This post comes via my San Francisco firefighter friend Jennie and is a synopsis of the story two posts ago.
On February 5th, 2009 an arsonist set fire to a vacant house by using accelerant. By the time the firefighters arrived, the house was engulfed and filled with heavy, hot smoke. Thick, black smoke issued from the back of the building as the first arriving brave men and women firefighters forced entry.
It always goes from bad to worse way too fast in these situations. A 2nd alarm. Emergency Traffic! 6 firefighters are injured. Two are admitted to the hospital, and 1 is critical.
Chris, the critically injured firefighter, lost his face mask. He suffered severe burns to his face, head, and airway. Vigils were sat and passionate prayers were said by so many. The doctors and nurses at San Francisco General are the best there are. When the body goes into shock, it’s up to forces beyond our understanding though.
I tell you honestly and adamantly that no medical professional was encouraging or hopeful about Chris’ prognosis.
I, like everyone else, wanted to do all we could for him. When donations were called for, I decided to spend the money I would have donated, on healings by Maria Benning instead. As I said, these things are beyond our understanding. Doubters will always have room to doubt, but this is the truth.
On February 20th, Maria facilitated the first healing. Almost immediately and from a place of no hope, news came that Chris was regaining consciousness and having some responses with his hands. Amazing! Finally, here was hope.
On February 24th, the second healing was done. Reports kept coming in of improvements. He could see (when he was thought to be blind) and identify pictures on the wall. Next thing we heard, he’d been extubated (the tube was taken out of his throat). Yes, he was breathing on his own! That is a miraculous step. Another update and he was released from SFG, and allowed to go to a hospital near his home in San Jose. He had to have been really stable to be allowed to make a trip like that in an ambulance where there can be all sorts of bacteria.
That certainly was the honest truth because a week later they let him go home! He is resting and recuperating at home, and all indications are that his progress continues and improvements in his health do as well.
Maria facilitated a third session for Chris and all reports are in the same vein: improvement continues!
Your prayers for Chris and all firefighters, paramedics, and police officers are always very much appreciated.
©Maria K. Benning, M.Ed., FPRH
