Making the heart-wrenching decision to take a loved one off life support is one of the most difficult choices anyone could face, especially when the prognosis is grim.
Ryan Finley was confronted with this agonizing choice when his wife, Jill, slipped into a coma. It began when Ryan found her unresponsive, not breathing. He acted quickly, performing CPR and praying fervently as he awaited paramedics, despite understanding that her chances were slim.
Although paramedics managed to revive Jill, her heart was weak, and her breathing was labored. She was rushed to the Oklahoma Heart Hospital, where doctors placed her in a cooling suit to prevent further brain damage. However, she remained in a coma.
Ryan held onto hope, praying daily, but as weeks passed, doctors told him Jill’s chances of recovery were nearly nonexistent. Heartbroken, he was asked to consider taking her off life support.
In his diary, Ryan recorded his devastation. “Today could be the worst day of my life. I essentially have to decide whether or not she will die,” he wrote. Imagining what Jill would want, he felt she wouldn’t want to live like that, so he made the agonizing decision.
As family members gathered to say their final goodbyes, the machines were turned off. But Jill didn’t pass right away; doctors explained that her body was in a “last rally” phase.
In that moment, Jill began to murmur. To Ryan’s amazement, she spoke, telling him to get her out of there and suggesting they go to the Melting Pot or Ted’s, two of her favorite Mexican restaurants.
Source: YouTube Screenshot – Facing Life Head On
Ryan’s hope surged, and, against all odds, he believed Jill would recover. He was right. Jill began breathing on her own, later undergoing heart surgery and rehabilitation.
Reflecting on her experience, Jill shared that she had no memory of the coma but struggled with short-term memory and a few speech issues. Otherwise, she felt well and was grateful for the second chance at life.
Now, Ryan and Jill cherish every moment together, stronger than ever. “We cherish each day, each minute, each hour now,” Jill told TODAY. “Not that we didn’t before, but it puts everything in perspective.”
This incredible story reminds us of the power of hope and resilience.
Girl, 6, dies in freak badminton accident – wanted to be ‘saved’
A New Jersey family is mourning the tragic loss of their 6-year-old daughter, Lucy Morgan, who died in a freak accident while on vacation.
The incident occurred while Lucy was watching her family play badminton
During the game, a racquet suddenly broke during a downward swing, and a piece of metal from the handle snapped off, striking Lucy in the skull and causing a catastrophic brain injury.
Lucy’s father, Pastor Jesse Morgan, shared the heartbreaking details on his blog, New Creation Living. He recounted how June 1 started like any other day during their family vacation in Limerick, Maine. However, the day took a fateful turn, and now he believes his little girl is with Jesus.
The family quickly realized the severity of Lucy’s injury. Jesse explained on his blog that after the metal piece struck Lucy, she was immediately unresponsive but was still breathing on her own. His wife, Bethany Morgan, accompanied Lucy in the ambulance to a small hospital before she was airlifted to Maine Medical Center in Portland. They knew Lucy’s life was in grave danger.
“Upon arrival she went right to the operating room where they removed part of her skull to relieve pressure and deal with her injury. She coded, they got her back, and they completed the surgery,” Jesse wrote on his blog. “In the PICU we are being told that there is a very slim chance she recovers.”
Jesse Morgan shared that his daughter had recently expressed a desire to be with God. Just a month before the accident, Lucy told her parents she wanted to be saved and live with God. Jesse wrote that Lucy asked her mother about being saved, and after a brief conversation, she went to her room to pray.
“She went to her room and prayed to God to forgive her and that she believed in Jesus’ death and resurrection. What a gift,” he wrote.
Despite the medical efforts, Lucy never recovered from her injury. Jesse explained that the metal piece had caused devastating damage due to where it pierced her skull. Doctors informed the family that she would likely not survive.
The day before her death, he wrote, “The significant lack of brain function over the past 48 hours demonstrates this reality that we are utterly devastated by. If there is any good news in this, it’s that she hasn’t felt any pain over the past few days.
“We will keep waiting on the Lord, getting second opinions, and exhausting every possible avenue while crying out to God for a miracle,” he added. “However, as of now, our beloved daughter has been showing all the signs of brain death for the past few days. There is a very good chance that she passes away and meets Jesus within 24 hours.”
In the wake of this tragedy, the family has been surrounded by love and support. Many people took to social media to share kind words about Lucy and her family. Dan Cruver, a former professor of Jesse Morgan, spoke highly of Jesse’s character in a Facebook post.
“Jesse Morgan was a student of mine when I taught Bible and theology at Clarks Summit University 18 years ago. I remember quite a lot of students, but there are a few that you remember because they frequently engaged you after class and asked thoughtful, insightful questions,” he wrote. “Jesse was one of those students.”
To support the family, loved ones created a GoFundMe account which has surpassed its original goal of $100,000 and is nearing a new goal of $130,000, with more than $125,000 in donations so far.
Organizer Jill Anthony wrote, “This page serves as a place to provide them extravagant financial support – to help pay for meals while they are away from home, lodging for family, medical costs … whatever they need.”
Anthony added an update: “June 5, Lucy went to be with the Lord. Please keep praying for the Morgans as they walk through these next days, weeks, months, and years without their sweet Lucy here with them.”
Leave a Reply