They took their turns sitting

and would always say to him, "I'm here, if you can hear me squeeze

my hand." His wife would say, "If you love me and our daughter,

and can hear me, squeeze my hand." Nothing. Weeks and weeks and weeks

went by.

There was a prayer chain a

mile long through the families, church, friends, and co-workers. When

the doctors told his dad he would not survive, not to get his hopes up,

his dad said, "One day my son will walk out of this hospital."

I don't remember how many

weeks or months went by, but one day when his wife was sitting holding

his hand, she thought he squeezed here hand just a little. She called

the nurse, really excited, but she only said that it was an uncontrolled

reflex, like when you touch a tiny baby's hand, the fingers respond.

She didn't buy it. She

kept believing and praying and saying, "I'm here; if you can

here me, squeeze my hand." The doctors kept saying he could only

be a vegetable at best.

And then one day a miracle

did happen, and it came in stages. My nephew blurted out, "I can,

I can."

Out of the coma, he had a lot

of healing to do: Therapy, painful therapy, struggling to walk, talk,

more surgeries to come.

He could not talk but he could

receive; in some small way he would acknowledge.

A steel plate was placed in

his head to cover the area. He was paralyzed partially on the one side

of his body. A lot of time elapsed, full of every kind of therapy, progressing,

setbacks, determination and lots of prayer.

Then there came the day he

would be released from the hospital. He walked out with a walker, of course,

but he walked out to the car door.

His life, along with his wife,

mother, father, and sister's have been very hard at times, but full

of love for God and each other.

Today he can talk in broken

sentences, he can read, loves to watch TV, he can communicate, take care

of himself, has a wonderful sense of humor, walks with a little tiny limp,

and he keeps up with sports and news.

His daughter has now finished

college and is a beautiful young lady.

And yes, one of the doctors

said that it could only be a miracle; he is a Christian, and I believe

the hand of God was with the doctor's hand.

So I offer this encouragement

to you in this sad and unfortunate situation. Don't ever give up

hope. I will continue to pray for his recovery.

R. Ferguson

Peachtree City, Ga.