Do You Believe In Miracles?

I remember the phone ringing in my first grade classroom. I realized the seriousness of the call when my teacher walked over to my desk. She told me I was to gather my things and go to the main office where my mom was meeting me. My mom met me at the office, she grabbed my hand, and we hurried out.

In the car, my mom looked nervous, staring fiercely at the road. I hesitated before asking, “What’s happening?” My mom was short with me as she responded, “to the hospital, something has happened to your uncle.” My mom looked upset so I decided not to pound her with questions.

Once we arrived at the hospital, we hurried to my uncle’s room where he was lying completely paralyzed. My heart dropped at the sight of my uncle. He was not only my uncle but my best friend. The nurse told us he had been in a car accident with a semi-truck. I ran over to his bed and grabbed his hand, even though he could not feel it, I sill wanted to hold it. After spending hours in the hospital that night, my mom and I were emotionally drained. I could not believe this was happening. Yesterday, my uncle and I were playing baseball, and now he can not even move.

We spent as much time as we could with him, visiting him everyday for weeks at a time. Although doctors did provide us with hope, he did not seem to get any better and I could tell my mom was not handling it well. It would take a miracle to see my uncle walk again. It was a very rough time for us, my mother especially. He was her only brother and they were best friends growing up. It was a very difficult time in my life also. Not only was I dealing with my uncle’s tragedy, but I had to deal with the emotional downfall of my mother at home. I did not know who to feel sorry for, my uncle for being paralyzed or my mom who was falling apart at the sight of my uncle. The visits were getting harder because everyday we’d see his spirit diminish. He was trapped in his useless body not being able to control anything, and I know it was hard for him.

Years passed, and he still lay in bed, a vegetable. My outgoing, social uncle has become an anti-social, extremely depressed man. The Doctors said there was still a chance he would walk again. We tried to believe there was still hope, but the reality of it always got the best of us.

Four years after his accident, we were sitting in his room when the doctor entered. He told us about a new drug on the market. My uncle was ready to give up since every drug prior to that had no effect, but my mom and I were insistent.

A week later, as we walked into his room, my uncle’s face was beaming with happiness. He gained control of his left arm and a few toes on his left foot. The drug was working. Over a couple of days my uncle began to gain control of parts of his body. Two weeks later, with assistance, he was able to stand up. A couple months later he came over to our house for dinner, I will never forget that time when he came walking through our front door. It was the miracle I never thought I’d see.

I never believed in miracles, until my uncle starting walking again. I believe that miracles can happen to anyone, even people that have lost all hope. Miracles bring a whole new appreciation for life and the life of others. I had no idea that when that phone rang in my first grade class, my family’s miracle had only just begun.