Wednesday, December 3, 2003

Remember this: Miracles do happen

With all the political unpleasantness going on in Peachtree City government, and all the ugly ridiculous letters to the editor, accusations, gossip, dishonesty, and who knows who is telling the truth, I wanted to print this article on a very positive, Christian note.

I really hope that the mother of Josh Isaac will read this. I want her to know that I am praying for Josh; he is on my prayer list, even though I don’t know him. But his story hits very close to my heart because on an accident and injury which occurred in my family, and in which we firmly believe there was a miracle that happened.

After reading the article about this young Marine from Peachtree City, who almost drowned during a qualifying exercise at Paris Island, I cried for him and I cried for his family, and I prayed, and I am still praying, because we believe in miracles.

My nephew, who was only about 21 at the time, was involved in a horrible car accident on a rain slick night, in which he left the road and hit a tree. His car was cut in half.

All the doctors agreed that he most likely would not survive, and even if he did, he could only be a vegetable the rest of his life. They gave my sister and brother-in-law not one ounce of hope and warned them not to build up their hopes because they would be let down. He was married and had a small child.

In the accident, his head was cracked wide open, they could see his brains, and he was not conscious. Day after day his wife and mother and father sat by his bed holding his hand, talking to him constantly. Never any sign of encouragement ever came from the doctors.

They took their turns sitting and would always say to him, “I’m here, if you can hear me squeeze my hand.” His wife would say, “If you love me and our daughter, and can hear me, squeeze my hand.” Nothing. Weeks and weeks and weeks went by.

There was a prayer chain a mile long through the families, church, friends, and co-workers. When the doctors told his dad he would not survive, not to get his hopes up, his dad said, “One day my son will walk out of this hospital.”

I don’t remember how many weeks or months went by, but one day when his wife was sitting holding his hand, she thought he squeezed here hand just a little. She called the nurse, really excited, but she only said that it was an uncontrolled reflex, like when you touch a tiny baby’s hand, the fingers respond.

She didn’t buy it. She kept believing and praying and saying, “I’m here; if you can here me, squeeze my hand.” The doctors kept saying he could only be a vegetable at best.

And then one day a miracle did happen, and it came in stages. My nephew blurted out, “I can, I can.”

Out of the coma, he had a lot of healing to do: Therapy, painful therapy, struggling to walk, talk, more surgeries to come.

He could not talk but he could receive; in some small way he would acknowledge.

A steel plate was placed in his head to cover the area. He was paralyzed partially on the one side of his body. A lot of time elapsed, full of every kind of therapy, progressing, setbacks, determination and lots of prayer.

Then there came the day he would be released from the hospital. He walked out with a walker, of course, but he walked out to the car door.

His life, along with his wife, mother, father, and sister’s have been very hard at times, but full of love for God and each other.

Today he can talk in broken sentences, he can read, loves to watch TV, he can communicate, take care of himself, has a wonderful sense of humor, walks with a little tiny limp, and he keeps up with sports and news.

His daughter has now finished college and is a beautiful young lady.

And yes, one of the doctors said that it could only be a miracle; he is a Christian, and I believe the hand of God was with the doctor’s hand.

So I offer this encouragement to you in this sad and unfortunate situation. Don’t ever give up hope. I will continue to pray for his recovery.

R. Ferguson

Peachtree City, Ga.