God Hears; God Heals

I recently got home from an unexpected trip to Colorado. Russ, my older brother, was on his way home to Amarillo with his family after visiting our parents in Evergreen. As they were driving through Colorado Springs, they had to stop due to traffic. Debris in the road caused a chain reaction of people hitting their breaks. As Russ checked his rear view mirror to be sure the cars behind him stopped, he saw a motor home veer out of traffic onto the right shoulder of the road. As the motor home came up on the shoulder next to Russ’s car, it hit a sign and burst into flames. Russ knew he had to do something. He pulled his car forward and out of traffic in front of the fiery vehicle and ran back to help the man as Tracy and the kids, still in their car, started to pray for protection. Tracy said Si, their oldest son, told her not to worry, that his dad would be alright.

Tracy and Si could see Russ as he ran into the fire at the driver’s door. He was not able to get the door open, but the window was open and Russ was able to grab the top of the door frame and peel it down and out to force it open. Fighting flames that were fueled by a gas tank in the motor home, Russ’s next obstacle was the seat belt. He was able to get the shoulder belt around to the back of the man, but the lap belt was still holding him in. Russ said he was unable to release the belt and was asking God for help. A police officer came in with a knife and cut the lap belt. Russ, along with others who had come to help, was able to pull the man to safety.

The chaos of the scene must have been amazing. Tracy talked about the sounds of cars hitting car parts flying. She thought something had hit them, but their car is undamaged. There were 6 other cars that were involved in accidents due to this one that was still burning. A police officer came and evacuated Tracy and the kids from their car in case the fire spread their way. They were pulled to safety away from where Russ was.

I can’t imagine the all of the events that unfolded during this time. Lots of very scary moments that must have happened so fast but felt like they would never end. Russ was with the man and did talk with him and was able to get a response, right after he was pulled out. At some point the firemen saw Russ and told him to sit down.

The paramedics and firemen were tending to the victims, Russ included. A fireman went to Tracy to tell her about Russ’s injuries and then talked to the kids about their daddy. Tracy said he was very kind, sensitive and straight with them. He told them that Russ had been burned on his face, arms, and hands and that they would be transporting him to the hospital. Tracy was to follow the ambulance to the hospital in Colorado Springs. (He was later transported to the burn unit at University of Colorado Hospital in Denver)

Tracy is an amazing woman. She gathered her children and prayed. She told the kids that God is a God of healing and would heal their dad. As they drove, Tracy had Breck start calling people and asking for prayers of healing.

News of Russ being injured with burns to his face, arms, and hands went out and people all over started to pray.

God hears prayers! God protects the righteous! God heals his children!

I arrived to the University of Colorado Burn Unit less than 24 hours after this all happened. The burns on Russ’s face were gone! The burns on his arms were gone! His eyes were fine & his lungs were clear! Praise God!

I believe firemen know what burns look like. I can’t believe a fireman would tell a family that their husband and father had burns that were not really there. I can believe that our God would use an ambulance ride to heal those burns. Whether He healed Russ in that ambulance or protected him in the fire (OR BOTH) I praise God for the miracles of the weekend.

I believe God used Russ to save this man, Jose Fernandez, from the fire. I believe God protected Russ from the chemicals and flames, and healed his burns on his face and arms. I know the burns on his hands will be used to testify to people of Jesus’ love for each of us.

I am so proud of each of my nieces and nephews. Brently, Breck, Si, Jake, Braid, and Asher, are all incredible young people. The events that took place in Colorado Springs on July 25^th were huge and each of these kids rose to the occasion with beautiful poise. Tracy is such a great example of a Godly woman, wife, and mother. Her strength and faith are immeasurable. Then there is Russ…of the burns, the blisters, the singed hair, the bandages, the stories and memories of the events…what sticks out to me right now as I write his name is his face…His expression of compassion, tenderness, grace, and love when he was asked what made him run to a burning car and he answered “because Jesus lives in my heart”

I would like to thank you for lifting Russ up in prayers. I ask that you continue to pray for healing for his hands. I would like to ask that you add Jose Fernandez and his family to your prayers. He is in stable but critical condition. He is 75 years old and burned on almost half of his body. He is in the Burn Unit at University of Colorado. He is surrounded with family who love him. A son and grandson came to visit with Russ in the hospital. They told Russ that he had accepted Christ about 3 months ago and was baptized. They are all very sweet, gracious people and need your prayers through this very difficult time. When I spoke to them on Monday, after the accident, they said that they are holding on to the idea of having him home for Thanksgiving to carve the turkey.

I would like to thank you for lifting Russ up in prayer. I ask that you continue to pray for healing for his hands and for God to be glorified through all of this.

Cheryl