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Heidi Fleming
In my "old" life, I grew up in a loving family, two wonderful parents, four brothers and one sister. I was the fifth child of six. I enjoyed playing sports, attending church and just being with my family and friends. I gave my heart to Jesus at the age of 15. After graduating from high school, I married the love of my life, Jimmy. My husband didn't have Jesus Christ in his life, but he never tried to keep me from attending church. After our first son was born, Jimmy occasionally went to church to help with the baby. The older my son got the less Jimmy would go to church. Until one day, when Cody asked me if he could stay home with his daddy. I struggled with the issue of him staying home with his daddy for almost a year. We then had another child, and I wasnted our children to be raised in church. I continued to pray for my family in hopes Jimmy would receive Jesus as his Savior. Jimmy slowlu started to come to church for the kids sake. I knew then, if the only reason he was coming were for the kids, God would soon speak to Jimmy. I strongly believe in prayer and I knew someday mine would be answered. During the struggle of getting my family in church, I began to stray away from God. In September 1998, I had my family in church and I rededicated my life to Jesus Christ!! Life was starting to be so good! I was starting to feel the presence of the Lord again. I was a stay-at-home mom with two children (ages 4 and almost @), and I love having Jesus join us! In early December 1998, I was going to attend a makeover party with a friend of mine. My girlfriend and I decided we would get our husbands to keep the kidss and ride together. We were about one mile from my house when I lost control of my car and it over turned. We were both ejected from the car. My friend hit the dirt and suffered a hairline crack to her pelvic bone. I hit the pavement. When the paramedics arrived on the scene of the accident, they thought I was dead. As they were covering me I faintly made a sound. The EMT then worked with me and brought me back to life. I was unconcousious as they transported me to the hospital. There I was lifeflighted to Vanderbilt Hospital In Nashville TN. As my husbnad made arragements for out two small children, he contacted my parents and sibilings. Once at the hospital, my family was told the left side of my head had hit the pavement causing a blood vessel to burst in my right temporal lobe. They were then told, if I didn't show any signs of swelling within the next three days I would be fine. The following three days were up one hill and down another. After the third day, I had no sighns of swelling. Everything was going to be fine. The fifth day, my head started to swell putting pressure on my brain. I was going to have to have surgery. My husband and my daddy had to constent to surgery. If I didn't have the surgery I would did, if I did, I might not be the same person I once was.

Once on the operating table, my neurosergeon started the procedure. During the surgery, my vital signs started to change. He now tells me he lost me twice on the operating table and began to say a prayer. He knows the Great Physican was the one working on me that morning. He calls me his miracle patient. This surgery involved them having to remove the right temporal lobe of my brain. This section of the brain controls some short and long term memeor, emotion, behavior and some motor skills. The doctor said I would need extensive rehab- looking at at least six months before I would be well enough to return home. I was transported to Mediplex Rehab. I was confined to a wheelchair until I regained my strength to walk again. With in three to four days, I was walking on my own with my balance slightly off. I was feeding myself and talking to everyone. The only thing I didn't remember was the accident itself. My husband came to me one night while at rehab and answered some questions I had. He then said to me, "Heidi, one day you would be doing well, then you would have a set back. The day the doctors told me you would have to have surgery, I couldn't take anymore. I knew something had to be done. I went to the chapel at Vanderbilt Hospital and gave it all to Jesus. I gave my heart to Jesus." After all I had been through, my long time prayer had been answered. God not only performed miracles in my life, He saved my husbnad as well. Two weeks after rehab, I was released to go home. I still had double vision in my right eye, no feeling in my left foot, and the hearing in my right ear was gone. In April 1999, I had a piece of gravel removed from my right ear, gaining 95 percent of my hearing back. After being told the nerve and muscle had been damaged in my eye, I had to wear an eye patch and prepare for surgery in June, but in March 1999, I removed the eye patch and by the grace of God the double vision was gone. I could see clear once again. The following May, I had a sharp pain in my left foot, within seconds, the pain was gone, and the feeling was back. Jimmy and I were told not to have any more children since it was such a hormonal change it wouldn't be healthy. In January 2000, God blessed us with a healthy baby boy. My life has changed in so many ways. There were days I just was to die because I didn't have the energy and when things did start to go well I would have a slight problem interfer. I start to have anxiety spell and I didn't know how to handle the "I'm going crazy feeling" The doctor wanted to put me on medicine to control them and that is when I decided to turn everything over to Jesus. I have learined to live to serve Jesus Christ and praise Him for who He is despite my circumstances. He has been my strength in times of weakness. He has been the one true friend that is always there. He love me know matter what I am going through. God's word is full of promises for all of us. I have also learned that it'snot what happens to you that counts, but how you handle it. It's not how far or hard you fall, but how well you bounce. Don't look at what you can't do, look at what you can. I have always had faith and trust in the healing power of our Lord Jesus. So if you are ever down, look to God- I did and I am still going.

My only goal is to spread the gospel; reach out to unsaved, and fulfill the work God has for me here. Jesus said in Revelation 3:20,
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with dime and he with me."

Open the door of your heart to Jesus. Pray to Him for guidance and direction to establish a good living and personal relationship with Him. That will last for eternity.

GOD BLESS YOU!!!!

Now that I am having to go through another "valley" in my life-- I have just gotten that much stronger in the Lord. He is my strength and gets me through everyday. Thank you for being the friend I need at a time like this. Please keep in touch

Heidi Fleming
Kentucky

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