Miracles…

My family has just experienced an incredible miracle!

On August 28, my dad had a cardiac arrest. He was setting up his guitar to play for a church in Archie, Missouri when he collapsed. CPR was started right away, and EMTs arrived on the scene very quickly, but dad still didn’t have a heart beat when they put him in the ambulance. Doctors at a nearby hospital were able to get dad’s heart beating again. They put him on a ventilator and life-flighted him to St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri.

All of the family was called and we were not given much hope—only 5% of people who have a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital survive, and most of them have significant damage to the brain, lungs, and kidneys. Doctors decided to give dad a hypothermia treatment for cardiac arrest victims (lowering the core body temperature to 90 degrees for 24 hours). This treatment helps to prevent swelling of the brain and damage to other organs. Doctors gave medications to keep dad in a coma during this procedure.

After 24 hours, they began the warm up process and removed the coma medications. Miraculously, dad started to wake up and respond to us…we were amazed! Over the next several days, there were struggles to overcome, but dad continued to recover. He was in CICU for 8 days, moved to the next level of care on the 9th day, and released from the hospital on the 12th day!

My dad has no apparent damage to any organ. He is astonished at God’s goodness and knows that God brought him back for a reason. He is looking forward to each day discovering what that might be. In the past few weeks, every one of us has created some precious memories with dad that we will cherish forever. It is hard to believe that he is home and getting stronger every day.

My mom showed us all how to walk through the valley of the shadow of death and fear no evil. She faced every minute by resting in God and relying on His provision in the moment. When we are squeezed by life’s trial, what is on the inside comes pouring out—and my mom is one of the most beautiful women I know. Her great faith was evident in the peace that poured from her being. When my father collapsed, a woman was singing, “We don’t need to understand. We just need to hold His hand.” Mom believed those were words from her Lord, just for her in that moment. She clung to Him tightly and He sustained her every step.

Not only did we witness a miracle of healing, we saw many other miracles too…
· the supporting love of family
· the life-giving kindness of strangers
· the encouraging compassion of health-care providers
· the uplifting support of friends
· and most of all the amazing, sustaining grace and strength of God.