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Dear Friend of Damascus Way, 

Ron Samuelson graduated from Damascus Way in 1989, then worked on our staff until August 1996. I wrote to you about Ron, oh, sometime in the early 90s. I always thought how hard it must be for him to work for us several days each week, then drive home to Sandstone for extended weekends.

 

     We've kept in close contact since 1996. Now at home in rural Sandstone, Ron and his wife, Debbie, raise horses and I have enjoyed following closely how God has been at work in their lives. That's why I was not prepared for the horrible news about Ron I received one day last October.

 

     Let me first give you some background. Debbie has a respected reputation for taming some very unruly horses. People often drop off ill, traumatized and otherwise unwanted animals, which Debbie and Ron gladly add to their herd of sometimes twenty or more. I've watched Debbie train and was very impressed with her ability and talent.

 

     As good as they are with the animals, and as much as they love their work, the job is not without its dangers, however. I was aware of this when I tried to phone several times in early October, but then my concern was for Ron's heart. He'd had a heart attack in 1996, but kept up with his checkups, I knew, so even when their answering machine gave his hospital room number, I was only moderately concerned.

     At last I reached Debbie and learned the whole, awful story.

 

     Ron had been in the pasture, Debbie told me, on October 9, 2003, surrounded as usual by horses. One of the beasts landed a wicked kick to Ron's midsection, smashing his spleen and tearing into his stomach. The pain was so severe that he has only a fuzzy memory of the days following.

 

     Debbie took charge at once. She managed to get him into the car and rushed twelve miles to the Sandstone hospital where medics took one look and called for a medical helicopter to transport him to St. Mary's in Duluth. There the doctor declared that Ron was bleeding to death. His heart stopped while the surgeon scrubbed up. So the surgical staff performed compressions to massage his heart, advancing finally to the electric paddles.

 

     That did the trick, giving the surgeon time to repair Ron's spleen and stomach rapidly, then quickly close him up. For days, Ron remained unconscious in the Intensive Care Unit, his heart failing and stopping. Crisis after crisis was met by an alert staff who shocked his heart back to life. One nurse reported that the electric paddles were used six times during one very close call. Debbie suffered helplessly with the emotional roller coaster of Ron's condition.

 

     His heart finally began to stabilize but doctors spoke frankly about permanent heart and brain damage from the frequent and lengthy lack of oxygen. Ron remained in the ICU for nine days, eight of which he cannot remember. Once he finally regained consciousness, he began the recovery process so rapidly that he exceeded all expectations. A surgeon quipped that Ron must have at least nine lives. A nurse admitted much later that the hospital staff did not believe Ron would leave the hospital alive. "You must have a million lives," she said, shaking her head. He amazed them all with his rate of recovery.

 

     In short order, he took a shower by himself. He walked up and down steps. His brain was working perfectly! Praise God!

 

     "We are so appreciative," said Debbie, "of those who came and prayed for Ron in the hospital. We truly did experience the supernatural power of God." She kept a journal of every detail throughout those frightening days so they would never forget how God came through in their darkest hours. Reading the journal now "seems so unreal," Debbie says. "I have never seen or experienced the power of God like I did in those two weeks, and we are forever changed."

 

     From the creation of the first man, Adam, all down through time, God has continually demonstrated His love and power toward people. I shared Ron's story with you so you could rejoice with Debbie and with me that God intervened and healed Ron. God intervenes in many, many ways for the men of  Damascus Way and I have seen God heal desperate men in desperate situations -- over and over again. In His own way, God meets each one, no matter how great the need or dark the hour. And since God has been pleased to raise up the ministry of Damascus Way as a vehicle of His grace, will you stand with us for the men He sends our way? Will you do your part to bring them hope and healing?

 

     "A cord of three strands," the Bible says, "is not easily broken." I count you as one strand, our godly staff as another, and our faithful God as the third. Not even wild horses could ever break that rope! Please -- let me count on your help. Thank you.

 

For the men of Damascus Way,