Miracles

Connie’s Corner – His Banner July 2019

God’s still in the miracle business

By Connie Hawkins

Based on a true story, the movie “Breakthrough” is about 14-year old John Smith who fell through the ice and was under water for 14 minutes before being rescued.  It’s a story of the faith and courage of one mother determined not to give up on God.  John who is now 19 years old says he remembers being in the water and fighting for his life.  John spoke at First Assembly of God church in Saginaw, Michigan on June 2 about his harrowing experience. “There was a 99% chance that I wasn’t going to make it,” he said to a packed house.  “I was in the water 14 minutes and 30 seconds. I drowned.”  He was pronounced dead at the hospital.



 “God doesn’t allow things to happen unless you’re prepared for it,” John’s mother, Joyce said. “I was not prepared to lose my son.” His mother refused to give up on her son or on God. “I remember praying, ‘Holy Spirit come and save my son.” The boy gets a miracle!



I recently witnessed another Jon’s miracle.  Jon Gittins, 35 years old, was preparing for a summer of travel.  He had four wisdom teeth pulled on Mother’s Day weekend and knew he would have to allow for some recovery time for that but he didn’t expect to be recovering from brain surgery.  Four days after having his wisdom teeth out, became disoriented and confused, complaining of numbness to the left side of his body, he was nauseous and his head hurt. It was time for a trip to the ER.  It was then doctors discovered that Jon had a large tumor on the right frontal lobe of his brain.  Scans showed excessive swelling.  The only place Jon would travel this month was to the OR for brain surgery.



“We were reeling,” said his mother Julie.  “We couldn’t believe that our otherwise healthy son had a brain tumor.  This was difficult news to receive.  It was hard-very hard.  It was my faith that kept me going,” Julie said.



Jon’s family was told that this would be an eight hour surgery.  They wouldn’t be able to tell if the mass was benign or malignant until they got in there to do a biopsy. The family was asking for prayer.  I had seen God do miracles first hand in my own life and recently had seen the movie “Breakthrough” and heard the in-person testimony of Joyce Smith and her son John, who survived a drowning accident, so there was no doubt in my mind that this Jon would come through brain surgery with flying colors but the big concern was what would happen after the surgery, physically, emotionally and spiritually?



“We need prayer,” said Jon’s mother. And prayers they got. People, like Leon Beaudin, who didn’t even know Jon were praying: “Sending lots of prayer your way! Praying God's presence, healing and comfort for all of you. I believe brain tumors "melt like wax in the presence of the King!”

Surgery was scheduled for 8am on May 17.  However, the surgical team didn’t begin until 10am.  Throughout the surgery the family would receive reports that Jon was doing well.  Of course he is I thought to myself, God is in surgery with him.  Two things about Jon’s surgery…although there were still dangers, the tumor wasn’t into the brain but sitting on top of the brain which made it easier to remove but no less difficult.  The eight-hour surgery was over in 5 ½ hours.  That in itself is cause to praise the Lord. The next 48 hours would be crucial…doctors would watch for brain bleeds and seizures. Neither of those happened.  He was moved to ICU. On morphine and barely awake he opened his eyes and spoke to his mother.  There was no speech or memory loss –God is good. Two days later Jon was moved from ICU into a room on the Nuro floor, talking and eating a little even laughing. “It was so good to hear my son laughing.” His mother said.



From Jon Gittins: 

“I went into surgery Friday, May 17th to have a benign meningioma removed and am sitting here today (May 25^th) at home typing on Facebook. I was told in the hospital I was too high functioning to stay, and will continue to live every day of my life to that standard.  I feel wildly lucky and can't thank you enough for all your thoughts and prayers, and cards… I know it has helped me get through this.  I have made a pact to become closer friends to everyone, as it takes a village to get through this sort of thing.”



Jon was more than lucky, he was blessed.  I believe that God gave him a miracle on May 17^th to remind us that God is still in the miracle business! We should all be prayerfully thankful and so grateful for the mercies and love that God shows us every day so much so that we want to share God’s miracle of life with everyone we meet.