The beginning… 

Imagine being twelve years old and waking up surrounded by machines, all whirring, beeping, gurgling and humming. Now imagine each one of them was attached to, or focused on you—all working together to keep you alive. You have hoses in your chest, tubes coming out of your arms, and wires stuck all around your torso. Now imagine that you try to scream...but no sound comes out—you have a tube emerging from your windpipe, attaching you to a respirator, allowing you to breathe. You look around at the massive machinery, at the impersonal walls of the tiny room, and ask yourself...what happened? 

That is how my story could begin. But that would leave you wondering that same thing:  what happened?  This is my story of what happened.  It is based on my memories and those which others have shared with me over the years, of the events of that day and the effects of the days that followed.  But this is not my story. This is God’s story. It is His testimony of His miraculous power and mercy, of His amazing attention to the smallest detail, and even of His sometimes quirky sense of humor.  I also offer my tale to say “thank you”.  “Thank you” to all the people who helped me along the way.  Thank you to those who shared even a brief smile or kind, encouraging word.  These things truly do not go unnoticed, and this is my way of saying “Keep up the good work, it does make a difference.”  And now to the real beginning....