Testimony

After I lost my wife to cancer in March of 2000, I thought my world as I knew it had ended. The constant strain of trying to hold 2 and 3 jobs and care for her by myself was taking its toll on me. But, wonder of wonders! A lady with whom I had been corresponding and I hit it off really well, so I moved back home to Mississippi in December of 2000.

Linda and I got married December 15th 2001. (The Church sanctuary actually caught on fire while we were having the reception in the fellowship hall). I had been having chest pain/shortness of breath for some time, but being "mule-headed" as I sometimes can be, I ignored all the signs. Then on April 1st 2002, I found myself on the operating table in Baptist Hospital, Oxford, Mississippi! I required 4 bypasses, one was 100% blocked! I didn't have a heart attack though, it had been caught in time!

Then on December 11th 2003, my wife beautiful, wonderful wife Linda went into cardio-respiratory failure at work, from an asthma attack! She required continuous CPR and defibrillation 3 times before the Paramedics got her to the hospital. At North Mississippi Medical Center, Tupelo, Mississippi she required full life-support. Doctors advised me to "pull the plug", which I refused to do! It wasn't just wishful thinking, I just knew she was going to pull through! To GOD The FATHER goes ALL the Glory!

Linda remained in a coma, on a ventilator, Doctors advising me all the while to discontinue the procedure. On December 15th (our 2nd wedding anniversary), she started over-riding the ventilator, and tried to open her eyes at the sound of my voice! When I told her how proud I was of her, and that The LORD was on our side, that this was the best anniversary present she could have given me, she put her left hand on mine!

December 25th 2003, I prayed all the way to the hospital, what a beautiful CHRIST'S birthday it was. Clear, cold lovely. What a beautiful day for a miracle! Without saying a word, as I turned into the doorway of Linda's room, she turned her head toward me, smiled and blew me an "air-kiss"!

On New-year's eve, 2003 Linda was transferred to St. Francis Hospital, Memphis Tennessee for extensive physical therapy. On March 13th 2004, I brought her home! At this point, she had a feeding tube, but the very next morning she began eating, feeding herself, and was only fed by the tube once!

Of course, "friends and neighbors" promised to help me care for her, but that never came to be. Soon I was down in my back and began drinking. It of course began to take more and more alcohol to ease the pain. I began to have alcohol-induced seizures, wound up in jail twice for public drunk. (We live in a "dry" county). It wound up that Linda had to go to a retirement home for her physical therapy. At this point, I had no income, other than her social security and a little bit of savings. My phone was shut off because I couldn't pay the bill.

I turned 62 within a few months, and now draw my regular social security. I had my phone turned back on (a Thursday), Saturday night I just knew I was going to die before morning. I prayed most of the night, and all day Sunday. About 4:00 PM the phone rang. It was the minister of a church not even in my immediate area, just checking on me. The next morning I was in his office at 9:00 AM sharp. After about an hour, I left with a peace inside I hadn't had for 25-30 years: I had turned everything and I mean everything over to GOD. Things have just gotten better and better for us ever since!

May GOD bless you.