THE MIRACLE

This month was exciting for me. I have wanted to write on miracles for a while and finally have my chance. Miracles are something close to my heart because I have had several in my life (not counting my beautiful wife, three children, and granddaughter).

My first and greatest miracle took place in August 1988. In 1985, at the age of 29, I had a cerebral aneurysm burst causing me to have a massive stroke; over one-third of my brain was saturated with blood. I was paralyzed on my left side, almost blind in my right eye, almost deaf in my right ear, and couldn’t read or write. An operation saved my life, but ten months later, I had my first grand mal seizure.

Only a person who has experienced one can know what this means. The pain was unbearable. The left side of my face would become numb, then it would feel as if my left arm and leg were plugged into a 220-volt electrical outlet. I would then stop breathing and lose consciousness. It felt as if I was being smothered to death each time. It would take me hours to regain consciousness. I could not be left alone. I lost my privilege to drive a car; I couldn’t work — and we never knew when one would occur.

The burden on my wife, Teresa, was immeasurable. Our two children were both under 6 years of age and she now had an invalid husband to care for. I could not take medication, as it made me sleep for over sixteen hours each day. This went on for two years. The seizures became more frequent and more violent. Many times I would have one immediately following the prior one and it forced me to become a hermit, living in depression in a dark bedroom while Teresa took care of our home and children… and prayed for me.

The last seizure I had was one of the most violent. Each one was like a living nightmare. I could never comprehend where I was or what had happened as I began to recover. On this day, I envisioned two large men attempting to kill my son.

My 3-year-old son was my heart. We share the same name and we were inseparable, so I immediately viciously attacked the two men. I knew in my mind I had to kill them quickly, as they were larger than me and I knew they were stronger. The only problem was those two men were in reality my wife and mother who were trying to help me as I regained consciousness. They said I had the strength of two men and I could have easily killed them both.

After I awoke and was told what had happened, I knew what I had to do. The next time I was alone, I got on my knees and prayed to God. I told him I couldn’t jeopardize my family’s lives. I said simply, “God either you heal me now or I will have to take my own life. The next seizure I have will be my last.” And I meant it. Teresa was fasting and praying also because she knew things were getting worse by the day.

That was the last seizure I experienced. They simply stopped. I went to Shands hospital and they tried to induce a seizure and couldn’t. They ran an EEG that showed the scar tissue on my brain had disappeared. The nurse who gave us the information cried as she told us I had a miracle. Within two months, I had my driver’s license and our lives were forever changed.

Of course, skeptics will say that my body, facing its imminent death, molecularly changed the makeup of my brain, dissipating the scar tissue. Believe what you will. I believe a God, who loves me because of the sacrifice made by His Son, Jesus Christ, loved me enough to miraculously heal me. And I am forever thankful.

PATRICIA BURGOS

Environmental Program Manager Lake County Water Authority

RUTH ANN BYRD, LA, CME Aesthetic Skin Solutions

KATHERINE COOK

Founder of the Leesburg Center for the Arts

ISAAC DEAS

Interfaith Chaplain for Cornerstone Hospice

ROD ERB

Director of Marketing and Business Development, Moore Medical Group

TERRI FECHTEL

Liaison for Suncoast/ Omni Home Health

GREG FRESCOLN

Principal, First Academy-Leesburg

SHERI HUTCHINSON

Public Information Officer, Community Outreach Manager, Lake County Health Department

CAROL MILLWATER

Executive Director, Lake-Sumter Medical Society

MANDY RICHARDSON

Marketing Manager, Mid-Florida Eye Center

ERIC ROUKEY

Physicians Consulting Group

B. E. THOMPSON

Director of Development, Lifestream Behavioral Center

ELLEN WILCOX, GEPC Wilcox Wealth Management

JEFF WITTMAN

Licensed Nutritionist, Owner, Jeff’s Health and Nutrition

Jim Gibson editor

Comments or questions for our editor? Please email jim@akersmediagroup.com.

The Healthy Living Advisory Board consists of a handpicked group of knowledgeable individuals representing a unique cross section of Central Florida business owners, professionals and individuals. They provide a critical review of our magazine and offer recommendations of approval or adjustment based on their distinctive skills and life experiences.