Even though I consider myself a deeply spiritual and religious person, there aren’t very many days when I feel like I could stand in my front yard and praise God all the day long, but today is one of those days.  Today my life-long friend Angela went home from the hospital.

I’ve shared almost my whole life with her from Kindergarten to college roommates.  On Dec. 13, 2012 was in a tragic accident  that took the life of her darling 12-year-old son CJ. 

It was one of the most tragic events I can ever remember enduring. If I never see a child in a casket again, that will be too soon.  Even more tragically, his mother missed the whole funeral while she was in a coma for several weeks.

Even though this story can’t end with everything back the way it was and everyone whole again, there is a happy ending.

My darling friend Angela has made nothing short of a miraculous recovery.  Over the last six weeks she went from being in a coma with a brain injury unable to communicate or even regulate any of her bodies functions to going home. TODAY. 

We all have God to thank for that.  Our long-time friend Mindy Shipley created a facebook page where all her family and friends causal and close could come together to pray and get updated on her condition.

There were a lot of days where the news wasn’t always encouraging.  It was difficult to stand in the hospital ICU next to her husband as the specialists came through and said they’d just have to wait and see.  The uncertainty was almost the worst part. I credit the congregated prayers for getting her and her family through those days.

There were times when I saw her in the hospital and left more than a little discouraged.  In college, I was a home health nurse’s aide who regularly visited people including young mothers involved in tragic accident who never recovered their bodies functionality even years later. Imagine my delight when she woke up from her coma.  It was prayer and the grace of God that allowed this to happen.

At first she could only follow people with her eyes, then she could squeeze hands, then she started pointing and using expression on her face.  Then…they took out her trach and she could speak and she seemed to know who everybody was.  That was a miracle too.

Her husband Ben who had major back surgery just 3 days before her accident was there by her side despite his own physical and emotional pain every minute of every day making sure she she got the best care possible.

He is an amazing man and an even more amazing husband.

We were lucky enough to be able to visit her in the rehab center as friends and roommates a few times. I know there were many more friends who would have visited if they could have.  We felt so lucky to be able to have this time to be with her and help her even in a small way.

In just a few short weeks she took big strides in re-gaining strength and memory.  And then today…She went home.

So today is a GLORIOUS day!  So if you see me out today and I’m waiving ribbons and flags praising Jesus and God, you’ll know why.

I thought I’d share this video.  This is my favorite Christian song and it’s my anthem today.
If you’re reading this and have been touched by this miracle, I ask for your continued prayers for Angela. Her family’s life will never be the same without her son and I can only imagine that the grief is just beginning now that she’s home. Pray for her comfort as she mourns and increased strength as her body continues to heal.

I also wanted to share this article from The Friend Magazine that especially touched me and helped me to accept that God has a plan for each of his children.