The people, events and pictures in this story are real and true. This story is about how God hears your call in the time of a tragedy. This story is about a man who took a nail straight in his heart and survived. This is a real success story. This is one real THANKSGIVING story that will never be forgotten in my family. This story has even brought us closer to God.
It was a beautiful Friday morning in November when we began to pack our things to leave for a job that was out of state. My family lives in Tickfaw, Louisiana off of Antioch Road, down a little lane called Chavers Lane. I will introduce you to the people in this story now. My name is Shannon and I have two children who are Taylor age 15, and Kaitlynn age 6. Me and Tom has been together 11 years this November. We met when I worked at Waffle House as a waitress. Tom was a grill operator at the time. We were together for four years when my daughter Kaitlynn was born. Kaitlynn is the splitting image of her dad, but she has her mother's ways. After Kaitlynn was born, we changed our field of work and Tom went on to be a carpenter. I am presently an online freelance writer.
Tom took on an assigned job out of state in Mississippi. Another worker was to come with us and that worker was also a family friend and his name is Jay. Tom has an older daughter that lives near us and her name is Nikki. Nikki has a friend named Lacey. Our landlord is also a close family friend and his name is Jerry. Jerry knew that we would be gone for a week and he would take care of our house while we were away. Jerry is a very supportive landlord that we have been renting from for about three years. He knew why we took the job out of state was to make extra money because me and Tom has just paid a down payment on a double wide mobile home. Yes, God has provided blessings to us everyday.
It was the children's last day of school before they will be out for the Thanksgiving holiday season for one week. It was Friday, November 19, 2011. I decided to keep my daughter home from school that day so we could get an early start because we had to pack for one week and load tools for the job on the trailer and we had to pull the trailer with tools by our Van to a small town called Liberty, Mississippi where we would be lodging for a week while we worked at the job that was located another 30 miles away in a town called Woodville. So me, Tom, Taylor, Kaitlynn and Jay left for Liberty, Mississippi. We arrived at the camp that was complete with beds, kitchen appliances, bathrooms, and even washer and dryer and TV. This camp was Jay's family's camp. It was a nice comfortable place to rest after a long hard day at work. It even had a fireplace. It was cold when we arrived and Taylor helped keep the fire going. We had to get to bed early because we would work straight through the weekend.
Early Saturday morning we left Liberty, Mississippi to go to work in Woodville. Kaitlynn had packed her toys and coloring books so she could play while we worked. The job that we were assigned to do was to put siding on a modular home. After the siding was finished, then we were suppose to paint it and then move inside the home to do some repairs to the floor and walls. Saturday was a good day at work. We worked and laughed and had lunch. We listened to a radio while we were working. Everyone did what was suppose to be done. Me and Taylor were helpers and Tom and Jay ran the job. They worked about twenty feet in the air on ladders and scaffolds hanging siding. They cut wood with chop saws and jigsaws. Me and Taylor held the ladders and scaffolds to keep them safe while they were working. They were using some tough equipment out there like power tools that were used with air compressors and generators. They used four different types of nail guns that were used for driving nails into the siding. These nail guns were operated by using forced air to shoot the nail into the siding. After the day was done, we would head back to the camp to cook dinner and rest. Saturday night dinner menu consisted of cheeseburger helper, smoked sausage sandwiches and mixed vegetables. After dinner was TV for the kids and more work for me because I took my PC along and would write at night.
The days and nights go by so fast when you are working. We were planning on making it home and having the job finished so that way we could get back home in time to cook Thanksgiving dinner for family and friends. Sunday morning arrived fast and were were off to work in Woodville again. I called my mom everyday to tell her we were all OK, I talked to my sister, Rachel too. I would send her messages and pictures of us on the job. I called my brother Joey and sent him a few pictures as well. Everything was going smooth and the job was moving along fine. I would call Nikki and Lacey to check on things around my house as they were feeding my cat who is called Kitty and my two dogs who are Fluffy and Cow. Kaitlynn sat and chatted with the owners that day while she had a sandwich for lunch. She colored a picture of a deer and gave it to the lady that was so happy with it. The owners of the home were from Morgan City, Louisiana and they wanted to make this home into a deer camp. It was a beautiful home that was mighty fine to be a deer camp. This home was nestled deep into the Woodville, Mississippi woods about 12 miles from the main Highway 61. The road that lead to the home was a very long dirt road that had a lot of hills and curves. It was a truly deep wooded area. The deer in these woods are plentiful. It was really a beautiful area and a perfect place for a family to get away from the city life. Sunday's work was completed and evening arrived and we headed home and fried chicken was on the menu for Sunday night. The kids watched more TV and that was the night that Jay's girlfriend arrived with her kids. They had a ball playing and watching TV and sharing snacks. Then off to bed because we knew that Monday morning would arrive fast.
Monday morning was here we arrived early for work. It was a foggy morning, but the sun began to show it's face about 9 am and the fog slowly lifted. It was going to be beautiful day. The day began as usual. We were at the front of the home working. The front porch had been completed with the siding. Tom was on a ladder and Jay was on the scafold. I was holding the ladder that Tom was on because he was about 20 feet up. It can be a scary job at times. Safety is always a number one priority, especially on this type of job. Tom and Jay were both working with a nail gun passing it back and forth as they were working hanging the siding. All of a sudden I heard Tom say Oh! I think I shot myself. I said, Well come on down and let me see. He came down off of the ladder and he said, Maybe the nail did not go in because I am not hurting. When I looked all I could see was just a tiny hole about the size if you were to stick yourself with a needle and it was not even bleeding. Tom said, I am not hurting. I said, I know, but I don't thionk we should take a chance, get in the van now. I was trained as an Emergency Medical Technician when I was 19 years old. I knew the danger that could be involved with any chest injury. We piled into the Van and I reclined Tom's seat and told him to take slow deep breaths and don't move. We left every power tool runnig at the job. Generators were left running and air compressors too.
Try to stay calm, I said. I said that over and over. I dialed 911 as soon as I cranked the Van and headed out onto the long dirt road. I hit speeds of about 70 mph along this dirt road with hills and curves trying to reach the main Highway 61 and at the same time I was on the phone with the 911 operator telling her that there was a person who had accidentally shot himself in the upper left side of the chest area and that I needed an ambulance to meet me on Highway 61. I thought for a minute thinking, would it be better for me to reach the hospital on Centerville or should I pull over to wait for the paramedics. I think I made the right decision because the hospital in Centerville was not equipped for serious trauma. If I would have stayed on the job and waited for the ambulance then Tom could have died. I wasted no time at all and moved as fast as I could. The ambulance took about ten minutes to arrive and they met us on side of the road on Highway 61 by a crossroad called Sanders Fork. Tom said, I know it is in me now because it hurts when I breathe. I said, Okay, just breathe normal, do not take deep breaths, just breathe normal and relax. I noticed that Thomas began to sweat large heavy beads of sweat on his forehead. That told me something. While he was lying there relaxing, it told me that Tom's heart was working hard. He was sweating, but it was a cool day. I told everyone to open all the doors and windows in the Van to allow him to get more air. Soon as the medics arrived, I explained what happened to Tom and handed him his state identification card and told him we were from Louisiana. The medic made the decision to have Tom air lifted. I then felt my knees get weak, but I had to hold myself up not to scare Tom and to keep strong for my kids. It was just like a bad dream that was happening and I felt that it was not real and I remember pinching myself to make sure that I was awake and not dreaming. I then asked my daughter to get out of the Van as the medics placed Tom on the gurney. I had tears in my eyes and I told my six year old to kiss her daddy and tell him that she loved him and that we will be right behind him. He told her that everything would be alright and my daughter believed every word he was saying to her as she did not shed one tear. I heard her say, Okay, daddy! That was the hardest thing I had to do in my life. I cried for God, I screamed for God as the ambulance pulled away. My voice echoed into the woods and I heard my echo say PLEASE GOD HELP US!! Please God don't take Tom now! Please God let him stay with us, just a little while longer, for my baby girl! I felt the warm sun on the tears on my face. I went down on my knees and pulled myself up and got into the Van and I did not know which way to go!! My head was spinning and I was confused and I kept screaming, Please GOD help us! Jay helped us get the Van back to Liberty. Jay and his family took me and my kids to Jackson, Mississippi more than a hundred miles from where we stood on the side of the road. Thank God you were with us Jay. I could not have made it without you!
The ambulance drove Tom to the Natchez Fire Department and he was air lifted by helicopter to Jackson, Mississippi University Hospital. We had over 100 miles to travel by car. I was told that Tom had a seizure in the ambulance on the way to the helicopter, so that told me I had made the right decision in moving as fast as I could as I had no emergency equipment to work with. The seizure he had was possibly caused by one of the four blood clots that was caused by the nail hitting his heart. He became unconscious on the way to the helicopter. The medic was not able to do chest compressions as there was a nail in the chest area. Tom stopped breathing. The medic who cared for Tom in the ambulance had the same name as Tom. It was spelled the same way, Thomas De Wayne. Tom still tells me today that he seen the bright sun shining through the windows, but I think the bright sun that he had seen was the light of God and he believes that too.
On the way to the hospital I began to make calls and I called Nikki and Lacey. MY mother accidentally dialed my number when we were in route to the hospital hitting speeds of 90 mph with emergency flashers on. Mom was trying to call someone else, but when she reached my number, she started to talk and ask how is everyone. I did not feel right with telling my mother at the time about what was going on because she is sick with serious medical disabilities and I did not want mom to be alone when she heard this bad news. I lied to my mom and told her that we were just fine and we were fixing to have lunch. I asked God to forgive me but I could not bring myself to tell my mother this news over the phone. I called my brother and told him. I called my sister and told her to go to mom's house and bring someone with her. I am glad that I made that decision because mom was something to calm down as I was told by my sister. Soon everyone knew, his family and my family and news spread like a wild fire from Mississippi to Louisiana.
When we finally arrived at the hospital, Tom was already in emergency open heart surgery. I cried and cried and cried thinking that I may not see him again. His daughter and her friend was there by us the whole time. They felt like they were my daughters too. They are, not biologically, but they both are my daughters. Jay was there until Tom made it out of surgery and was placed in the intensive care unit. I called Tom's dad and he prayed for Tom and all of us. I looked up in the waiting room and there was a preacher standing over us and his name was Brother Cain. I held his hand tight and we prayed. Brother Cain told me that the hospital was one of the best trauma centers in the south. He made me feel better. He was right! Along with God and the Jackson Mississippi University Hospital professionals, and me and my family and Jay, Tom is alive today. It was a real trying time for all of us and I never thought that I could cry so hard to God for help. I felt God calming my soul that day I stood on the side of Highway 61 screaming for Him.
Tom was in the ICU when his mother arrived. We were called into the conference room to sign papers and make decisions about Tom's care in the hospital. The nurse that was conferencing us asked me was I Tom's wife. While Tom's mother believes I am, she said yes, but legally we are not married and it was explained to me that the state of Mississippi does not recognize common law and I knew this already. Neither does Louisiana. His mother was there to help me and I had to show my ID. I was allowed to be Tom's support person because he requested me to be. I believe that God put us together, but the law states otherwise. I thank God he had family there to assist me. There are a lot of people in this world that are together and stay together for many years before they ever get married and if they get married. Maybe one day soon, me and Tom will be married or get some kind of cohabitation agreement signed. I told Tom's mother that I thought that God was trying to tell us something. I was happy that she stayed there with me the first night at the hospital. His daughter and her friend never left our side. Lacey brought me clean clothes to wear and took me to get a shower. They did all of this and still had to drive back to Louisiana to work. They put some long hard miles on their new car. Their GPS was definitely a lifesaver. They met us on the interstate on the way to the hospital. The were right beside me the whole way. They are such wonderful, hardworking and smart girls that deserve the very best that life can offer.
After two days in the CICU, Tom was moved to a regular hospital room for two more days. I eventually got to see the Xray as the nail hit the left atrium of his heart. We owe a lot to God for sparing his life. I want to thank all family and friends for being so very supportive and caring, thanks for the phone calls, the money and the food. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. It is times like this that you find out who your true friends are. May God bless you all for what you have done for us. Thanks to my sister, Rachel who is studying to be an Emergency Medical Technician. She and her husband Robert drove over 130 miles to pick up my kids from the hospital and she kept Kaitlynn at her house for four days. Thanks to Tom's sons Tom and Daniel and thanks to Tom's dad for coming to the hospital. Thanks to Tom's dad for praying. Your prayers are real and your requests reached God just in time. Thanks to my brother for talking to me on the phone while I was in route to the hospital and thank you for being so conerned and thank Suzie, Joey's girlfriend, for praying and thank you for coming to visit because Tom loves company at home.
I awoke to the rays of sun shining on my face, rays beaming through the hospital window blinds early Thanksgiving morning. I felt like I had been to hell and back. I looked like I had been to hell and back too. My legs ached and throbbed. As I pushed myself off of the cot that I has slept on and I stared out of the window, tears ran down my cheeks as I gazed at the new morning and I thanked God again. I was a true miracle. It was truly a miracle that Tom had survived this. We are blessed. It was then that I thought about how fragile life can be. Fragile as a feather in the wind.This is the xray with the nail in Tom's heart. Yes, he is an example of a miracle. He is a walking miracle. I now know from experience that there is nothing no man or doctor can do to keep you here on Earth. It is all God's work and it is HIS choice if He wants you to remain on Earth a little while longer. Thank you God for guiding the doctor's and surgeon's hands in working part of your miracle. I just cannot thank God enough. Dr. Merrill is the surgeon who performed the surgery.
Tom was spending Thanksgiving in the hospital. I was there with him. This hospital was huge as it must have taken up about six blocks. When they brought Tom's lunch it was turkey. I smiled, as I was pleased with just a cup of coffee and a sandwich. I am sorry Mom, that I did not tell you the truth when you called, but I did it in your best interest because I love you and I did not want you to be alone when you heard the news and I did not know if dad was there with you. I know that my mom is a very strong woman, but there is a time and place for everything and I had to think about her well being too.
Thanksgiving evening arrived and it was time for Tom to be discharged. Our landlord Mr. Jerry picked us up from the hospital. He drove us to the nearest Walgreen's to get Tom's prescription filled. Then we began our long journey back to Louisiana. Mr. Jerry drove over 100 miles and took me to my van that was parked at the camp in Liberty, Mississippi. When we arrived at the camp I began to load my things in the Van. I followed Mr. Jerry to Interstate 55 and headed to Louisiana and it was a good feeling to be going home. I was happy that Tom was with us because I really believed that I would have been making this journey back home alone without him, but it was my faith in God that was bring us home again. When we crossed the Louisiana state line, I began to cry Thank You God. Tears streamed down my cheeks until I reached the Amite, Louisiana exit. Darkness fell and the day was gone. It was truly a wonderful Thanksgiving because we had much to Thank God for. We had a great homecoming as my family arrived at my home with my kids. My mom and dad arrived with Taylor and my sister and her husband Robert and their kids arrived with Kaitlynn. Nikki and Lacey was there to welcome us home too. There was Thanksgiving food that my family and friends had brought to us.
Tom began to recover just fine and he had an appointment to return to Jackson in two weeks to get the stitches out. That went fine too. He is still not able to work, but we are managing just fine. I have learned that anything you ask of God can be granted. The hospital bill is nearly $ 100,000. That is okay too. God has brought us this far and I believe He has a plan for all of us. We are now back to normal life as we continue planning about moving our double wide mobile home at the beginning of the New Year. After 6 weeks, Tom can return to work. Yes, and I must say that being a freelance writer is not an easy job. Writing about life's miracles are a joy, but the heartaches are the ones that are truly hard to write about. Even though I shed many tears writing this, I want to thank God again for such a happy ending to what began as a tragedy.
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