A Christmas Miracle!

This season, I have been touched by several coworkers that are in ill health, struggling financially, and mending by a miracle. My work family is very important to me. I've worked with most of them for 20 years. We've seen each other through marriages, children, heartache, devastation, celebrations, retirement, and even death. They have become my pseudo-brothers and sisters. Sometimes, we may not like each other but together we can move mountains! The following life-event has touched my heart and I continue to be amazed by everyday miracles.

I have changed the names to protect their privacy.

Two weeks before Thanksgiving, Mrs. A got a call that her husband, a City of Dover employee, was critical injured by an electric-flash from a generator he was working with as part of a reconstruction project. He was immediately flown by helicopter to the Crozer Chester Burn Center. The next day, we learned that he had 30% burns, a low white blood count, chemical pneumonia in both lungs, and on a ventilator doing all the breathing for him.

Immediately, a website was created about Mr. A for the family members, City of Dover and DNREC employees, and friends. Updates throughout each day kept their family in our hearts and prayers. Monetary contributions poured in for Mrs. A's daily two hour travel and meal expenses from Lower Kent County, DE to Chester, PA. Donated sick and vacation time from employees allowed Mrs. A to be at her husbands side and still receive a full salary.

We were all aware that the hospital only allowed three daily visitations for two hours at a time. The A's also have a teenage daughter attending school, and live-in mother who needs part time elder care. From time to time Mrs. A would stop by at work very emotional thanking us for our love and support. She and her family were overwhelmed from the generosity of her coworkers and strangers that became aware of their struggle.

Everyday, we'd search each other out to find out the progression or setbacks of a coworker's spouse. We all adopted their family and gave them hope, love, and faith as we posted prayers and good thoughts to support him and their family. At times, Mrs. A would ask for continued prayers as she read each posting to her husband and family. Many times, she would post how the prayers were working and how quickly he was healing.

To many, Mr. A became a living breathing miracle as he continued to heal after skin graft surgeries, scary high blood pressure surges, blood counts, and ventilator oxygen percentages. We were amazed at Mrs. A's tireless worry and days without sleep. It was December 1, when Mrs. A finally received a kiss from her husband, 21 days after his accident. In the next days he was moved to a physical therapy location in Philadelphia where his wife was able to stay with him round-the-clock. On December 12, Mr. A was able to go home.

Mr. A still has a long way to go. He will continue with more skin graft surgeries at Crozer Chester. Also, he will be travelling to Chestertown, MD for rehabilitation to help them stretch grafts on his hand, armpits and shanks . His organs have to readjust after laying down without movement for 22 days. He is very dizzy and slow going, but his body is rejuvenating.

During a recent visit, buddies from his work had him laughing for the first time. She said it was music to his wife's ears. As she posted, "Prayers really work!! We thank you for your continued prayers through this difficult time in our lives. It brings tears to our eyes every time we talk about it. It's amazing that he got a second chance at LIFE, and I get a second chance at LOVE.

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