Whitney Hope- Spotlight Story

A big family decision was planned for the weekend: Deciding a vacation plan for the Christmas holidays. We knew we wanted to change our focus from gifts and traditions to a vacation get-away. We kept saying we wanted this year "to be different."

On our drive to school, the day before Thanksgiving 2003, we had a car accident that will make every day for the rest of our lives different. Our oldest son was killed and our daughter, Elyse, suffered life threatening injuries.

We live in a small rural town, so plenty of people driving past the accident knew us and began praying fervently for the Lord's mercy and help. Elyse's head injury was very severe and the next 72 hours were one long prayer service in the ICU waiting room. Our youngest son has mild autism so we didn't tell him about his brother's death….in case Elyse didn't survive.

After two brain surgeries, one on each side, it was a time of waiting and hoping. She spent two weeks in ICU and became medically stable enough to be moved to the floor for recovery. Two more weeks went by, but still her brain was not awake. Friends and family sang to her, read to her, massaged her. She was unresponsive in almost every way. The hospital talked about discharging her to a care facility because her brain showed so much damage there just was no way to tell if she would ever wake up, or gain back any functional brain use. The church deacons came one morning and prayed for Elyse's recovery. It was that day Dr. Cockrell of Emanuel Hospital Rehab came to evaluate Elyse for their inpatient program. She noticed Elyse was leaning over to one side and told Elyse she was "katy-wampus". That word brought her mental connections surging together --- from ears to brain and bursting out in a smile. She remained in a coma for two more months, barely registering any responses to the outside world.

She went through the full 8 week rehab program and it was time to start talking about "life back home" when she triumphantly woke up - talking and responding to the world again. Slowly and painfully she began moving her right limbs and regaining their strength, though her left side remained limp. The rehab team signed her back up for 8 more weeks of inpatient therapy - hours every day for speech, occupational and physical therapies. Every goal that was set for Elyse's recovery was exceeded week after week.

It has now been 10 months since the car accident and Elyse is progressing in the Lord's perfect timing in every area. . She yearns to run her dog in the field and feel part of regular school again. She hopes to be using her walker independently by Christmas. Almighty God is gently knitting her back together, just the way he made her the first time.

One year ago, we could have never predicted life to take such a different course for our family. So we stand on the promises Jesus has made to see us through these difficult times. The promise that He will use them for good. The promise that even though we do not understand things on this earth, His ways are far above our ways and He can be fully trusted for the outcome. And especially the promise of eternal life in heaven where He has prepared a place for all His children.

PLEASE NOTE: Elyse, her mom and younger brother attended Camp Attitude 2004. This camp meant a lot to Elyse and her family and she is looking forward to attending next year . . . hopefully she will be walking!