Thirteen years ago today, my brother was in a bad accident. He was 15 at the time. He went out biking late at night, and made the stupid mistake of not wearing his helmet. He was struck by a car, and he got very serious life threatening head injuries. He was rushed into surgery, and the doctors didn't think they could do anything for him, and even if he lived, he would have serious complications. That night, while my brother was in surgery, all of his surgeons prayed over him, or so I was told. He is now 28. He has a wife, 2 kids, and just finished vet school 2 years ago. He has no complications. He still needs to have check-ups every two years, and whenever he does, the doctors always tell them that he was a real miracle. I believe this was the work of God. What do you think?
2007-06-23 15:06:30 · 18 answers · asked by mandy 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Sisyphus1955--I know that if my brother's miraculous survival was the work of God, it is extremely unfair to others who were in the same situation and didn't make it. I don't understand why things like this happen. I asked this question because I have been questioning God's work ever since this accident. I really don't know why he would help my brother and not others. When I was 16, I went to an appointment with him. The doctor himself said that they couldn't explain why he turned out fine, and basically hinted that he himself thought it was God. I believe it was, because there really is no other explanation. By looking at the areas of the brain that were damaged, and how severely they were damaged, they seriously thought that if my brother woke up he would not be able to move or speak, and he did wake up, and he was just fine. Don't ask me why God helped him, because I do not know. No one will ever know in this life.
2007-06-23 19:28:35 · update #1
For your sake and the sake of the wonderful life your brother has lived, I am thankful.
However, I become extremely frustrated at the implicit preposterous selfishness in stories like yours. Do you have any idea how absolutely insulting this story is to families of people who did not survive or not survive well after accidents!? So you believe your brother was spared by a loving God...this implies that God picks and chooses those who are spared. What? Others who did die or were not spared were not considered worthy?
Tell this story to a grieving widow, a person with cancer that never goes into remission, or a child who has lost a parent. Ask them your question and see what they think of your miracle.
ADDED: Some things happen simply because they can. Consider the tornado that demolishes one house while leaving the one next to it unscratched--would you cheer with the family whose house still stood and tell them they'd been spared by God? Could you say this while looking into the eyes of the family whose house had been demolished?
No one knows the answers in this world or the old cliche of "God works in mysterious ways" is the cop out answer of all who don't know anything and too afraid and weak to ask questions. With MRI and new scanning, brain research is going through a renaissance. What was a mystery so many years ago might easily be explained today. Consider the articles at this website: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/teenbrain/work/ If you are sincere in discovering what actually happened to your brother, then start by asking the right kinds of questions.
For you to go on and on about how it is such a miracle that God spared your brother is ridiculously selfish and naive on your part and an insult to all whose loved ones have not survived tragedies.
Be careful of your audience and who is around you the next time you tell this story. The response you received in this forum will be nothing compared to the emotional response of a grieving survivor you insult in person.
2007-06-23 15:25:50 · answer #1 · answered by ? 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, let me say that I am glad he made it out well. That is the good part.
Now on the the nitty gritty...
I have read a lot of the answers people gave, as well as your description. Here is what I think. I think that credit should have been given to the surgical team who worked on your brother.
They are trained to save lives. Sometimes, they cannot, sometimes they can. Sometimes, the human body, if helped, can make complete recoveries from tragic accidents and worse. This is the human body, and human surgeons working on it.
People always want to shout "MIRACLE!" and give credit to god for all kinds of things that simply happen because of a decision someone made, like going to school for 8 - 12 years to become a surgeon.
As far as the doctors praying over him, I can tell you this. I was an emt for a period of time. While most doctors will say they are good christians, when they enter a hospital, generally, god stays outside the doors. This is for many reasons, but mostly because they have to believe in themselves and what they are doing should they hope to save any lives. If they just give up and say, God, you do this, I can't... well, they aren't much of a surgeon, now are they? I have strong doubts that they would pray over your brother unless this happened to be in a religion based hospital.
That is my main complaint about christians, no offence, that they are always so quick to give credit for things to god, while completely ignoring the work, time and effort us humans put into making this world a little bit better every chance we get.
2007-06-23 20:31:06 · answer #2 · answered by iswd1 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i believe it, too. so even if you made this all up, this kind of thing happens all the time. God makes a way where there was no path. He brings light into the darkest places. He brings hope when all seems lost.
your brother was blessed to have surgeons who knew that God was needed to guide their hands and strengthen their work!
2007-06-23 15:12:39 · answer #3 · answered by chieko 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
For every story like yours, there's a tragic one. You call it a miracle, that god intervened. If your brother hadn't survived, you would have said "Well, god just decided it was his time." If your brother had been brain damaged, you would have said, "Well god must have a different plan for him." Doctors are wrong ALL THE TIME. I vote NO.
2007-06-23 15:14:11 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I agree with the xjoizey. Ignore the previous poster. Hes right to a certain extent BUT overly logical people are ignorant.
2007-06-23 15:14:28 · answer #5 · answered by Fearfully & wonderfully made 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
TOTALLY!
That makes me so happy that he is ok!
Isnt God amazing!
I dont know how anyone can deny him after things like this.
And sometimes it takes these things for others to believe!
Thank you for sharing your story
God bless you and your family
2007-06-23 16:34:24 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
If there were a god I might be inclined to agree. Since there is no god, I'm sure there is another explanation.
(What about all the people your imaginary god never bothered helping?)
2007-06-23 15:12:26 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Have you thought about attributing the success to the surgeons?
2007-06-23 15:14:40 · answer #8 · answered by skeptic 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What makes your brother more special that the millions of other people who suffer disease, accidents, and death every day?
------------------
Beautiful Mind –
You do realize that your statement, “BUT overly logical people are ignorant” is, simultaneously, illogical and ignorant?
2007-06-23 15:21:01 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
a work of God and a real miracle
2007-06-23 15:18:18 · answer #10 · answered by Gifted 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋