By Dean LuskI spoke with my 19-year-old friend Kyle Woods a few days after a life-or-death surgery to correct a dangerous condition several months ago. When he told me the circumstances surrounding the perfect success of the surgery I was stunned. I asked him to write it down for me so I could share it with you.
Here is Kyle's account:
My name is Kyle Wesley Woods.
In March of 2012 I started to get sick by coughing up blood. Weeks went on and I still was experiencing this and I went from one type of specialist to another during all of March.
Finally, I was supposed to go Vanderbilt Hospital to find out what was wrong, but they did not have any room for me. Instead I was sent to
UAB. My Doctor ran a couple tests. I had to go back from Birmingham and Madison every couple days for tests or a procedure. Turns out I had an
AVM in my right chest wall sitting on top of some of my ribs.
Basically, an AVM is just a bunch of veins that try to spread out but have nowhere to go so they end up forming into a ball and can make their own arteries and turn into a decent-sized mass. AVM's are common in the head, but
there has never been a report of one in someone's chest wall. I went in to see the doctor on a Thursday, May 3rd. He told me that he would go in and remove the mass. He explained to me that I could lose a lot of blood and that AVM's usually do not cause pain. But mine was. He explained that I may have to take pain killers for the rest of my life and have chronic pain. He then informed me that he cleared his schedule for the next morning and added me to it.
When I heard this, I realized that it is never a good sign when your surgeon tells you “Hey we need to get this out of you tomorrow morning.”
I realized I was dying and this mass was attaching itself to other main arteries in my body and stealing blood from other organs.
I was very confused spiritually. I was not angry with God because I knew He would take care of me and sometimes I realize for God to take care of his children that may mean bring them to Him. I used to be addicted to pain killers when I was younger. I was confused why He would let someone who struggled with pain killers for many years be back on pain killers for the rest of their life.
It did not make sense to me.
Friday, May 4th, I had my surgery in the morning and when I woke up I was fine. All I had was surgical pain. Other than that I was perfect I felt better. I knew I was not dying anymore.
My surgeon came into my room and told me that I am a miracle from God. This is what happened:
Thursday night, while I was questioning God of his plan, my surgeon prayed for me before he went to sleep.
While he was asleep God showed him in his dream exactly how to do the surgery. Every incision to every stitch, from the start to the end. Friday morning when I was asleep on the table my surgeon started just like he did in his dream. He felt like he was cutting away too much of my muscle so instead he barely cut down into the mass
[something that was not in the dream]. When this happened blood shot to the ceiling and he quickly plugged it with his finger and stitched it up.
He then said, “Okay God, I will do it Your way.” he then finished the rest of the surgery the way he was shown in his dream.
After I was stitched back up and good, he then took the mass over to a table and cut through it like he originally planned. When he did, the mass cut open to reveal tons of more veins that were still alive and an artery that it had made.
If he had cut through it he said that he would not have been able to control all of the blood and I would have died on the table within a minute.
I am a miracle of God. I am a child of God. God will take care of his children no matter what. I am alive today to help people strengthen their faith and teach them about my Savior. The biggest thing I realized is that
this story is not for me. It is for everyone else who will listen or read it. I am alive today so that my family, everyone else and Satan will know that death does not scare me and will not shake my faith.
I am called into the ministry.
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Comments (15)
Thanks! Praise the living God. I'm encouraged!
You mentioned the hospital's name. Id like the surgeon's name and the hospital's postal address so I could write to him to discover his side of the story.
@Sir_Sparrow@xanga - In the first place, the surgeon wouldn't discuss it with you since that is private medical information on a patient. Secondly, why would you ask for this in the first place? Suspicious that it didn't happen that way? Genuinely curious about his side of it? then request your name and contact info be forwarded to Kyle Woods, and let him decide if he wants to contact the surgeon and forward your name.
Regardless, this is an inspiring story, and whether you believe in God, or a higher power, or whatever, it teaches us that faith and prayer and confidence are a positive force in this world. Call it Karma, Yin/Yang, whatever, but it is fact. Look around you, you can see it everywhere. A positive attitude, outlook, a life of kindness and service to others, lightening someone's load, even if only for a few minutes, is a good thing, and makes the world a better place.
@Ork58@xanga -Of course it could hive happened that the surgeon decided to change tactics and it worked.
It teaches nothing except to the already convinced, except that extraordinary claims are not of necessity supported by extraordinary evidence. Not even ordinary evidence in this case.
I'm tired of these unsupported claims. They make a mockery of religion and suggest that the credulous abound.
It also teaches that religious surgeons are likely to change from their trained procedure to take a chance becasue they heard something in their head. I'll ask for an atheist surgeon in future.
I suggest you ask young Woods if he wouldn't mind suggesting to the surgeon to share his experience with the unconvinced. It would be interesting hear his version. Probably nothing like you say but we'll never know because we'll hear nothing more about it.
@Sir_Sparrow@xanga - your response reminded me of a parable that Jesus supposedly told (as written in chapter 19 in the Gospel of Luke in the Bible). I interpret the parable to mean that 'reality' (how we perceive the world to operate) is big enough to encompass many views of God and how he works in world. And our experience somehow seems to depend on how we know Him (and the world)...through our relationship with Him or maybe what we've heard of Him from others (and our experience of living in this world).
Does my interpretation make sense?
he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. 16 Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’ 17 And he said to him, ‘Welldone, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’ 18 And the second came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’ 19 Likewise he said to him, ‘You also be over five cities.’
20 “Then another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief. 21 For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 And he said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow. 23 Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’
24 “And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.’ 25 (But they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas.’) 26 ‘For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
@god_stories@xanga -
If the world is big enough to encompass many views of God than that is God’s doing. Therefore, if one view of God is better than the others, which one and what evidence do you have for your assertion?
Experience and reality go together for the individual.
If miracles occur, they are valuable to those who experience them. To anyone else they are reported to, they are hearsay and to treated with the disdain one holds for extraordinary claims with no offered evidence.
I assume that you equate those lacking the required credulity to accept extraordinary claims are like the guy with the mina tucked away. It is a tenuous connection at best.
Of course, you could also be talking of evangelism and the result for those who try and those who don’t. In which case, which is it when preachers preach to the converted?
@Sir_Sparrow@xanga - Yes and yes! Right on...experience and reality go together. I agree that the framework of our beliefs are constructed on a foundation of experience. And any change to that structure is only possible through new/surprising experience.
And yes I did interpret the person who views God / the universe without 'required credulity' has similar characteristics to a survivalist and is the guy who tucked the mina away. So in a world of survivability, amazing, surprising and beautiful events are impossible b/c that's not the way the world 'works' to a survivalist (based on his life experience). In a world of possibility, anything is possible, b/c one can see that the 'rules' that limit what's possible can include presumption. I presume something is not possible b/c I've not seen it done before...or I believe others who tell me they've tried it and 'proven' its impossible.
Old impossibilities include breaking a 4 minute mile, man being able to fly, going into space or to the moon. And they were impossible...until they weren't. Many of those have been overcome by diligently seeking truth about how the world operates with our conscious mind, including scientific method...modernist concepts.
I wonder if there are new truths to be discovered using something other than the conscious mind and scientific method? And if that makes you feel uncomfortable than perhaps you are not seeing the presumptions you've made about the rules you believe in...and are not open to a world of possibility.
I don't mean to put you in a box, but wonder if that language is helpful.
@god_stories@xanga -
Scientific discovery has proved how possible it is for a world view to change. Only primitives and the ignorant believe the world to be flat.
On the contrary, “amazing, surprising and beautiful events” are obviously possible because the modern world of science is discovering such all the time.
Very little has been proven to be impossible but a lot of thing are presumed to be improbable. I personally leave the door open for scientific discovery of wonders. Whether that proves the truth of your holy writings in comparison to other holy writings is another matter.
……….“I wonder if there are new truths to be discovered using something other than the conscious mind and scientific method?”
It’s called psychiatry and / or psychology. It waits to be seen. People experience all sort of things in their minds. That doesn’t mean there is a reality about them.
For something to be considered a truth, to be true, it has to be proven. Even then, we can only say things do certain things in certain conditions.
……….“And if that makes you feel uncomfortable”
Hardly, because you have not said anything controversial. Nothing makes me uncomfortable except people insisting on “proofs” and “truths” without reasonable evidence. Let’s see yours on the subject at hand.
………. “than perhaps you are not seeing the presumptions you've made”
Have I really?
……….“about the rules you believe in”
which are?
……….“and are not open to a world of possibility.”
“Perhaps” is all you can say because you know nothing of substance about my “beliefs”.
Actually, I suspect I am more open to the world of possibilities than you are because I suspect you have a certainty which I lack; because I hold that it is possible that you are right. I doubt if you hold that you are wrong. Time will tell.
So get to the heart of your contention, namely that there are things spiritual that exist; and not only that but something far more astounding and interesting, that you know the truth of the details involved. I’ll be interested to hear your evidence and why your contentions are more valid that other “spiritual” people who disagree with your details and have there own details.
@Sir_Sparrow@xanga - Thanks for your honest feedback...heh! I sensed my language could be interpreted as presumptuous, but was running out the door so posted without editing.
So God (and the world) are very mysterious to me. And there are lots of '-ologies' (study of) which seek to find truth from its own unique perspective: psychology, theology, ontology, etc. So one can get a very different perspective on a subject depending on the lens through which one seeks truth. btw - to define 'truth' as a proof or via scientific method is a very narrow definition of truth (and perhaps overly influenced by modernist thought).
So does God heal illness? Does He provide insight into the mysteries of human biology or the future? Its a mystery and I don't understand it. I've prayed for healing and seen people healed from cancer and have prayed for others and witnessed their death...its a mystery. Attempting to measure the existence of God using reproducible method of one aspect of God seems an unhelpful measuring stick to determine the existence of God.
In recent years I've discovered how much presumption I hold about how the world works. And when I've allowed myself to sit in the incredible pain of facing my deepest fears I'm able see clearly how my presumption keeps my reality very narrow. Allowing myself to pray for what I want offers me freedom to take risks and freely receive what the world offers...ie being present to my current moment and experience. And as you may know that's a pretty difficult thing to do.
So my personal experience (as we agreed is the basis of anyone's belief) is that my life is better in relationship with what I've discovered to be a living dynamic God. I think that can be true for anyone, but I appreciate that we each have to walk our own journey.
@god_stories@xanga -
“ I sensed my language could be interpreted as presumptuous, but was running out the door so posted without editing.”
That’s fair enough. There once was a fairy called Nuff. Fair enough? I realize that what I perceive is not of necessity what is going on. And so, full circle maybe.
“So God (and the world) are very mysterious to me.”
Welcome to the club.
My contention is that if someone thinks they know what is going on, they don’t know what is going on.
What is true can appear in different guises for the same phenomenon. Truth as an adjective or as a descriptive noun is common to Man’s understanding but as an ideal, well, ideals being what they are end up as descriptive statements of how we’d like things to be. Wishful thinking. I have my doubt as to the viability of saying “there it is” or here it is”. Much like religious people and God.
I used to attend healing services in my believing stage. A sham induced in the gullible and desperate. I include some of the preachers in that. Not all are shysters.
“So does God heal illness?”
Well, that’s a mystery within a mystery. What do you mean by God? I don’t mean a description of Her actions but what She is in essence. And can your contention be verified?
The existence of God cannot be determined beyond personal conviction.
What are or were your “deepest fears”?
I assume you mean the usual traumas for us all: death, pain and suffering and the seeming lack of ultimate meaning, except to pass on our genes.
Personal experience is something that still requires interpretation if elements are brought in that lie beyond the material. To the one being told of such personal experiences, such as in a holy book, it is hearsay.
If your “relationship” enables you to be a better person in society and the world, then I’m all for it. That doesn't make it true though, just useful.
The problem at present, concerning western religion, particularly amongst the more fundamentalist protestants and particularly so again in North America, is the heresy of considering the actual bible to be the word of god, rather than the traditional Christian view that the word god is Jesus Christ. This heresy, appearing as a relatively recent defensive reaction to the growth of science and the accompanying secularism, has made religion a laughing stock amongst the common Man.
This book worship, more acceptable amongst primitives than Western Man, is a clear hindrance to the Gospel, however that is interpreted. For instance, it is clear to me that people watch The Atheist Experience just to hear the nutjob or ignorant religious people phoning up with their “proofs” of God or trying to argue religious "truths" using what they think is science, and usually not getting pass the first few questions from the show’s hosts.
http://www.atheist-experience.com/ is the link if you don’t know the show. But I’ve waffled on
long enough.
@god_stories@xanga - Have you moved now, then?
@god_stories@xanga - I meant to say "have you moved on now , then?" For some reason, this blog site doesn't allow editing or deletion so both stand as they do.
@Sir_Sparrow@xanga - sorry for delay...just back from vacation and back into the routine. So...
Totally agree about truth. I'm coming to conclusion that we know a more full truth in community with others. Advancements in physics might a a great example. Physicists call their 'truths' hypothesis some more firmly established than others...and all suseptable to revision...either by theoretical or experimental physicists. That awareness of hypothesis being a proposal to define reality...rather than concrete reality itself seems missing from many Christian churches and believers...and that it seems to me has caused lots of pain.
The role of personal experience in belief is very interesting to me...and seems perhaps foundational to human expression. And, of course, the device used in most of the Christian Holy Book...rather than formal doctrine of beliefs (Romans perhaps being the exception).
Joseph Campbell says myths loose their effectiveness / purpose when attempted to be made 'concrete.' And I think there's truth to that...and aligns with what you notice about how many treat the Bible. It seems to me all a mystery. The Bible is generally agreed for the last several millennia are stories written by men about their experiences in the world and with their understanding of God...other perspectives particularly since the 19th century (the modern age) seem less helpful.
I'll have to check out that website...sounds entertaining (unfortunately)! Thanks again for the conversation!
@god_stories@xanga - Didn't mean to sound impatient. I was just kidding. It's 5am here and I'll get to your comment as soon as I wake up.
@god_stories@xanga -
A truth, that is, something is true, is true whether we know it or not. Science is that search for truth in the particular. The dream is to know all truth but that’s a long road and not one that the individual will ever attain. That is physics.
The truth asserted in “spiritual” matters cannot get beyond the initial notion that something “spiritual” actually exists in the first place. Mysticism is the perceived experience of spiritual things and religion is the acceptance by others that the mystic did indeed experience what he says he did and acting on it. To the observer of such phenomena as religion and its multitude of conflicting claims, they have no more validity than nursery rhymes, conspiracy theories or other “tall tales”.
Because personal experience is so essential in what is often perceived as mystical experience and of course no less important, the interpretation of such experience, I conclude that “faith”, that over lauded element of religion, is in fact, unimportant. In Lutheran terms, I think, I reject faith over works. To put it more bluntly, allowing for a moment the childish notions of judgement, hades and paradise, then what matters is one’s internal goodness, not one’s credulity, which religious faith would appear to be.
The bible, along with the Quoran , the Vedas, the Norse sagas, Shakespeare’s sonnets, the Avesta, the American Constitution and other “sacred” texts are all written imperfectly by human beings. Whether there exists an ultimate purpose for their appearance or one over the others, is a matter of faith and that as I intimated is of no consequence if individual goodness is missing. Indeed, it is a question whether anything matters at all beyond how it affects the individual here and now.
The Atheist Experience site is interesting, even entertaining when one listens to them respond to the people phoning in. Some are obviously of low intelligence or low education, not of necessity one and the same thing of course, and some get angry at being shot down in flames while others offer threats of hellfire, as if a God who hurts people for ever is worth a piss, but others seem to be on the ball. If you search the archives or indeed, just do a youtube search for short clips, I’d recommend listening to Matt Dillahunty respond to the claims made. He was training to be a Baptist minister before becoming an atheist and is very knowledgeable in all the arguments offered.