Back from the dead

This is an account of a modern-day miracle experienced earlier this year by the members of Park Evangelical Church, Stoke-on-Trent, and recounted by a church member, Jeanette Owen.

Proverbs 3.5
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.

This verse, always a favourite and displayed in our home, gave us comfort during a roller-coaster experience which confirmed what we all believed, that God is in control whatever the situation.

Our 32-year-old, police officer daughter Penny, married for only 17 months and her husband, Trevor, had recently come to live in the granny flat attached to our home while they waited to move into their new home. On February 12 they celebrated Valentine's Day early as they would both be working on the 14th. Later, happy and excited, Penny came to show us Trevor's present to her. It was a certificate showing the location of a star he'd named after her. Her radiant happiness was a memory that became precious to us over the next few days.

The following morning the telephone rang at 5.00 am, but stopped before we could answer it. We could hear noises from the flat downstairs and sensing a problem my husband Roger and I rushed to Penny and Trevor's flat. We can never convey the shock of what we found. Trevor was on the 'phone to the emergency services and Penny lay grey and apparently lifeless on the bed. Roger (also a police officer) checked for a pulse, which was non-existent.

Telling us to pray he started CPR and continued until the paramedics arrived. It took paramedics five attempts with a defibrillator to get a spark of life and Penny was rushed to the A&E department of the local hospital. Numb with shock, we waited in a side room while doctors conducted tests. We were told that as Penny's heart had stopped beating for 30 minutes, her chance of survival was slim and there was a strong possibility, if she survived, she would be in a permanent vegetative state.

Waiting and praying

While we waited we prayed for Penny and for strength to bear what we believed to be the inevitable. I was comforted when I remembered Penny's happiness the evening before and told Trevor how grateful I was to him.

When Roger went to tell our pastor, Howard, Trevor and I were asked if we would like to spend time with Penny. Trevor says what we saw was horrific. The Lord graciously removed all memory of this from me and I cannot remember seeing her in A&E. I do remember Howard came and read to us the account of Jairus's daughter and that he prayed specifically that Penny should be completely restored.

In the afternoon Penny was transferred to intensive care. We were told that a VF Arrythmia had resulted in cardiac arrest (the heart rhythm is so chaotic that the heart quivers rather than contracting and doesn't pump any blood around the body - this is fatal unless rhythm is restored by electric shock to the heart).

During this traumatic time our co-pastor, Simon, had informed all the church members of the situation and when the church gathered for prayer that evening I am told that the presence of the Holy Spirit was powerfully evident.

At 10.00 pm the doctors persuaded us to go home and return the following morning. They assured us that nothing could happen as all Penny's organs were controlled by machines and drugs. At home we were joined by Trevor's family from Ireland and our family and friends. Amazingly God gave us refreshing sleep that night, and every night following. We were able to experience a peace that only he can give.

In the balance

Penny's life continued in the balance. She was surrounded by a battery of machines and attached to a ventilator. She suffered further arrhythmia and over the next few days developed more heart problems. Her lungs collapsed and she required dialysis as her kidneys ceased to function.

On the third day the consultant told us that Penny had only a 5% chance of survival. Roger told him that we believed his skills were given to him by God and that Penny's destiny lay in his hands. Although heartbroken we found peace in committing her to her Heavenly Father, knowing she would be eternally safe with him. The following Friday doctors still only gave her a 20% chance of survival. We rejoiced because it was 15% more than the previous week.

During this time our faithful pastors sent regular emails and updates. The news travelled far and wide and Penny's plight brought many thousands to prayer. It was estimated that Christians in 30 countries around the world were praying for Penny. We certainly felt God's presence and comfort.

Penny continued in a coma, on a ventilator and dialysis machine with many drugs to keep her organs functioning. We continued to pray. There were days when there were 18 family members and our pastors in the waiting room praying for each other and for Penny. We would sit at Penny's bedside, two at a time to talk and pray with her. We also got to know others with loved ones in intensive care and were able to share our faith and pray for them and the staff. It is hard to describe this time, but we were aware of God's presence with us in a way we had not experienced before. It was a time of great blessing in the midst of trial. Our pastor said it was a privilege to be there, and it was.

Some responses

After a week we were encouraged by some responses. Penny would blink or squeeze our hands, and one wonderful day Roger asked her to smile ƒ and she did! At first medical staff were reluctant to believe us, but on the morning of February 25 Penny emerged from the coma.

As I went towards the bed she mouthed 'Hello Mum'. I knew conclusively she wasn't in a permanent vegetative state and thanked God. At first she was very weak with only her voice functioning normally. For a while, her memory was impaired and she couldn't even remember her marriage to Trevor. She said she didn't know what had happened but knew she 'always felt safe'. A Christian doctor said: 'You just don't see it happen. People who have been through what Penny has, have the breathing tube removed after about 48 hours and are then certified dead.'

Regular emails continued to be sent and the mailing list grew and grew. Specific prayer requests were made and God answered. When Penny was transferred from intensive care to the renal ward for further dialysis, it was found to be unnecessary - the previous evening's email prayer request asked for healing in her kidneys.

Also, doctors decided that Penny needed to be fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator which would automatically restart her heart should further problems occur. She had this operation within two weeks of coming out of intensive care and three days afterwards was allowed home for the day. All these were answers to prayer.

Continued problems

Penny's problems were not over and she had to spend a further two months in hospital suffering intense pain. An empyaema (a large abscess in the chest cavity) was eventually diagnosed which despite all treatment, failed to disperse and doctors reluctantly operated to remove it. The operation was not without risk considering Penny's weakness. We were told she would be in the high dependency ward for two days and back on the ward for a further week, yet three days later she was given ward leave.

We cannot speak highly enough of the staff for their care and we pray that something of the glory of God was revealed to them. Even non-Christian staff at the hospital referred to Penny as the 'miracle girl' and the look on the face of the doctor, who originally told us Penny had only a 5% chance of survival, had to be seen to be believed, when he later visited her 'to cheer himself up'.

One day at a time

This whole experience has shown us many things: the power of prayer, the love of God and our family, friends and church family. Matthew 6.34 has become very real to us. 'Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.' The Lord gave us sufficient strength to live one day at a time.

Penny continues to make a good recovery at home, although she is weak and tires easily. In June, Roger and I held a tea party in the church which Penny and Trevor were able to attend, to thank their friends, family, the paramedics and other medical staff.

They retold this story and spoke publicly of their answers to prayer and of their faith in a God of miracles and in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The extraordinary story of policewoman Penny Walsh

Waiting and praying

In the balance

Some responses

Continued problems

One day at a time

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