Berry Rose

On Friday November 19th, 1982, I was Yarn Mill Manager for Monroe Mills in Monroe, Georgia. The plant was two stories high but due to equipment each floor was exceptionally high. My office was on the top one. I had just completed a 10 million dollar project for my company and was the fair haired boy so to speak. Had the world by the tail. That day I called my Mother and told her I was going to put my feet under her table on Thanksgiving Day. Later, her being the Saint I think she was, told me she shuddered when I said those words. At a few minutes after four I stepped into the stairwell and because someone had put a weather strip down the wrong way and it had become loose, the tip of my shoe caught on it. Out I went, head first into the air landing 13 steps below on my neck and rolling the remainder of steps to the bottom. This left me with a crushed neck, vertebras crushed in my thoracic and lumber section plus breaking bones in both legs......the first bright side was that I had a great neurosurgeon from the beginning.

But let me finish my story. I was not a Christian! The second surgery among more than I want to count, scheduled for two in the afternoon on March 14th 1983 was delayed. The valium shot had worn off and as I was being wheeled to the operating room on a gurney, I had a vision above me of Jesus hanging on the cross. I thought I could feel the blood dripping down on me. What an experience! Anyway, I remember praying, Jesus, if you want to use me in the future, and I am not using you as a spare tire just to get out of this, I will serve you." Of course I came out of the surgery with flying colors but in a wheel chair. Hey! I was alive.

I had been visited in the hospital by a pastor of a local Pentecostal church (my family was Baptist) faithfully. So one Saturday night my wife and I decided to visit the church. Mind you I am still under the care of my neurosurgeon and cannot do much for myself. My wife had to quit her job to take care of me. All that is another story....Anyway, at that service the pastor said he wanted everyone to come up to the altar at the close of service. So here I go wheeling up with my wife. He started praying for everyone and when he got to me he put his big arms around my neck where I panicked for sure. I thought he would damage the surgery that was just recently completed. But oddly something happened. My neck began to feel okay. In fact, I could turn my head from side to side....oh! unless it has happened to you, you could never know how that felt.

Later at Emory Hospital in Atlanta doctors examining me stamped my records concerning my neck, "Divine Intervention" because I could turn it more than the expected 25 percent. So I finally got out of the wheel chair after other experiences, then a walker, crutches, cane and now nothing. You would never know I am disabled. All the praise and glory go to Jesus. After the first healing, needless to say I was a real believer with lots of faith. I was not able to return to work, but I am very active in my church and other things. Yes, I take strong meds as prescribed, no, I cannot run, but my arms are very strong. You would not want to arm wrestle with me. Yes, there were many surgeries over the twenty some years now, but God has seen me through them all.

Age now 73 years old and glad to be here. Oh yeah, I have been the head usher in my church for 13 years as well as a deacon and personal helper to my Pastor. Full Gospel Fellowship Church.