My Letter to the Editor of "Faith and Family Values"

I read Stan Lemke's article in Issue 2 of 2009 with great interest. In mid-December of 2009 my uncle had brain surgery due to a subdural hematoma (blood between the brain and skull). While in the two days post-operation he appeared to be coming through the surgery well, a series of seizures, strokes and a heart attack resulted his being in a coma into January 2010. On January 14 the doctors collaboratively, and after a number of rounds of tests, EEG, MRI, etc., indicated to my aunt that there was no hope of recovery, that the last stroke had been in his brain stem itself. My uncle had irreversible brain damage/was brain dead. My aunt was prepared for this, and with family gathered around and with the guidance of the medical community, they removed the feeding tube and intravenous life support being provided and moved him into the hospice section of the hospital. And she began preparations for the funeral.

Please note, he was not on a ventilator, he had been breathing with a tracheotamy with some oxygen being provided. He had been in a coma for a couple of weeks with no signs of coming out of it, and the medical tests indicated that there was no hope of recovery.

After 10 days of being off the feeding tube and IV, and given only so watered-down morphine in case there was any pain, my uncle started responding. This is true. He could raise his hand to answer "yes" to specific questions. He could raise his pinkie and index fingers individually on demand. He would smile when others talked about his favorite baseball team, The Boston Red Sox. He knew what he did for work. And five days later they moved him to a rehabilitation hospital where he is now receiving physical, occupational and speech therapy. He is conscious. He knows and sees people. They are gradually weaning him off his tracheotamy.

I write this because, while I do agree with Dr. Lemke's position unequivically, there are times when God has a greater plan for each person. Perhaps it is the opportunity to witness to the unbelieving co-workers that have faithfully visited my uncle every day. Perhaps there are other reasons. But God, in His grace, has caused this to happen. People all over the world have prayed for my uncle, and this is being used as a great testimony for the Lord. He is truly the Great Physician and I have learned to pray for a "glorious recovery" in times such as these.