskar Magocsi

On his 65th birthday, Oskar Magocsi, the Canadian writer, sat down to write his very first book. A science fiction book. The aliens were little green men. Their planet was light years away. And, the ending was brilliant. Peace on earth and the universe, too.

Oskar Magocsi believed his book was the best. There was, however, one very small problem. His book wasn't wanted. No publisher. But, Oskar Magocsi knew his book would succeed. Where there's a will, there's a way.

And, Oskar Magocsi found his way in a medical journal. He saw an ad for a gardening book in the small ads section. Not a bad idea. Well worth a try. Oskar Magocsi's advert appeared in the very next issue.

Things started to happen. Oskar Magocsi couldn't believe his success. Orders and cheques. They kept coming and coming. To begin with, Oskar Magocsi produced his own copy shop books. Real books quickly followed. And, within just a short space of time, Oskar Magocsi had risen to the top in North American science fiction circles. Radio and television followed.

Things didn't stop there.

Oskar Magocsi wrote 4 very successful books. He sold more than 80.000 copies. And, Oskar Magocsi was working on book number 5 when he died. He was 83 years old. His life finished on a high. Oskar Magocsi just followed himself and did that which was always within him. And, not only one, but 4 brilliant best sellers took off! Books of another dimension. And, there they still are, travelling at speed on their way through the stars.

Oskar Magocsi – Science fiction and truth in the best possible way.

Sunday, 11 April 2021

Budapest Blues



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I never liked football. But, there I was at a match. England versus Hungary. I liked Budapest very much. Vienna, where I lived was not far away.

The match was boringly slow. But, I cheered with the rest when England actually scored. Otherwise, the whole thing was a waste of good time.

The game finally finished. England had won. Now, it was time for a very long night in the Budapest that I knew. But, there was one little problem. A Union Jack. And, this Union Jack almost cost us our lives. It happened going back to the coach.

Our coach was parked in the middle of a big open space. And, this big open space was full of Hungarians. They were hanging around and not very friendly. And, two of our group, two very proud Brits, were waving their Union Jack.

The Hungarians were showing their feelings. Angry and looking for trouble. Very, very menacing. Then came the loud black ugly whistling. The Hungarians wanted the flag. Things had turned very rough. Grabs were made for the flag. But, we managed to get back to the coach with the flag. We were quickly on board. Then came the missiles.

Bottles, cans, and stones, and so-on. I felt sure the windows wouldn't survive. The shouting and hissing were deafening and threatening. We were in danger. It was frightening. Then, things began to get worse! We felt the coach starting to rock. The crowd was doing their best to rock our coach over. We were too heavy. The jeering and shouting and the black ugly whistling continued. We were stuck fast in the middle of aggression. The crowd was determined.

Then, not a moment too soon, an army of long black leather coats came out of the shadows. Then, as if following an unspoken command, the crowd started quietly dispersing. We were free to go on our way. Now, a strong whisky was all that was needed. The embassy bar was a blessing.

My first Scotch was a triple, the next two as well. I got talking. Had they been to the match? Certainly not! Meanwhile, at the other end of the bar, The two with the flag were being toasted as heroes. Saving the flag and all that. Stupidity?

Next day, on the way home, the two with the Union Jack took their seats at the back of the coach. The Union Jack at full mast across the back window. The victorious English on their way home. The Union Jack. A very bold statement. A Union Jack that hadn't been captured.

And, I had a touch of the Budapest blues. Too much danger, too much fun, too many whiskies, and a night that had turned into morning. All in all, a very close call.

Budapest, a long time ago.


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Monday, 5 April 2021

Innocent Rescue

 


 I heard the following story a long time ago. It's a story of miracle, luck, and good chance. And, it's a story that moved me. And, it's something I've never forgotten.

It was Vienna. The summer of 1973. I was having tea with the Clarks. I was a family friend. And, the Clarks had 4 very nice children. Nicola and Roger who were 18 and 19, and Emily and Peter who were twins. And, Emily and Peter were still very young. In fact, only 6. And, the story I heard was all about Emily and Peter.

The Clarks had recently come up from Africa. Noel Clark, the father, had worked there as foreign correspondent and was now doing the same in Vienna. And, the story took place whilst the Clarks lived in Africa.

An old friend of the Clarks had dropped in for tea. A doctor from London. He was in town for a conference. And, then came the sandwiches. But, there was one person missing. Little Emily. She was up in her room not feeling well. And, then, when the doctor asked how little Emily was, it was Peter, Emily's twin, who spoke.

Little Emily cries very much, she's tired all the time, she never wants to play, and, she never eats supper. And, there's one other thing, my sister looks kind of blue”. The doctor stopped eating. He was taken to Emily.

The very next morning, Emily and her mother were on the plane back to London. And, it was all thanks to Peter. In his innocent way he had accurately described the symptoms of Emily's condition. A hole in the heart. And, there at the airport in London and waiting for them was an ambulance. There wasn't much time. Speed was important.

The operation took place that very same night. It lasted more than 6 hours. And, 3 days later Emily woke up. She had come through.

And, 6 other little children were treated for the same thing that week. Only 2 survived. Emily and one other child. Emily had been very, very lucky. She'd had a Guardian Angel. And, Emily's Angel was Peter her twin. It was Peter's innocent words that had saved Emily's life.

A doctor on holiday, little Peter's innocent remarks, and a plane that was leaving. Good chance, good luck, and very good timing. All three at the very same time. A story I've never forgotten. And, I often wonder what happened to Emily. It was all a long time ago. The afternoon we had tea in Vienna.

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Maggy Steiner

  Maggy Steiner had a wonderful childhood.  She went to school in Vienna, and spent her summers with her uncle and aunt and her two cousins ...