26 Days

When I wrote Day 26, I told you that it would eventually be replaced by a copy
of the testimony that I  delivered to our congregation at  CUMC.
 It will forever be the 26th and final entry, which represents the 26 days 
that Jolie spent in the hospital.  The following is the message I delivered on April 22, 2012:

"Do You Believe In Miracles ?

This week, many people have asked if I would be nervous today.   Actually my nerves are OK.   It's my emotions that I'll have to try and keep in check.  So if I pause at any point, just bare with me.  My eyes might tear, nose run, throat swell, and voice crack........ because I know it's going to be an emotional and spiritual day for me.   It's my hope that it will be for all of you as well.

Earlier in the week, I told Bob "please no sappy introductions."  I didn't want to begin crying before I even started to speak.   But it wouldn't have really mattered what he said,  I'm overwhelmed just looking around at how many people are here today for support.   But I guess that I shouldn't be surprised,  as we have had an incredible support system since day one.
So I would like to start today with some well earned thank yous.  First to everyone of Central United Methodist Church.  Several weeks ago, I wrote a letter to this congregation because I wasn't quite ready to talk about Jolie's amazing journey.  I hope that all of you had the opportunity to read that letter.  But I'm also really glad to be able to thank you in person today.  This church, its staff and its members, mean the world to our family.   The next group is all of our dear friends.  It would be impossible to go through an experience such as this, without an amazing group of friends.  And Jolie and I are blessed to have just that.   And the last group is the numerous doctors, nurses, therapists and EMT that helped in Jolie's recovery.  I'm very honored that so many of you were able to join us today.   I have a whole new appreciation for these caregivers and what they face on a daily basis.  Most emergencies don't have such a happy ending as ours.  So (and this is just my opinion), but I would think it has to feel pretty wonderful for them to be able to look over here today and know that they were a big part of this success story.    It really is impossible to completely explain how overwhelming everyone's love, support and prayers have been.  So from Jolie and I, and our families, we sincerely thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts.

I've always been impressed with how Bob steps up here every Sunday morning, notes in hand, but he never has to look down at them.   I'm sorry, but I will be looking at mine quite often,  as you can already tell.  I just don't want to leave anything out.

For those of you that know me, I'm sure that you are all astounded that I am standing before the congregation today.  I'll be the first to admit that I'm a quiet and reserved person.  And that speaking today is way outside of my comfort zone.   A friend and I were recently discussing this important day, and how difficult it would be.    He said "You know, some people that talk all the time can sometimes get tuned out by others;  but when someone quiet speaks out, then people listen because you can be sure they have something important to say".    And yes, I believe today is very inportant.  Quiet and emotional, probably not the best combination for speaking to a large group.   But if Jolie had the strength to get through her tremendous obstacles,  then I could certainly stand here and talk about them.   And it's just too amazing of a story not to talk about.

On January 29th, at approximately 9:45 in the morning from the children's Sunday School room here at Central,  Jolie turned to me  and said "I'm feeling dizzy".  And she then immediately collapsed.  At first we thought she had fainted, but quickly realized that wasn't the case.  Dr. Bennett later referred to this as ventricular fibrillation.   For the rest of us that aren't in the medical field, this means that her heart stopped pumping and began to just quiver.   For more than an hour, doctors , EMT and nurses worked continuously to bring Jolie back.  30 minutes here in our church, plus the ambulance ride to the ER,  and then another 30 minutes under Dr. Doug Phillips and his team in the emergency room.   After more than an hour, a heartbeat was miraculously established and then maintained.
  I didn't remember all of the conversations from that Sunday
between myself and Dr.Phillips, so I went back to the hospital about a month ago to talk with him.  Here's the most fascinating parts of that conversation:  He said  "Jolie kept showing signs that she wanted to stay, so we kept working.  I didn't put those signs there, they were put there by God.  This is truly a Miracle" he added. Pretty powerful words.   What Dr. Phillips is implying here is the fact that the ER normally wouldn't have worked this long.  They've seen this before.  But something was different this time.

I've had the opportunity to talk with all the doctors and nurses involved with Jolie's recovery.  During the first week, the conversations were primarily medical talk.... this is what we're doing, these are the things we want to try, and so on.    Then,  the conversations turned more personal and I got to see and hear how they were feeling.   Today, they will all tell you that they've never experienced anything quite like this before.  They will all tell you how amazed they are to see such an incredible recovery.  Yet they are unable to explain what caused this to happen.  They simply throw out all medical explainations and agree that it's an act of God.  A Miracle.  Direct intervention of God's power.

It's quite amazing now, to go back and look at every detail that had to line up in order for us to be here today.   First keep in mind that we're starting with a healthy 35 year old woman.  That went without a heartbeat for an hour.   That was given breaths by someone else for an hour.  And who was shocked numerous times to attempt jumpstarting her heart.  This event could have happened any time / any place.  But it happened right here in church.  Seems like a pretty good place for God to watch over you.  Turns out to be a great place because of the quick action and willingness of nearby church members that morning, who just happen to be doctors, nurses & EMT.  Also pretty convenient considering both the ambulance service and the emergency room are located just blocks away.
 By all counts, Jolie left us for about 1 hour that morning.  Temporarily leaving behind a husband, two children, a mother, a father, a brother, a grandmother and many many friends.    Yet here we are today.  Without heart damage, without lung damage, without brain damage.  For me, even today, this is all still difficult to completely  understand.    God laid everything out, and put all the right poeple, in the right place, at the right time.   So yes, I completely agree with every doctor's evaluation:  What we've experienced is a Miracle.

And maybe the most powerful sign for so many of us was the prayer service held on the very next day.   Where people filled this church to pray for Jolie, and then to see those prayers answered immediately as she opened her eyes for the first time.  I don't claim to have all the answers, and I wish that I knew why some prayers are answered and some seem that they are not.  I wish that I could some how comfort those that struggle with this.  For me,  I will always believe that there is a reason behind everything, and sometimes the answers will come to us at a later time.   I am also unable to completely explain why Jolie was selected to go through this.  But I think we have already began to see some of those reasons.  And again, with time, I believe we will understand more of why she was selected.

Bob Peden allowed Jolie and I to select the song choices for this morning.  We looked through the long list of songs the praise band already knows.  But we also began to think about other songs that were fitting for today.  One song stood out, "What Faith Can Do" by Kutless.   My thanks to Paul Goldman and our praise band for learning this song over the past 5 days.  I feel like it was written for our family.   My favorite verses:
I've seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That's what faith can do

I've always considered myself a Christian.  Always thought that I had a pretty good relationship with God.
The truth is, through all of this I have realized that my relationship wasn't
what it could be or what it should be.
I am now able to see what really matters in life.   Prayer takes on a whole new meaning.  Relationships with family and friends are so rich with love.   And most importantly, my relationship with God is forever better.
This makes me want to be a better person.   This makes me want to do more.   The list of things that I want to do continues to grow.  And I will do them.  No more just talking about them or thinking about them.  Speaking today is just step one.

As frightening as this experience was,  it was also one of the most incredible experiences for so many us.   All you have to do is look around this room to see evidence of that.   I know that Jolie's life, and my life,  have been forever changed,  but we're not alone.    Just ask Dr. Lawrence Mason.    or CCU Nurse Kellie McLelland.  or Sabrina Williams.  So many lives have been touched by this story.  Hundreds, just in our own church.  Thousands, just within our hometown.   Tens of thousands?  Absolutely, nationwide.  What about hundreds of thousands?  I don't know.   The exact total will never be known.  But what I find so beautiful, is that this number continues to increase.  As we talk today, it increases some more.  As we talk about it tomorrow, it will increase some more.

Jolie is often stopped in public by individuals that she's never met.   And she has received flowers, notes, letters and cards from people that she has never met.  Many of them start off by saying... " you don't know me, but I'm a friend of so & so,  or a sister of so & so.  I live in San Francisco,  or I live in Myrtle Beach.   You're story has inspired me so much.   I just wanted to let you know that I'm praying for you everyday."  Jolie and I both find this so incredible.   That poeple so far away are so touched by her story and are praying daily for her  recovery.

Not everyone has been touched the same way.  Obviously some more than others.  But the level doesn't really matter.  Because from what I've seen during the past 3 months,  poeple are sharing this story with one another.  And this has led them closer to Friends, closer to Family, closer to their Church, and most importantly closer to God.

So the question now is:  We've experienced a Miracle..... what do we do now?   To me, it seems like an incredible waste to have witnessed a Miracle and not do anything about it.  or to not share it with anyone that will listen.   or to not take a closer look at how I, or you, or we can make a difference.  You see, I think this Miracle was also intended for me, and for you, and not just for Jolie.

Let us always remember how incredible those days and weeks after January 29th were in each of our lives.   How close we all became, and how much love we shared.  With whom do we spread that love to now?  Bob Rambo talked about spreading that love a few weeks ago in a sermon.  He said that he did not have any amazing personal life stories, and referred to his life as vanilla.... plain & ordinary.  I can't say that for myself any more.  I feel that it's not only my obligation, but my privelege to share this Miracle with others.

On most Sunday mornings, Bob ends his sermons with an open ended question.  Always challenging us to go out and make a difference.  Well, I accept this challenge.  And I hope all of you will join me going forward.  I'm not going to stand here and say that I've led the perfect life to this point.  But simply suggest that it's never too late to change.  Can one person make a difference?  I think we all have been shown the answer to that.  Just look at the ripples created around just one person, from one event, three months ago.
I would love the opportunity to come back and share my experiences with everyone 6 months from now, or 12 months from now.  To share how I'm being a witness for God.  To share what's different in my life.  And to share what's different with the lives that I encounter along the way.  We've witnessed a Miracle,  what will we do now?

I will close today as I did with each journal written during our many nights at the hospital.....
I Love You All !
What an Incredible God We Have !"

Dear Central

Dear Central United Methodist Church,

Sabrina asked me the other day if I was ready to address the  

congregation with an update on Jolie.   I sort of already knew the  

answer to that question, but told her that I would take it under  

consideration.  I promise that I did actually think about it.  But the  

events are still too current in my heart. There will come a time when  

I am able to share this amazing journey with everyone, and I really do  

look forward to that time.  But just not right now.

I have to be honest,  I get emotional inside at some point every  

Sunday morning.   This is something that has occurred most of my adult  

life.  It may be certain lyrics to a song.  It may be the beautiful  

voice of a soloist.   It may be the harmony of the praise band.  It  

may be the words in a sermon.  I can't explain it, but I certainly  

love coming to our church and getting that feeling.  So to imagine  

myself standing in front of our congregation and talking about how the  

previous four weeks have forever changed my life, is nearly impossible  

right now.

CUMC means everything to my family. When my father was transferred to  

Meridian in 1977, this was the first church that we joined.  And I  

have been a member ever since.  Once we had children of our own, our  

involvement with this church really increased.  But today, more than  

ever, I truly understand how important this church is in my life.  And  

I realize how

fortunate we are to have such a wonderful staff.  I don't really  

consider them as staff anymore,  as they have been so much more over  

the past four weeks.  We have all become very close, and those  

relationships will forever be different.

I am overwhelmed to see how this entire church has wrapped their  

hearts around Jolie's recovery.  I am tearful everytime that I think  

about it.  We've proven together just how amazing the power of prayer  

can be.  Speaking of prayer, how did you organize Jolie's prayer  

service so quickly?  I heard it was beautiful.   So many of my friends  

have exclaimed that they've never experienced anything so moving before.

Once you have read this, Jolie should be out of the hospital and  

resting at home.  It won't be long before she has gained enough  

strength, and feels ready to return to church on Sundays.  That first  

Sunday back might be a little crowded.  We have a lot if people that  

have already asked to join us.

I encourage all of you to share Jolie's story with anyone and  

everyone.  If anyone doubts the existance of our God. If anyone  

doesn't believe in the power of prayer.  If anyone has given up hope.   

If anyone doesn't believe in miracles.  Jolie's story can make them  

believers.  What she has overcome shouldn't be medically, or humanly,  

possible.  But all things are possible with God.  You are welcome to  

share my words if that helps: 

www.sharingjolie.blogspot.com or

www.caringbridge.org ( visit site name : joliecarle ).

I hope that all of these words express how much I love this church.    

And how much I love the people inside of this church.   Thank you all,  

from the bottom of my heart for your constant support and prayers.  I  

Love You All,  Jimmy Carle

"The LORD is my strength and shield.  I trust him with all my heart.   

He helps me, and my heart is filled with Joy.  I burst out in songs of  

thanksgiving." Psalm 28:7

Lost

I passed the hospital today.  My car really wanted to turn into the 
parking garage.  It came so routine over the previous weeks.  I 
typically drove in & out of that garage a minimum of 3 times daily for 
26 days.  Numerous times, I found myself searching for my car.   
Couldn't always remember where I parked.  I'd get lucky sometimes, 
and  could hear the horn as I walked around pushing the lock button.  
Once I discovered the car to be on the next floor above me.  Another 
time I finally realized that I parked in the lot across the street.   
And on the day that Jolie checked out, yes I had to wander around the 
garage to locate the car.   I blame all of this on lack of sleep.  
Much like life, we all get lost every now and then.  It's great to be 
found.   I Love All Of You !   What an incredible God we have.  Jimmy 
Carle

Heading for Home

Not sure where to even begin.  There's so much to be thankful for.   
So many enriched relationships.   So much revitalized faith.  Such a 
new perspective on life.   Yes, this has without a doubt been the most 
frightening experience that I've ever faced in my life.   But now, 
after 26 days, I have to say it's also the most valuable experience of 
my life.  Nothing will ever be the same.  Every day will be a 
blessing.   Tomorrow morning we will go home.   We will get some 
rest.  We will continue to help Jolie with her recovery.  But most of 
all,  we will just be a family again.  I Love You All !   What an 
incredible God we have.  Jimmy Carle   2/23/12

My Friend

Romans 12:15
"Rejoice with them that do rejoice,   and weep with them that 
weep."       As I numbly stood over Jolie that morning in the 
children's arts & crafts room, you stood by my side.   As I waited 
alone in the ER waiting room, you were the first to arrive and we 
immediately prayed together.  As I spent countless days in the waiting 
area,  you were always there to check on me.  As I finished each 
journal at night,  you were the first that I shared with so it could 
be posted.  We've laughed.  We've cried.  We've prayed.  We've 
celebrated.  We've both grown from this journey.  We're both different 
now.   I Love You !  What an  incredible God we have. Jimmy Carle   2/22/12

Happy Birthday !

Today is my father's birthday.   I wrote in his card this morning.... 
"Probably not what you had planned for today but certainly worth 
celebrating".   It has been a blessing having my parents here during 
Jolie's recovery.   They have been a tremendous help with our kids 
during the past 3-1/2 weeks.  I remember when my grandmother began 
slowing down.  My father never missed a day talking with her.   And 
when my father's brother struggled with his battle with cancer, he 
also called to talk to him everyday.   There are many traits that I 
admire in my father, but compassion is at the top of this list.     I 
hope that I successfully pass these values down to my son.  Happy 
Birthday Dad !   I Love You !   What an incredible God we have.  Jimmy 
Carle

What's My Purpose ?

I spent a little time this afternoon with Bob Rambo at CUMC.  I 
touched on a topic that I had spent some time thinking about.  I know 
in my heart that God has big plans for Jolie.  But I also know that 
many others, myself included, have been deeply moved by this amazing 
miracle.  Is this our wake up call too?  our call to action?   I have 
spent a lot of time over the past few weeks, thinking about what my 
purpose might be.  I have also spent a lot of time thinking about what 
I could have already done, but haven't.   For me personally, it's time 
to re-evaluate.  And then it's time to get busy.  I have been blessed 
with a very fortunate life.  Great job.  Incredible wife and kids.  
Nice home.  Wonderful friends and family.  But what is my purpose?  I 
don't know the answer to that right now, but I certainly look forward 
to finding out.  I Love All Of You !  What an incredible God we have.  
Jimmy Carle   2/20/12