Press Statement
Jeff
We are
so happy to be home and to be able to share our story with friends and our
community who have been so faithful to pray for us throughout our experience.
The Event: (Sunday,
March 17th)
It was Sunday, March
17th. We are attending a service at the International Church located
just 400 yards from the US Embassy. Near the end of the service, a young man
rushed in and started tossing grenades. We saw him and I yelled, “Get down!” I
threw out my arm and we hit the floor. I covered Cindy’s head and shoulders
with my body preparing for the blast. We thought then, that we would die and go
to be with Jesus in heaven. One blast came from in front of us, and then
another big blast came from our right side as the attacker blew himself up as
well. (unusual in Pakistan)
I was blown away from Cindy. Samuel was blown back about 10
feet. I realized that I was okay and got up to check on Cindy and to bring
Samuel close to her. She had a multiple fracture of her femur on her left leg
along with severe wounds to that leg. We saw that Samuel had 2 head wounds
along with multiple, bleeding wounds on his body. Cindy stroked his hair and I
spoke to him saying we were here with him and God was here and he would be all
right.
Then a friend pointed out to a policeman who entered, that
there was an unexploded grenade less than 2 feet away from us. God didn’t let
that one explode! We got out of the building and went by ambulance to the
hospital. We knew Samuel was the most severely injured. I stayed with him as he
was transported to a children’s hospital that had neurological care. The CT
scan showed that the shrapnel had entered the skull. They kept him sedated until
we could be medically evacuated to another facility in Europe. There he had 2
brain operations and 3 on his knee, which is now doing well. Now all infection
is gone from the brain and there seems to be very little, if any, permanent
damage.
After 6 surgeries, Cindy’s leg is stable and the infection is
under control. Cindy was released from the hospital Tuesday and Samuel was just
released this afternoon. They both will continue using antibiotics for several
weeks and will also undergo physical therapy on an outpatient basis. Cindy and I
will also have to have our ears repaired in the near future because of the
damage from the explosion.
Cindy
The hardest thing
for me through all this was not my physical pain but not being able to see
Samuel for 13 days. I finally got to see him the day of his 1st brain
surgery. After that, I could visit almost daily with him in his room.
Thank God Emily and Luke were not hurt in the terrorist
attack because they had gone downstairs for children’s’ church. Samuel had a
stomachache and that’s why he stayed with us. Our friends got Emily and Luke
along with their children in their car and brought them to the emergency room to
see me. Our friends took good care of them for 3 days until we left Pakistan for
Europe.
In Europe, my parents met us at the airport and Jeff’s Mom
came and together they cared for me and Samuel. Samuel had family with him
24/7. It was a hectic time of taking care of our two children, Emily and Luke,
while going back and forth meeting the need of myself and Samuel. We are so
appreciative of all the family did.
We were able to come back to the United States of America on
Samuel’s 7th Birthday! It was Samuel’s birthday wish to “be back in
America for his birthday”. What a special treat it was to be arriving back in
the United States on that very day. We will long remember the birthday
celebration on the medi-vac plane, complete with IVs and birthday presents.
Back
to Womble News
|
