September 28th, 2008 began as a landmark day. It was the first day our church’s name as legally changed to CrossPoint Church. It was the first sunday in our new building that would have the carpet down, new chairs in, new projectors installed and new computers system. It was the first Sunday we would hold service and the sanctuary didn’t look like a construction zone. We were ecstatic!
Before service that morning, my mother in law went to pray with the worship team before service started and she told them “God has some miracles in store for the people in this house”. She was right.
Service was about to begin and mom (that’s what I call her because she’s been the closest thing to a mother that I’ve had for the last 8 years) was opening the service in prayer. The sound system had just been installed so her prayer was not only theologically but also sonicaly beautiful. Then, out of no where – BOOM! – midsentence, she falls down hard on the freshly carpeted stage. Shaking. Foaming. Light, labored breathing. She laid there. Some people thought she fell out under the power of God – but I knew better. I called 911 from my cell phone almost instantly. It seemed like an eternity, but the ambulance was there in about 2 minutes.
The entire congregation just stood still. Silence. Worry. Concern. For some, fear. It was all over them to the point you could see it. As I started to encourage the congregation to pray NOW, one of the guys at the church came up on stage, grabbed the mic and started praying. And that’s when the prayers began…
When the EMS truck arrived and the workers came in and started helping mom, dad’s grief overcame him and he broke. As I walked him off the stage I saw something I’ve never seen in the 8 years that I’ve known him – I saw tears streaming down his face from the fear and grief that gripped him. But really, if you saw your childhood sweetheart whom you’ve been married to for the last 28 years on the ground struggling to breathe what would you do?
Since the church is across the parking lot from the hospital, I helped dad walk over to the ER.
“Is there any clergy you would like to contact?” That was the first question we got asked after they took her in for a CAT scan. A case worker asked me and my wife Nichole that question. At first it didn’t hit me so I replied “Her husband is the pastor of the church next door, why?” Then it hit me…they want someone to read her last rites. They think she’s about to die. Then without saying another word the case worker said “The doctor will see you very shortly”. Then as quickly as she came, she left. The doctor brought us all into a room and told us she had a brain aneurysm. The entire room broke into tears instantly and the doctor left after she said they would stablize her and transport mom to RI Hospital. What they didn’t tell us is that they didn’t expect her to survive the trip to RI Hospital.
After we arrived at RI Hospital we waited with baited breath to see what the updates were. The doctors brought news hourly. Case workers began to ask us questions about Living Wills and DNR requests. The told us its standard procedure. But I’ve been in the ER many times and I’ve NEVER been asked about a Living Will. What they didn’t tell us is that it is standard procedure for someone who they don’t expect to make it. They didn’t tell us they didn’t expect her to survive the night. The prayers continued.
As we got news, we passed it around to people LITERALLY around the world – Spain, Africa, India, Australia, Guyana, Brazil, Portugal, Ghana – NY, NJ, CA, FL, KS, MI, TN, GA, NC, SC and many other states and countries that cover 6 of the 7 continents ALL with people in prayer for mom. It was working.
When dad, Nichole and I were all allowed to finally see her – it was the hardest thing ever to see. She was connected to tubes, wires, she was unconscious and had a drain that ran from her brain. Its tough to see one of the strongest people you know you needing assistance from machines to do the basic function of breathing. Its tough to see someone you love on death’s doorstep and all you can do is stand there. OR, in our case, we prayed.
Once she survived the night (something to doctors didn’t think would happen) the doctors began to do numerous procedures – all of which could have had deadly results. She survived them all. Meanwhile, they began to prepare us for SEVERE brain damage. They said IF she survived because, according to the doctor, she was probably the sickest person in the entire hospital – she would have severe brain damage IF she survived. But they didn’t know the power of our God.
More procedures came and for the first 2 weeks, what was supposed to be an up and down roller coaster was continual improvements DESPITE the doctors negative prognosis. They brought the worst news they could find. Our family and our friends brought it to God in prayer.
TWO hospitals wrote her off for dead – but our God wrote her off as a miracle. Today the doctors admit she is where she is because of PRAYER. They admit they couldn’t bring her to where she is today. They say they’ve never seen someone survive what she had. Mom had the highest level of aneurysms and they have all been fatal. But they didn’t know the power of our God. Well, atleast until now.
Today my heart is filled with sooooo much joy! November 18th will forever be a holiday for our family. It will forever be a day to celebrate because today is the day that mom leaves Rhode Island Hospital and heads to rehab!
So many of you out there have been praying and believing God for her healing and recovery and its very apparent that your prayers reached the ears of God. Thank you for your prayers. Mom said before prayer started 7 weeks and 2 days ago that God had some miracles in store for some people in our church.
She was right.
Thanks for reading some of the journey to a real life miracle. I have to go now. She just arrived to rehab.
Czar Thoughts 