Its Easy For Me To Believe In Miracles I See One Everyday!

On the morning of February 17, 1998 my husband died. Not in some tragic accident, him being only 39 at the time, but by a blind-sided blow from out of nowhere. I learned later the moniker given to cause of death is Sudden Cardiac Death. The doctor solemnly came into to tell me my husband was brought in with no breathing, no heart beat, had been shocked 17 times and given intercardial injections (shots of medicine directly in the heart) three times and was now only on life support equipment. Furthermore, when questioned as to the likelihood of my husband's recovery, he dramatically touched his white hair and declared,

"Miss I have been doing this for 30 years. I have never seen anyone in your husband's condition even coming close to making it! I can give you know hope and I suggest that you have none!"

Being a young mother with my 5 year old sitting on my lap, I didn't exactly appreciate the delivery this appraisal, as honest as it may have been.

I thought of testimonies I had heard where God had performed miracles for those who believed. How? How do you believe? My head was full of water flooded with floating thoughts that banged gently around hitting the insides. Without much thought I looked at him and declared (yes I use that word specifically),

"Well this will be your first!"

My precious Pastor and his wife looked shocked or maybe thought I was in shock. She knelt down placing her hands on my arms saying,

"Darla hon, do you understand what he is saying?"

I assured her I did and went through the motions that all must when preparing for the love of their life to die - but not believing it. I saw him. It was brutal. His face and eyes bulged with swelling, his pupil were fixed and dilated and there was a smelly ointment covering them for moisture. It was a short visit during which time I received condolences from the nurses who had attended him. My Pastors once again attended me, one on each side, we walked down a long dim corridor. I remember saying,

"Either we believe the Word of God or we don't."

I felt a blanket of faith covering me. A covering with no logic, no reasoning, no path to follow, no precedence to site. My Pastor said,

"Darla we will stand with you. But no matter what: His grace is sufficient."

Robert was quickly moved to the Cardiac Vascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU). During the intermittent waiting period I was introduced to his 'new' physician and told basically the same thing with the addition of how I would have to decide to unplug Robert from the machines if he did not die in the next 72 hours -state laws requiring that much time for some meaningful signs of life and recovery - etc. Then I was lead in to see him in his new room. The signs were not encouraging but I leaned over and said,

"Robert if you are there I need to know. I have to decide whether you are to be kept on support systems. I won't take a dime of the insurance money Robert. None of it!"

Okay so I suppose I was trying to get his dander up a bit, but I was also trying to stand in the gap for a miracle.

I was then taken away and forced to go to lunch. I didn't know why my Pastor insisted on this at the time, but later discovered the doctors had come to him and told him to prepare the patient's wife. The death would happen soon, all indication levels (blood gases, organ failure,etc) pointed to him passing on soon. As soon as I was on the elevator Pastor Randy announced,

"We are now praying for a resurrection miracle!"

And the people whom God had gathered through a strange divine culmination of events, prayed.

Before I had been gone 5 minutes, a family/nurse advocate ran into the lunch area gasping,

"You are needed in your husband's room. He is awake and thrashing about! No one can get him settled!"

Rushing into the CVICU I witnessed 6 medical personnel struggling to calm Robert. One was commenting on the fact that Robert had just broken a wrist strap that he was attempting to secure. I put my hands on my husband's chest and pressed him back as I said, "It's okay Robert, it's Darla. You are in the hospital." He immediately laid back an quit resisting.

The recovery is a longer story for another day, but every day, almost 12 years later, I see this miracle, walking, talking, interacting with family and friends, singing in the church choir, being a man of God. It's easy to believe for I have seen the glory of God. It's easy to believe because I trust God's choice and I know he is well able to do that which He has spoken. Each of us that believe on Him are walking miracles that have been redeemed. Just believe.