College
Football Player's Life Saved When Concussion Reveals Brain Tumor
Surgery declared unnecessary after friends, family, and fellow
college students join together to pray for his recovery
In the Fall
of 2004, Daniel Kolp, a freshman running back for the Evangel
University football team, suffered a concussion from an injury
he sustained during a football game in Springfield, Missouri.
Kolp was immediately rushed to an area hospital, where he underwent
an MRI to check how extensive the damage was to his brain.
This MRI
revealed something much more grim than a simple concussion;
it also uncovered a small tumor growing in the center of the
seemingly healthy college student's brain. Kolp was shocked
as his physicians told him the bad news that this tumor had
likely been present in his brain and growing worse throughout
his entire life. If Kolp hadn't suffered the concussion that
had caused him to go to the hospital for the MRI, this tumor
might never have been discovered. If this were the case, the
tumor would have continued to grow, spread, and become even
more deadly as the months and years had passed.
In many
ways, this concussion was a miracle in itself. The seemingly
negative injury had actually led Kolp to seek the treatment
that could ultimately save his life.
Still, the
news wasn't all good for the young college student. His hopes
of continuing his college education and his football career
were dashed as the physicians explained that extensive, complex,
and highly dangerous surgery would be necessary if Kolp were
to continue living a normal, healthy life. This surgery would
be scheduled for the following summer, and the recovery time
would be difficult and filled with extensive challenges and
pain that Kolp would have to overcome. He would spend at least
seven months in the hospital or at home recovering from the
traumatic brain surgery, even if his recovery were ideal. This
would mean that even under the best circumstances, Kolp would
not be able to return to college or the football team he cared
about so much for a very long time.
This unexpected
disruption in Kolp's life was understandingly devastating, perhaps
even more so than the discovery of the life-threatening tumor
itself had been. Still, he had no choice but to undergo the
surgery, so he did his best to prepare himself for what he expected
to be the greatest ordeal of his life.
In the weeks
and months leading up to Kolp's brain surgery, the news about
his condition spread throughout the Evangel University community.
The students, teachers, faculty members, and staff of the Christian
university all cared about the health and wellbeing of Kolp,
who many knew simply as #37, the number he proudly wore with
the university's football team. This concerned group of Christians
joined together with KolpÕs extensive circle of friends and
family members to pray for the young manÕs strength, health,
guidance, and quick recovery. All of these people knew the power
of prayer was strong, but they had no idea just how huge an
impact their efforts would have on Kolp.
Kolp was
scheduled to undergo two additional MRIs before his brain surgery
that summer. At the first MRI, his physicians returned with
somewhat shocking and very hopeful news: the tumor that had
grown in Kolp's brain since his birth had actually shrunk noticeably!
Even with this great finding, the tumor still posed a threat
to Kolp's life, and plans proceeded for the coming surgery.
Neither
Kolp nor his doctors could ever have expected what the next
and final MRI would reveal, which was that the tumor had shrunk
to an even smaller, less dangerous size. With this finding,
the doctors happily told Kolp that the upcoming brain surgery
would no longer be necessary. There was no explanation from
the medical community on how this could be possible; no medical
intervention had been attempted, no medication had been administered,
and the surgery that had so recently seemed like Kolp's only
hope had not yet taken place. The only thing that Kolp and those
who prayed for his health and healing could attribute to this
miraculous turnaround was that an act of God had taken place
in the young manÕs life.
The grateful
Kolp went on with his life as usual, greeting each new day with
a renewed joy, awe, and appreciation for God, who made every
new moment possible through His divine intervention and grace.
He returned to college after the summer break and rejoined his
fellow teammates on the University football team as a sophmore.
That year, Kolp played seven great games, made four outstanding
tackles, and was named Team Player of the Week in Evangel's
24-to-10 homecoming victory against rival team Lindenwood on
October 8, 2005.
Newborn
Baby Declared Brain Dead Experiences Miraculous Healing Through
Prayer
Doctors, unable to explain the 7-day-old child's dramatic turnaround,
thank those who prayed
The
parents of Caleb Coxs, a newborn baby boy, received the most
upsetting and dreaded news that a mother or father can hear
shortly after he arrived in this world: Due to extensive trauma
that Caleb experienced during birth, the boy's physicians diagnosed
him as being 70% brain dead.
These
parents' dreams of a life filled with promise and joy for their
child were ripped from their hearts as Caleb's treating physicians
described a dismal and hopeless future for their son. They listened
with shock and disbelief as the doctors told them that Caleb
would likely never be able to leave the hospital and would never
be able to eat or walk like a normal, healthy baby.
The
situation seemed hopeless. According to these physicians, little
Caleb's life would be brief and empty of the normal joys of
life. The new parents' hearts were understandably broken.
Word spread quickly throughout Caleb's family about his terrible,
tragic condition. Hearing of his grandson's critical ailments,
Caleb's grandfather, Alex, did the only thing he could do to
help: he called everyone he could think of, including friends
and family members, and asked them to join together in prayer
for his grandson's precious life.
These
believers, who all loved and cared for little Caleb even though
they had never set eyes on the child, did pray to ask for God's
mercy on the infant boy. They prayed for healing for Caleb and
strength and guidance for his parents.
The
power of prayer was proven again through this joint effort of
believers. Five days after doctors declared little Caleb brain
dead and predicted a hopeless future for the child, the boy's
health took a dramatic turnaround that could only be described
as miraculous. Caleb's parents and family members rejoiced as
they witnessed the infant's condition improve spectacularly.
Within days Caleb was taken out of the humidi-crib that had
previously been his lifeline. Shortly after the boy was able
to feed normally, and finally doctors told Caleb's overjoyed
parents that they would be able to take their precious son home.
Caleb's
doctors told his parents that he would need future physiotherapy
to improve his physical development, but that no more extensive
medical treatments would be necessary. Caleb would grow, learn,
play, and live like a normal, healthy child. These physicians
had no explanation for Caleb's dramatic, complete turnaround,
but that didnÕt matter to the child's parents. All that mattered
to them was that the little boy they loved and cared about so
much had the bright future ahead filled with possibilities and
promise that they'd dreamed he would have.
When
Caleb's doctors learned about the prayer chain that had been
initiated to ask for God's intervention in the baby boy's condition,
these physicians told Caleb's parents to thank all those who
had prayed for their little patient. All the modern medicine,
training, and knowledge that they had gained throughout their
careers had not been sufficient to accomplish what these believers'
faith in God had, which was a miraculous healing of little Caleb.
All those who witnessed the event were reminded, comforted,
and overjoyed by the fact that God truly is all powerful and
amazing, and that nothing is hopeless when He intervenes!
The
Power of Prayer
One believer recounts how God helped him look beyond his troubles
to see the suffering of others
Eight years
ago I underwent a series of experimental chemotherapy treatments
and began taking a daily dose of Quinine, which was prescribed
to me by my physician. Since that time I've suffered terrible
night cramps, and recently these cramps began to emerge during
the day as well. My condition worsened to my dismay, as my hands
began to regularly spasm and my pain grew to be excruciating.
I began
to suffer mini-strokes, and my vision deteriorated as I began
to experience a constant left-visual-field aura. The nocturnal
cramps haunted my nights, making sleep nearly impossible, and
caused pain that would take up to three days to subside. My
condition further deteriorated as I began to lose my balance,
making life even more difficult as I would unexpectedly fall
down, limiting my mobility. I also began to experience uncontrollable
hypothermia, just another problem on my extensive list of ailments.
It seemed that my health, as well as my life, was deteriorating,
and there was nothing I could do about it.
Eventually
I was referred to a neurologist; this physician prescribed Tegretol
for my worsening condition and agreed to see me in a month's
time to review my case. It turns out that my original physician
had accidentally over-prescribed my daily dose of Quinine, a
substance that was found to cause brain clots in 1996, two years
before it was prescribed for my condition.
Even with
my medications corrected, my pain was still terrible, and life
was nearly unbearable. Almost having lost all hope, I went to
a local church, St. Peters, and took part in the congregation's
special Healing Group Night. Although I felt silly going to
this meeting and asking those at the group to pray for my condition,
I didn't know what else to do. Frankly, I'd reached the point
of despair, and the idea of living the rest of my life while
suffering with this pain made my future seem like a horrendous
trial filled with torture that would surely ruin any hope I
had of regaining my happiness or any real semblance of a joyous,
fulfilling, and peaceful life. I had nearly given up, and my
future seemed bleak and unpromising, with nothing to look forward
to but dread and the guarantee of more suffering.
The reverend
overseeing the Healing Group Night and everyone in attendance
at the meeting put their hands on me and prayed to God for my
healing and guidance. Though I fought my emotions and tried
to hold my overwhelming feelings back, I started to cry uncontrollably,
bawling like a baby at the touch of all those caring believers'
hands on me. I felt hopeless and desperate and pitied myself
terribly. I could think of nothing but my own physical troubles
and challenges.
Then, while
everyone was still praying over me, I looked up and spotted
a weak, sickly lady who was praying for me. I knew this poor
woman had long suffered cancer, and had just learned she had
developed a secondary cancer as well. She had lost her hair,
reminding me of how I'd lost my hair while undergoing chemotherapy
treatments. This woman had obviously suffered extensively, and
her future didnÕt just hold the promise of further pain and
sickness as mine did; her future would also likely lead to an
early and incredibly difficult death.
Even with
all of these physical challenges, even though her own life was
filled with fear, suffering, and pain, this woman was there
praying to God to ask for my healing. I was overwhelmed with
awe over the strength and selflessness of this woman, who looked
past her own trials and tribulations and took the time out of
her possibly too-short life to do what she could to help me
and ease my suffering.
At that
moment I forgot my plight and prayed for this brave and noble
woman. In that instant my pain seemed to lessen, and my own
problems seemed to slip out of my immediate consciousness. The
physical challenges and pain that had haunted me for so many
years suddenly seemed less daunting and more bearable.
One day
after this miraculous meeting, when God opened my eyes to the
suffering of others, I stumbled across promising information
that could possibly lead to the end of my pains. It was at this
time that I learned, after more than 8 years of extensive research
on the causes of cramps like I'd experienced, that one of my
daily activities was likely the cause of my terrible pains.
The activity, strenuous underwater swimming, had been shown
to cause pains like these. With this knowledge revealed to me,
I could change my lifestyle and start on a new path toward healing.
I will always
believe that God changed my life at that church healing group
meeting. He intervened to help end my suffering by leading me
to the information I needed to help stop the pains I had suffered
through for so long. But more importantly, he opened my eyes
and graced me with the understanding that by appreciating and
caring about the problems and challenges of others, my own trials
and tribulations would seem much less daunting. Witnessing the
suffering and pain that others were going through reminded me
of just how blessed I truly was and placed me back on the righteous
path of living life not consumed by the challenges that lay
ahead of me, but instead with a joyous focus on the great things
that God had blessed me with.
