Yes, a Miracle Can Happen
Two People
This is first a story of two people, Amy and Jeff. They are friends, lovers, athletes. One of those couples that seem perfect together, have so much fun, are so caught us with each other, yet at the same time are kind, wonderful friends to everybody. They are triathletes (yes, ironmen), so Alan sees them more than I, but when I bump into Amy or Jeff while riding or around town, I am always greeted like the closest of friends.
I want to tell you the story of a miracle. It will be a little disjointed, as I have pieced it together from what Alan has told me, and from posts on facebook. Amy has given me permission to tell their story, and I hope that other friends that read this will add their perspective as well.
On Thursday, a little over a week ago, I came home to see Alan, looking serious. He told me that our friend Jeff had complained about a headache, had seen the doctor, and they had found a large, malignant brain tumor. (Amy told me later that Jeff had actually gone from headache, to nap, to coma at their house. She called 911 and they got him to the hospital, where a neurosurgeon was called. He arrived within 15 minutes, drilled a hole in Jeff’s head to release pressure and found that his brain stem had been crushed. An MRI revealed the tumor.) He was scheduled for surgery on Friday. Apparently, the tumor was so fast growing that Jeff had no idea that anything was wrong.
The Community
After Amy’s announcement, there followed a huge outpouring of love, prayers, support, and memories from friends and family. The community was in action. A facebook page was started, where friends could log in for news, to share photos and memories, and to offer support. Friend after friend stopped by, anxious for information, each sharing words of love and support.
A Brain Tumor
On Friday, Jeff had surgery and his doctors removed 80% of the tumor. One report claimed that the tumor was half the size of his brain. I don’t know if that is true, but I know it was huge. (Amy told me later that Jeff’s whole brain had shifted to the right.) The doctors warned Amy not to hold out too much hope. Chances were that Jeff would never wake up, over one in a million in fact. They expected him to stay in a vegetative state.
Alan and I went to bed Friday night feeling very sad. The thought that our friend, with his vibrant personality, might not make it was so very disheartening. Our hearts went out to Amy and the rest of his family. Then, when I woke up on Saturday morning, I read this:
Okay, this was early on Saturday morning, barely hours after his surgery, and Jeff was responding! While Amy tried to play it down, everyone, all Jeff and Amy’s friends were excited and hopeful. He had already proven that he was one in a million. What else? Apparently a lot more.
By Sunday morning, Amy posted that Jeff was talking and laughing and cracking jokes. His first words were, “No f….ing way!” They took out the breathing tube and he was breathing on his own. Even the surgeons were using the “M” word: Miracle.
By Monday, a friend reported that he was out of bed and walking. We finally got to see a picture.
While hopes were high and the news seemed to be so good, Amy reminded us that this was a brain tumor after all, and the future was still uncertain. She said this to remind us to embrace every moment that we have, just as she and Jeff were doing.
But the news just kept getting better. Joking and laughing, he was moved out of ICU and into a private room. More pictures showed a smiling and happy Jeff who was ready to start the next part of the recovery process. This is Wednesday, just five days after surgery.
A Miracle
And finally Friday, just a week after surgery (less time than it has taken my cold to go away), the words we’ve been waiting for, Jeff is going home. He has a long, arduous road ahead, but he is alive, surround by loved ones, with a new realization of how precious life is.
This morning, Amy posted a picture of Jeff and the family, saying, “Best night of our lives.” I believe it and I wish them many more just like it.
Want To Help?
If you read this story and feel like you want to do something to help, there are several ways. First, your prayers and good thoughts are wonderful. If you believe in miracles, and after reading this story, how can you not, you know the power of community, the strength of our hope, prayers, good will, whatever you want to call it, coming together as a force to contend with.
If you live locally, a group of people are volunteering to help with bringing meals in to help with the load. If you leave a comment I can connect you with the right people.
Finally, a fund has been started to help with the huge bills that are already starting to roll in. Jeff’s Road to Recovery Fund is set up to take donations from $5 and up. You can click the button below to be taken to the FundRazr page.
I also hope that this story will remind you of just how fragile life is. You need to soak up every moment, every experience, and enjoy every second of this short time that we are given. Please take time today to hug your spouse, children, and friends. Tell them how much you love them and how much they mean to you. I know that is what Jeff and Amy are doing.
Oh my GOSH!! What an incredible story and most definitely a miracle! I will hold them in my thoughts. Simply amazing.
Thank you.
Wow! His story had me crying and then rejoicing! I am so happy for him and his family. I have friend going through something horrible right now… I am sending this story to her. She needs hope and to believe that miracles do happen. Thank you for sharing their incredible story.
Thank you. I hope that Jeff and Amy’s story can help her believe in miracles. I know that Jeff’s positive attitude about everything in life had to have helped in his recovery.
What an incredible story! Miracles really do happen. I love that his first words were “no effing way.” LOL! Those would have been mine too!
Imagine. He basically lay down for a nap, then woke up in the hospital after brain surgery. I think his words were actually an understatement!
I am so happy for them and for you that Jeff is the one in a million. Hope and determination (and good health) really are powerful. He and Amy are in my thoughts and wishes.
What an amazing, incredible story! I’ll be keeping Jeff and his family in my prayers. Miracles do happen!
what an amazing story.
life is indeed fragile.
Wow! Unbelievable. Two things came to mind – life is unpredictable and never give up hope. Thoughts and prayers to your friend!
Thanks to you and Amy and Jeff for sharing this story. Wow.
Thinking of you all.
OMG I literally have goosebumps right now, thank you for sharing and I”m tweeting it out!
this is absolutely amazing! i will be praying for them daily and putting them on my church prayer chain! god is so good! thank you for sharing this!! <3
Thank you for sharing Jeff and Amy’s story! God is so good!!
Thank you for sharing their story! My uncle is currently battle a brain tumor as well so this story sure hits home. Prayers are with them!
Holy cow what a roller coaster. I am elated and hopeful. Please keep us posted.
What an amazing story! Thanks for sharing! And I loved his first words haha. Thinking of them!
WOW! Amazing story. Miracles do happen 🙂
awesome story! thinking of their family!
This is amazing! I have goosebumps.
Oh, wow! I got teary-eyed reading these. The power of a supportive community and prayers is immeasurable. What a miracle indeed!
Amazing story!!! So happy to hear Jeff’s ok! Thinking of the family this morning.
This is an incredible story, thank you so much for sharing!! Definitely a miracle. Thinking of them!!
WOW — amazing, beautiful, wonderful story. Thank you sharing…and giving us a remidner to remember what is important!
What an incredible story. Thank you so much for sharing – Jeff is truly an inspiration. Sending him and his family love and prayers – I know he’ll continue to exceed expectations!!
This is such a touching story. I do believe in miracles and I’m so happy to see Jeff still smiling even after all the trauma. Faith is a very powerful tool to have, when we learn to embrace it we can move mountains =) I’m going to share this story!
wow, wow, wow!! See, the power of prayer is amazing! Jeff is amazing. What blessing to be able to witness such strength. Thank YOU!
I am more convinced than ever that the power of an active body changes the brain as well, for the good. Your story is one that gives hope to many and may spur some to be active. If we take care of our body it will take care of us! All my best wishes to Jeff and Amy.
Wow. What an amazing and incredible story. Thank you for sharing. Never give up hope.
WOW!!!! What an incredible story!!! Proof that miracles DO happen! I will send out healing prayers!
amazing! thank you for sharing, it’s the time of year we all need a little hope!!
Wow, that really does sound like a miracle! I like that you tell the story without added drama. So glad for Jeff and his family. It’s amazing how social networking has changed our lives and helps spread the word on occasions like this.
DEB,
Thank you so much for this. I have no words but our hearts are strengthened and supported by your touching account of our story. We love you. Would you mind emailing this to me please?
Thanks everyone for your prayers and love.
Amy, Jeff, Chris, Jake and Cali
Anyone who wants to follow Jeff’s story can also join group on Fb called friends of Jeff Rasmussen.
Praise Jesus – these comments to Debbie’s Blog are incredible. So much love and support thank you. I’m truly blessed to be reading this three years later. Wow, my brain took a hit and is finally back to normal. Its incredible that it took my brain three years to reach remission and for the brain fog to dissipate.
I am so happy to hear from you Jeff. I’d love to do an update sometime on your story. It really is a miracle. You know, your story began on the same day that my grandson was born, so they will always be tied together in my life.
(All the pictures have disappeared from this post, something that happened when I changed blog names. If I updated I’d fix that).
Thanks Debbie 🙂 My bday is November 18th. I went into coma in November. Your grandson is a November baby. Power to Scorpios 🙂 Yes, when I finish these seven summits (highest peak on each continent) post cancer, then for sure I’ll let you know first and you can update the blog. Bittersweet victory to beat terminal brain cancer, but I lost Amy in the process. Although I’m working on reconciling now, but an old flame from her college days is getting in the way. No worries, its god will and praying for this last miracle to be with her again. After 3 years of being hopped up on medicines and steroidal pills I became very brain fatigued, short tempered and the steroids made me aggressive and my critical thinking skills went out the window. Its nice to be cancer free, medicine free and fog free. I’ll keep working on her, hopefully she’ll come around soon. Cancer, Coma, Romance, money, our story has all the makings of a hollywood movie ha ha If Amy does not pen then book, then I may pay you to pen for me he he he Please Tell Alan I said hello. He’s an awesome guy and hopefully all our path will cross soon. I should be in the desert around Christmas and will let you know next time I’m in town. God Bless, Jeff