I need your prayers

bigedefense

bigedefense

New member
Messages
734
Reaction score
109
Hello all. Just wanted to let everyone know how my recovery is going. I am proud to say that my pity party has ended & I no longer feel lower than whale crap (and it's in the bottom of the ocean). A couple of weeks ago i woke up one morning and decided to go visit the nursing home. We have more than one nursing home, but three. years ago I asked the players on our team to go visit a nursing home and adopt some grandparents. To my surprise, the entire team volunteered, so all of us decided on which one to go to and started visiting. Each week, I would pull a bus out & we would head out to visit. By the time summer rolled around, we had all gotten so close to them, we would just meet up and head over. That's why I said "the nursing home". Anyway, I hadn't been to visit and I felt bad about it, so I had my wife to drop me off. I didn't tell them that I was feeling sorry for myself, I just told them that I was clumsy, I fell off of a ladder, had to have surgery & Drs. said that I had damaged the nerves running down to my feet. Told them when they asked, that no, the dr didn't think it would come back. That's when God moved! I started hearing stories about the things they had been thru and overcame. One lady, Louise, she is my mike lb's adopted grandma, told me her story. She was diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer. They told her 6 months with treatment, maybe a month without. She said she would be damned if she was going to spend her last days "sick as a dog and weak as a kitten". She we t home and made her a list of what she wanted to do that she hadn't, and started on it. It was at that moment that Louise stared at me as if she was looking into my soul. She then said that she finished her list 8 years ago. I admit it, I had tears, hell I do right now! I decided then I was going to make the bes out of it! I upped my therapy to 5 days a week & started riding my stationary bike at home. I wake up early anyway, so I start riding my bike at 5 am every day. The first three or four days I barely made it through an hour of Sportcenter before I had to quit, but today, I got the hour of Sportcenter and Hangover II before I stopped. I went to rehab and I AM EXCITED TO SAY, I CAN MOVE MY BIG TOE! I feel so much different now. God has Blessed me so much more than I deserve! I feel like it's a win/win! Either I get in excellent physical condition or I will be able to walk without my walker or Forrest Gump leg braces. We are having a county wide FCA rally Tuesday night and I asked to speak at it. I want kids to know that God has a plan for us. We may not like the ride he has planned for us at first (I sure didn't), but if we will keep our hearts open and seek HIM, it will turn out to be the best ride imaginable. My marriage is stronger than ever because of my accident. (when your spouse has to wipe your tail, you realize the depth of her love) My faith is stronger than ever. My outlook on life is completely different. My hunger to get back on the field to coach is such that I am doodling in a notebook, making out practice scedules, new packages for my defense & picking the scores & stats for each game next year (oddly enough, I have us going 14 & 0 while only giving up a field goal for the season). Not sure exactly how or what I am goig to say, I have faith that Jesus will let me know. Thank ALL of you for your prayers!! They changed my life. My prayer is that I can repay each of you for your kindness.
 
Last edited:
B

BGIF

Varsity Club
Messages
43,946
Reaction score
2,922
"That's when G"

Then what happened? Looks like you stopped in mid-sentence.

Did you get sidetracked or hit return (I do that a lot)?
 
bigedefense

bigedefense

New member
Messages
734
Reaction score
109
BGIF said:
"That's when G"

Then what happened? Looks like you stopped in mid-sentence.

Did you get sidetracked or hit return (I do that a lot)?
Click to expand...

You got it. I am using my iPhone & my fingers are too fat. Ha! I hit return before I knew it, I edited & finished it however.

I know what you thought. You thought I was on pain meds and zonked out in mid sentence. Haha! Thankfully, I have not taken anything stronger than ibuprofen in a week and a half. I definitely didn't want to add addiction to opiates to my troubles.

Maybe I should try and get in touch with mbecka to aid me in my rehab. Hahahahahahahaha
 
phgreek

phgreek

New member
Messages
6,956
Reaction score
433
BigD...

what a great rebound...this made my week. I hope you touch many with your story...keep doin what you are doin. I wish more folks had the fortitude and spiritual intelect you do...we all have the "nursing home" rather figuratively or in a real sense. Its always there when you gotta have it...just need to look.

...look forward to an update after you speak.
 
Old Man Mike

Old Man Mike

Fast as Lightning!
Messages
8,964
Reaction score
6,453
Bless you, big fella. Pass the story and the Grace on.

Sometimes we look out on the world and wonder if God made a mistake with all the seeming bad decisions and moral failures out there. Then along comes a story like yours and the Grandmas and I think that maybe God got it right afterall.
 
A

arrowryan

Well-known member
Messages
14,715
Reaction score
8,916
Its good to hear that your doing better big guy! I hope you continue to get better. Merry Christmas!
 
H

HereComeTheIrish

Guest
Keep on truckin' brah. Thanks for the update. :) Go Irish
 
P

pani_nasz

New member
Messages
108
Reaction score
9
Big E

Thanks for sharing. You are on the right track. A priest told me years ago that we have to "name it, claim it, and tame it". Sounds like the Lord decided to send you an angel named Louise to get you through the "tame it" phase. And you will . . . God bless.
 
bigedefense

bigedefense

New member
Messages
734
Reaction score
109
Alright guys. I need your help once again. Just got off the phone with a youth director that has put together a big rally for the youth inour area. He had everything and everyone scheduled, but one of his speakers had to back out because his wife & he are at the hospital. Their baby decided to come a couple of weeks early. Well, I guess he was in a huge pinch. He has the entire day planned with Christian bands, Christian comedians, and Christian speakers. Now, according to him, he has a 30 minute dead spot and he wants me to fill it. They are expecting around 1,000 youth to show up, so I really don't want to get up there and bore them. Think about me tomorrow around 12:30 central, I could really use a prayer. I want to relay my message & inspire theses kids, not put them to sleep or make them want to head home and do homework. I will let y'all know how it goes.
 
phgreek

phgreek

New member
Messages
6,956
Reaction score
433
bigedefense said:
Alright guys. I need your help once again. Just got off the phone with a youth director that has put together a big rally for the youth inour area. He had everything and everyone scheduled, but one of his speakers had to back out because his wife & he are at the hospital. Their baby decided to come a couple of weeks early. Well, I guess he was in a huge pinch. He has the entire day planned with Christian bands, Christian comedians, and Christian speakers. Now, according to him, he has a 30 minute dead spot and he wants me to fill it. They are expecting around 1,000 youth to show up, so I really don't want to get up there and bore them. Think about me tomorrow around 12:30 central, I could really use a prayer. I want to relay my message & inspire theses kids, not put them to sleep or make them want to head home and do homework. I will let y'all know how it goes.
Click to expand...

...prayers headed your way...

tis for this purpose you were brought around...hope you feel the invincibility a man does when he knows he is in the purpose god intended...I don't think there is any way you do less then awesome...
 
Old Man Mike

Old Man Mike

Fast as Lightning!
Messages
8,964
Reaction score
6,453
You will actually need almost nothing from us --- your sort of story of faith and fortitude is instantly inspiring.

A thought: if there is something that you have accomplished in your recovery, which was tough and also that the kids could see, you might want to use that "demonstration" as a symbol of what that faith and focus on the Lord is all about. If not, it was just a romantic possibility.
 
phgreek

phgreek

New member
Messages
6,956
Reaction score
433
Hey...just got home from church...was thinking about you most of the morning...as I'm sure you will...let us know how it went...

I just believe this is what God intended for you, and that there are a number of little ears in the crowd that needed to hear whatever it is you had to say...

I hope he blessed you with visible confirmation of "message received"...
 
N

NDJimmy

New member
Messages
171
Reaction score
12
Look at all these guys that are with you, man!
And always remember the things you learned about yourself during your comeback.
Rock on! Go Irish!
 
bigedefense

bigedefense

New member
Messages
734
Reaction score
109
Sorry I wasn't able to get online yesterday and let everyone know how it went. It was amazing! There were around 1,200 youth at the rally and I spoke right after they had served lunch. Man, I was nervous that they would all be asleep 10 minutes into my story. It was a 180 from that! I told them a little of my history. I told them about my family tragedy. I told them how I used it to give me something to push me when I wanted to feel sorry for myself. I wanted to suceed for them. I told them about I used to play football at a small DII college and was now a coach. I told them about how I coached by demonstrating technique. Then I told them about when I first started having some problems with my back. Had the surgeries and had recovered. Then, on one day I had been in cyber world reading Irish Envy and gotten excited about the BIG GAME that Notre Dame was getting ready to play, when I decided I had to work off some of the energy I had. I started doing honey do's. Briefly told them about climbing the ladder and waking up in the hospital. I let them ask me questions. I didn't intend on doing that, it just felt like the thing to do. Well, the onslaught began. Kids were firing questions up left and right and thats how we got to my recovering. One kid asked if I had gotten mad at God for letting this happen to me? You could have heard a pin drop! My answer to this young man was simple. NO. Whatever happens in this world, God will use it for good if we allow it. We all have choices every second of every day. The choices we make right now will affect us 20 years from now. I chose to dig my heels in my faith and I look for the positives, however small they may seem, and I focus on them. It was great! I appreciate all of y'alls prayers and thoughts.
 
palinurus

palinurus

New member
Messages
2,406
Reaction score
192
Good work. Not to be trite, but if we have faith, the Lord will put the words in our mouths.
 
B

Bogtrotter07

Guest
Sorry I was so late to the party, but at this point after catching up, I am not sure that I shouldn't be humbly asking for your prayers.

Here is the one I say:

METHA

May I be filled with loving kindness;
May I be healthy and strong;
May I be free of all dangers, internal or external.
May I be filled with the ease of well being.
May I be happy!

And of course you can then subsitute anyone else in, including someone you don't particularly care for; that is when the prayer works best!
 
Last edited:
phgreek

phgreek

New member
Messages
6,956
Reaction score
433
bigedefense said:
Sorry I wasn't able to get online yesterday and let everyone know how it went. It was amazing! There were around 1,200 youth at the rally and I spoke right after they had served lunch. Man, I was nervous that they would all be asleep 10 minutes into my story. It was a 180 from that! I told them a little of my history. I told them about my family tragedy. I told them how I used it to give me something to push me when I wanted to feel sorry for myself. I wanted to suceed for them. I told them about I used to play football at a small DII college and was now a coach. I told them about how I coached by demonstrating technique. Then I told them about when I first started having some problems with my back. Had the surgeries and had recovered. Then, on one day I had been in cyber world reading Irish Envy and gotten excited about the BIG GAME that Notre Dame was getting ready to play, when I decided I had to work off some of the energy I had. I started doing honey do's. Briefly told them about climbing the ladder and waking up in the hospital. I let them ask me questions. I didn't intend on doing that, it just felt like the thing to do. Well, the onslaught began. Kids were firing questions up left and right and thats how we got to my recovering. One kid asked if I had gotten mad at God for letting this happen to me? You could have heard a pin drop! My answer to this young man was simple. NO. Whatever happens in this world, God will use it for good if we allow it. We all have choices every second of every day. The choices we make right now will affect us 20 years from now. I chose to dig my heels in my faith and I look for the positives, however small they may seem, and I focus on them. It was great! I appreciate all of y'alls prayers and thoughts.
Click to expand...

A man in his calling...thing of beauty right there...

Happy for you and those kids...
 
bigedefense

bigedefense

New member
Messages
734
Reaction score
109
Hey everyone. I havent been here in a while. I had some complications with the stuff they put in my back. They used some kind of resin to stimulate bone growth, its called BMP2 (or something like that) & rods/screws/ plates/cages. Well, my body rejected this metal (had the same problem before with another type of metal) & this resin worked.....too well. It started growing bone and didn't stop. It began cutting off nerve channels, so they had to go in and re do EVERYTHING! Some how or another, lawyers got my cell number & started blowing my phone up. They all said the same thing, "we can get you 6 possibly 7 figures if we sue". I told them not to call me again or I'd sue them. I am not going to sue anybody! Before my surgery, I talked with my dr & we came up with an arrangement. Whatever has to be done, whoever or where ever it has to be done, I don't have to pay. He got the ok from medtronics (the company that made the implants), the hospital, & himself. My buddy from high school is a divorce attorney, so he drew up the papers & everyone involved signed them. I am happy with that. Anyway, I have had a setback. I can't walk now......but I will again. For those of you that have said a prayer for me, thanks. For those that didn't, well **** on you too. Haha just kidding.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top