IT'S
CELEBRATION TIME, AGAIN!
Luana
McPherson shares a God-story
I don’t want to confuse anyone…just
share with you another miracle the Lord has given me. This took place in 1990.
For you who’ve read about the shooting--that was in 1973. Today, April 20th, is
the twentieth anniversary of when I was struck by a van, walking across the
street (in the pedestrian walkway).
I’ll attempt to make the account as
brief as possible. J The van
was doing about 60 mph. When the van hit me, I flew into the air. Coming down,
I was struck again--sending me across the intersection. As I attempted to ‘get
my bearings’, I tried to look around to see where I was at. In attempting to do
so, I realized I could not use either arm, nor could I feel anything below my
waist. Yet, I was determined to know where I thought I was at. And, with the
Lord’s help, I did.
Later, I realized only my chin and a
place on my abdomen had been scrapped. There were no cuts or tears in my skin.
I relate that to what Psalm 91:12 says: “They will hold you up with their hands
to keep you from striking your foot against a stone.”
When the paramedics arrived, one was
asking me the ‘shock’ questions, while the other was attempting to get a blood
pressure reading. There was none. As he began to panic, I looked at him and
said, “I’m looking at you; I’m talking to you; I’m making sense. That should be
some indication there is life here.” That settled that. Then it seemed as if it
took ‘forever’ for them to determine whether to put a board under me, or try to
lift me onto a gurney. They chose the board.
Later, my daughter, Kimberly, was told
they’d given me less than a 40 % chance of even making it alive -- to the
hospital. In the E.R., after tests were run, what I thought had to be every
test possible, I was admitted. Then, the ‘shock’ began to come over me.
That was just the beginning. It was
determined my left shoulder was broken in 8 places; my right wrist was crushed;
my left hip and the left part of my pelvic girdle were broken; one of my legs
was broken; and, they thought my spleen was going to have to be removed. At
that time, I was really unaware of all that was taking place. I was not in good
condition at all. Yet, a peace was there…
It was determined later, my spleen did
not need to be removed, nor was my leg broken. Praise the Lord! Isn’t He an
awesome God?
No surgery was done on my wrist. The
doctor said it would be of no use anyway, so he put a cast on it for my wrist
to heal.
Surgery was done on my shoulder, but I
was told I would never be able to raise my left arm away from my side. I was
also told I would not walk for many months.
While I was in the hospital, a certain
nun would come and sit at my bedside every night. She said not a word. Finally,
one night I asked her why she came and sat by my bed every night. She smiled at
me and replied, “Because of your faith”. I thought, “Faith?? Do I really have
that much faith?” I guess I did, even though I did not realize it at the time.
I did know I had, and still do, determination to walk through this trauma. I
thank God for giving me that faith; determination; and for walking through this
ordeal with me.
After more treatment in the hospital, I
was finally discharged. And it had only been 2 weeks! Not to go home, but to a
rest home. There I was to get physical therapy. Actually, the Lord was my
physical therapist!
Having been there a few weeks, I began
to ask the nurse to pull the curtains around my bed. When I knew no one was
around, I got up and started walking around my bed. (A special crutch was made
for me, and that gave me the stability I needed.) Each time I made that
‘round’, I got stronger and more confident. So, at night during shift change, I
began venturing out of my room down the hallway to the rest room. Who likes bed
pans, anyway?
One night, when I was out for my
‘evening stroll’, I walked past the charge nurse’s desk. She was never there at
that time, anyway, so I saw no problem in doing so. As I was walking past that desk,
I heard, “Luana! What are you doing?” I told her I was walking. I was
reprimanded. That did not stop me, I kept going through this practice until I
was discharged to go home.
I had talked with the Lord while I was
still in the hospital. I told Him I really needed the use of my arms and hands
to continue to praise Him and glorify His name. The night before I was to be
discharged, with my crutch under my arm, I went downstairs on the elevator. A
piano was there. I sat down, loosened the sling on my shoulder, and played
“Amazing Grace”. I’m certain no one but me knew what I was playing. That did
not matter. I was so full of joy! My arm and wrist were going to work so I
could continue to praise Him as I so wanted to! Absolutely, positively … this
was a miracle!
Only the true Healer could’ve gotten me
through this…with such a wonderful victory! I am so blessed. He did it--AGAIN!
It seems as if it was soon that I was walking, too!
Well, I do not think He’s finished with
me yet. I would prefer not to have any more accidents, though. Even so, to God
be the glory! I give Him all the praise! He is worthy, He alone is worthy! This
is just another example of His desire to perform miracles, even today!
There were several smaller miracles
throughout this whole process. I believe they were a true assurance the Lord
was right there with me, through it all.
Thank you for taking the time to read
this, and for sharing the wonder of how the hand of our Almighty God works!
YES, He did it, again!
Luana – yesLuanais@comcast.com
