Two Months in Augusta, GA, Witnessing a Miracle!

April 26, 2010 

In March of this year, a man up in Tennessee custom made a lap steel guitar for my husband, Jeep. When it arrived he was excited to get it, but when he played it, there was a very loud hum he couldn’t stop. He called and made arrangements to take it back to see about getting it fixed and we planned to go on Tuesday, April 27^th. We would have planned to go on Monday the 26^th, except I was to be hostess for the United Methodist Women’s missionary meeting. The lady who was my co-hostess called me and was unable to be there, so it was up to me.  I went to the church early because I wanted to get everything in place before the other ladies came. By the time I got everything in order, I felt my cell phone vibrating on the waistband of my slacks. I answered the phone and heard Jeep, saying something about our plans being changed. I can’t remember exactly what he said, but now I realize he was trying to break the bad news to me gently. Our daughter-in-law, Kay, had called our house and told Jeep that my son, Joe Embry, had been burned in an accident at work! I didn’t know how bad it was at this point, but I judged from the tone of Jeep’s voice, as well as what he said, that it was very serious.

Where WAS everyone? Couldn’t SOMEONE come early? My mind was in a whirl of tortured shock, turning over a thousand thoughts and scenarios. The first thing I did was to run upstairs as fast as I could, go down the aisle in the sanctuary, and throw myself on the altar, crying out to God in prayer. I know you can pray anywhere, but the altar is a special, reverent place where I feel closer to God. After this, I hurried back downstairs and called the pastor’s home to tell him what had happened and ask him to pray for Joe. He was not there at the time, but his wife said she would tell him. She also started the prayer chain.

I think I called the president of the UMW and briefly told her the situation. At this point, I was pretty much a basket case so it's hard to remember everything! I placed the food on the serving bar and left for the emergency room. I knew that when you get a group of ladies together and there is food available, they can figure out what to do!

Next, I drove to the hospital ER, continuing to pray all the way and hoping against hope that Joe was not burned too badly. Luckily, I didn’t hit any cars on the way there.

So much of this scene I don’t really remember! Lots of family, mostly Kay’s, was already there. Jeep appeared, as did the pastor of Eupora First United Methodist church where I’ve been a member since 1964. There was lot of hugging, crying and consoling. People from the place Joe was working, friends, and family were crowding the area just outside the ER. I remember going outside and calling my sisters on my cell phone and asking them to pray as they had never prayed before. Somehow I didn’t particularly feel the need of them actually being there, but I DID feel the need for everyone to be praying hard for Joe. About this time I fell apart and cried long and hard as I clung to Jeep for comfort. It was so hard to see my grandson, Jesse as he came in from school, his face etched with fear and questioning as he hurried into the ER waiting area and saw what was going on. The ER doctor, who happened to be one of Joe’s classmates in high school, and the staff, soon stabilized Joe and sedated him. (Kay later told me that they said Joe walked into the ER and said, "Show me where I need to go.")  He had been burned with salty 200 plus degree water when a 30" line was opened for repair.  
The helicopter arrived and when everything was in order, they wheeled Joe out through the area where we were standing. They stopped and told us that Joe might be able to hear us and we could speak to him briefly if we wished. I think I was the only one that did so, but I went over and told him that I loved him and kissed his forehead. All the procedure of getting an injured person stabilized, into the helicopter and actually into to air, takes a lot of time. Many people were gathered around to see him off and to talk with the family and make plans for what to do next. Joe and Kay’s daughter, Kym, was in school in Grenada and didn’t get there before Joe was airlifted by helicopter to the Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Brandon, MS. (This is a new and smaller satellite version of the main Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta, GA.)

July 2, 2010 Friday

Today is Joe’s last appointment with the surgeon and all the others who will check on him and also fit his compression garments. It took all morning with his final checkup, etc. We left the apartment about noon and ate lunch at the Cracker Barrel. I covered a foam rubber pad and brought it for Joe to use on the trip home. He rode up front with Jeep while Kay and I did the back seat driving:-) We made several rest stops so Joe could stretch. At Leeds, near Birmingham, we made a long rest stop at the Bass Pro Shop. We ate sandwiches and shopped a little while there. We had planned to take two days for the long trip home, but since we were only 3 hours from home, Joe wanted to keep going. We got to Joe's home about 10:00 PM. Joe was very tired, as well as the rest of us! Kym had worked so hard getting a Welcome Home Party together. She had made signs, strung streamers, blown up balloons and had the extended family there to greet Joe and Kay and welcome them home. We were so thankful for the safe trip and were all very glad to be home! We continue to praise God for His healing power as He worked through the Doctors and staff who were open to His guidance. Thanks be to God for always letting us feel His comforting Spirit.   We are eternally grateful for all the people who faithfully prayed for Joe’s healing. Never doubt the power of prayer!

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UPDATE:

One Year Ago Today

One year ago today,  July 2, 2010, we brought Joe home from spending two months in the Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta, GA.  So much has happened during the past year.  God continues to show us His healing power and His mercy.  Joe is working, but has to be in an air conditioned environment because he has so many grafts that have no sweat glands or pores.  He could easily get too hot and have a heat stroke before he even realized he was too hot.  There are many things he can't do and he still has to wear a full body compression garment 23 hours a day.  Hopefully, he will be able to leave that off some time this Fall.  If you saw Joe, you would not know that he had been burned unless you noticed his hands.  He and his wife have been back to Augusta for checkups and procedures many times during the past year.  There are several proposed surgeries he could have to improve certain areas.  He may choose to have them or leave things as they are now.  After being put to sleep for thirteen surgeries plus the 3 procedures, I'm sure he is not anxious to have more.  We are so very thankful to have Joe with us, scars and all, and we are so keenly aware that this story could have had a very unhappy ending.  We continue to be so thankful for all of you who prayed for Joe.

Peace and Grace,