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Walking Through A Miracle
By Patti Darst
On September 2, 2005 my husband, Jerry, received
a traumatic brain injury in a four wheeler accident. He was at the
deer lease with our son, Jay, who was 29 years old at that time and
a Dallas police officer. Two hunting buddies were with them for a
great weekend of fun.
The guys hadn't been there long when Jerry and Jay decided to take
off on their four- wheelers to enjoy the scenery. As they were riding
along Jerry suddenly lost control and ran off the road, hitting the
only rock sticking up out of the ground. A foot either way and he
would have been fine.
We are not sure what exactly happened after that but by the time Jay
discovered his dad, Jerry was in cardiac arrest with a severe wound
on the left side of his head. Jay's police training prepared him for
what he had to do to take care of his dad. He tried to hold his dad's
wound together while giving him chest compressions. I cannot imagine
his fear and am so proud of his bravery. Jay was asking God to help
him - and Jerry was responding.
The other guys came looking for them, right at the moment. Jay knew
he would have to have help and was just making the decision to leave
his dad and go for help. About 30 minutes had passed since the accident
and it was now dark. It took them an hour to get to the hospital/clinic
in Sonora. From there, Jerry was care flighted to San Angelo.
When they finally arrived at the hospital the doctors gave Jay news
no one wants to hear, They said that Jerry would probably not make
it, but they could try surgery with no guarantee of survival
- No guarantee of what his life would be like if he did survive.
Jay told the doctors that his mom and sisters were on their way from
Mesquite and to please do everything they could to save his dad. We
later found out he was 5 minutes away from death because of the swelling.
Another place where we saw the hand of God - in this flow of miraculous
intervention.
While all of these things were going on with my husband and son, I
was at the Skeeter football game having a great time! We had a big
victory and were so happy…until the phone rang and our friend told
me that Jerry had been in an accident. That was when my will stopped
and God took over.
There were lots of people still at the game, happy and celebrating
the victory, and as the news came the word spread quickly about Jerry.
Everyone started praying and calling others to pray for him. When
we got on the highway for the 4 hour drive to San Angelo, I could
honestly feel God's presence.
So many people called to say they were praying for us. When Jerry
got out of surgery the doctor was surprised that he survived it. He
told us if he made it the next 2 hours that it would be a good sign.
We barely breathed those 2 hours…just prayed and prayed.
Little did we know that so many people in our community were praying
constantly for Jerry and the family. By the end of the day I had so
many calls about the prayers that were going up for Jerry. I have
never experienced the power of prayer in this way. My family could
feel it.
Over the next 6 weeks Jerry was in a coma...and the praying continued.
With each hurdle Jerry had new prayers were lifted up with very specific
requests for the Lord, and the answers came each time. All that was
needed was supplied all along the way.
Jerry has been through so much physical/mental therapy and he could
not have made it without the arms of God surrounding him. That is
the mental picture I had whenever I asked God to help him - Jerry
being held tightly by the Lord. His neurosurgeon told Jerry at his
last check up that he is a miracle!
Well, miracles only come from one place, and that place is God's love.
Although this experience is the hardest thing my family has ever been
through - and still going through - so much good has come from it.
My family knows first hand what God can do in the midst of such despair
and distress.
We appreciate every day and thank God for it. We would like to say
thank you to all the people who prayed for Jerry. It made a difference
- and He is still with us.
If you would like to comment on this article, please send an email
to:info@vine3.org
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