Chad's Miracle

reprint from  Mississippi Torch Vol 21- No.2-February 2008
By: Donna Germany
First Pentecostal Church
Rev. James Johnson, pastor

Reading the journal entries on his website brings tears to my eyes. The story reveals months of enduring horrible memories. The bleakness of what the doctors were saying made us hold to the Master’s hand with every breathe we took. A tragedy such as this will truly make you trust in God.

This a section of Tonia’s journal from the web site on December 31, 2006:
Does anyone want to hear my New Year’s resolution? Of course I have some of the same one’s every year…lose weight, eat right, pray more, read my Bible through. But this year I have a new one. It is to never take one normal moment with my husband for granted again. Things like going out to eat with my husband, holding his hand, having a conversation with him, sitting beside him in church, watching him shave, rushing around to get dressed in Sunday mornings, cooking for him, washing his clothes, hearing him pray, watching him study for a message, hearing him teach and preach and lead service, enduring his perfectionism on everything, hearing him say I love you, and seeing him smile. There are many things, but I think you get the point. There are so many little things I’ve missed all these months. I’m just thankful I have a second chance to appreciate them.
In September 2002, Chad developed symptoms of a brain tumor found on his brain stem. His doctor, Jack Moriarity, said it had taken years to grow because the brain had compensated for growth. In a six-hour operation, the tumor was removed and found to be a stage I tumor, non-cancerous. He recovered wonderfully. In a week, he was home, in a month he had returned to work.
In June 2005, all things looked perfect. Chad and Tonia were expecting their first child in February 2006, but in August there was a miscarriage. In September, Chad’s symptoms returned. Dr. Moriarity referred Chad to Dr. John Lancon, who specialized in a different surgical approach for brain stem tumors. After a four-hour surgery, a non-cancerous stage II tumor was found. Recovery was longer and more complicated. Because of the rapid growth of and changes in the MRIs, radiation was started in October with the understanding that chemotherapy might be needed. The threat of chemotherapy made starting a family even more important, but with one miscarriage behind them, it seemed impossible. Our God is a God of the impossible. Their next baby would be due in August.
On December16, 2006, Chad rang the bell of completion at Mississippi Hessemer Cancer Center Radiation Department. Chemotherapy would not be needed. Things looked good again.
In March 2006, Chad developed a common reaction to brain surgery; hydrocephalus and meningitis. He was hospitalized again. After several trips to the emergency room that month, a shunt for fluid drainage from his brain to his stomach was placed.
By April 2006, he was dizzy and weak, could not hold food down, and had a high fever. A micro bacterium was found. He started an antibiotic treatment. Between May and July, he was hospitalized for two weeks at a time. During the month of July he was in one emergency room while his wife was across town in another with premature labor pains. His son was born early at the end of July. Chad was there, but does not remember being at the delivery.
August found him with the same symptoms. His hospital stay lasted one hundred and twenty-four days. He was released after being in five of the eight Neuro-Intensive care unit rooms and a room on every wing of the sixth floor of St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi. During this stay, he had an intravenous cocktail of seven antibiotics and various drugs. He also had several major brain surgeries and biopsies of his throat and stomach. He contacted hospital infections along with the micro bacteria he was battling. Chad suffered a ninety second brain seizure which left him with paralysis. The five doctors on his case had done all they knew. However, God was able to do “exceeding, abundantly, above all that we ask or think. St. Dominic put him on the miracle list when he was discharged.
Chad transferred to MMRC for rehabilitation from St Dominic on December 18,2006. He stayed until January 24, 2007. His insurance paid for thirty days a year in a rehabilitation center. Because the year changed, he was able to stay forty-four days. He had to learn everything again. The only thing he remembers about that time is the neurophysiologist on the case.
Since he has been home, he broke his left hip. Both eyebrows have scars from falls. He had two more brain seizures. The seizures itself is not dangerous but the effects can be. The victim can swallow his tongue, fall, break bones, become unconscious or worse. Chad has not had any of these happen. He had a shunt revision in April 2007. The seizures and shunt revisions will have to be endured the remained of his life.

Chad requires twenty four hour care but is improving on a daily basis. After much prayer, on October 7,2007, he walked without assistance around a section of pews at church. He is to start the Quest program that helps retrain brain injury patients to become independent. God is the master planner and knows all things. Thank you to all the family and friends who have helped meet their financial obligations.

Tight hugs from Chad will always be special. Through it all, Chad remembered his God and continues to praise and worship Him. At Mississippi Camp meeting 2007, Chad was amazed that so many remembered him, and that he remembered so many. Thank you for all your prayers and please continue to pray for this little family. He has made so much progress in the last few months but still has a ling way to go.



See all Chad’s story online at www.caringbridgge.org/visit/chadegermany