“The Earth trembled; The heavens poured rain at the presence of God”
Psalms 68:8 “ The Earth trembled; The heavens poured down rain at the presence of God”
140 days! Exactly 140 days ago, my hilarious, big-hearted, twin of Ernest P. Worrell—suffered a devastating stroke. 139 days ago, the doctors told us that he would never wake up, breathe on his own, move, respond in any meaningful way, or have a quality life. But 139 days ago, I did exactly what I have always done for my loved ones: I prayed fervently, begged with all my heart, cried openly, and fought relentlessly. In those moments, God reminded me that I am not the one who fixes everything.
139 days straight, He has shown me what He can do—how He can transform what feels like tragedy into a cause for celebration.
The miracles continue to unfold every day. Just last Friday, Ricky didn’t have the core strenght to hold up his own body during therapy. Remarkably, by Tuesday, he held himself up—he did it with strength and determination and some anger because therapy woke him up from his afternoon nap.
On the day I faced the decision to have Ricky receive a tracheostomy, I was told it would be permanent—a lifelong airway, never to be removed. Today, against all odds, that trach was taken out.
When we transferred to Highland’s Health, the staff informed us that his bedsore would take a very long time to heal due to the extensive damage caused by being neglected (my words not theirs) in the bed at UAB. Despite the initial prognosis, those bedsores are steadily healing. A few have completely healed, and others are almost entirely healed, showing remarkable progress.
God, in His infinite wisdom, placed the perfect people into our lives to care for Ricky’s “battle scars” with compassion and dedication. During this challenging time, God also sat me down and made me wait patiently on Him, teaching me the importance of faith and endurance. He brought faithful church members into our lives who are devoted in prayer, lifting Ricky up to God consistently. Even though we were physically separated by 100 miles each Sunday, these prayer warriors spoke life and healing over Ricky’s body, providing spiritual support that transcended the distance.
Each person comes into our lives at exactly the right time, precisely when God has planned and intended. This divine timing is not only evident through the relationships we build within our church community but also clearly demonstrated by the dedicated employees at Highland’s Health. Let me assure you, these employees are truly exceptional. They possess the skill, compassion, and dedication that would allow them to take over any large, complex healthcare facility and operate it far more efficiently, with genuine love and individualized care. Just yesterday, when I arrived to visit Ricky, I found a CNA I had never met before caring for him in his room. Although God has not yet relieved me of my tendency to be a control freak, I began to explain Ricky’s specific pillow arrangements and preferences. To my surprise, this kind-hearted employee responded, “I’ve been reading his website to learn how to care for him better.” In that moment, I didn’t know whether to cry tears of gratitude or simply embrace her in a warm hug. How amazing it is that in such a small town, we have employees at a rural healthcare facility who genuinely love and care for their patients so deeply! In stark contrast, when Ricky was at a “state-of-the-art” facility billed as the “best,” he was treated merely as a number—a body occupying space—or, in the blunt words of one of his former doctors, as someone “wasting” valuable resources by being kept alive. God had a clear plan throughout those difficult days when I felt pressured to rush Ricky out of the hospital and into a care facility. He knew exactly where we were headed and what environment we truly needed to be in for Ricky’s well-being and our peace of mind.
I usually know when God is working overtime because the negative thoughts and challenges roll in just to mess with my mind and disrupt my attitude. Some days I’m tired, worn out from the constant battle with doubt and struggle. Some days we are all tired, weighed down by life’s pressures and uncertainties. Some days I get frustrated and feel like everyone has forgotten about Ricky and our family, as if we’re invisible to the world around us. But by the end of the day, God always shows up in His perfect timing. He gently reminds me that everything is under control, even when it feels like it’s not. He reassures me that there is no reason to feel lonely because He is always present, walking beside me through every trial.
If you’re just now reading this, I encourage you to exit out and start at the beginning of our story. If you’ve been with us every step of the way, I still encourage you to exit out and begin again—to really see the miracles unfold. Know that God can do the same amazing things for you that He has done for our family. Understand that He doesn’t care where you’ve been, who you’ve been, or what you’ve done in the past. This journey continues to reveal the incredible power, grace, and presence of God’s plan—shining through even the darkest and most challenging times and we want you to share the journey with us.
Today I visited with a child Autumn used to go to school with. He is a 5th grader, diagnosed with cancer. This child is precious, a child of God. His parents I’m sure are tired. He’s tired. I’m asking you to all pray for him. Call his name, “Tucker” ! God is still in the miracle business!
