God Restores –“if some one just hold my hand”

“just so u know i can walk now by myself if some one just hold my hand.”

Jared Marr in 2010

Jared Marr’s posting of those words on  Facebook grabbed my heart, my eye filled with tears, as I imagined how his Mom, Tracy, must be feeling as she reads these words.

June 12, 2008 was the fateful morning 18 year old  Jared fell asleep at the wheel coming home from a “Sober Grad” all night event after graduating….

He was air lifted to Fresno Community Center in critical condition with traumatic brain injury, multiple broken bones and fractures to his left side. Tracy was told Jared may not make it through the day.

Jared  was in a coma for almost a month.  About 3 weeks into the  coma  an aneurysm  burst; but it was not caught,  the medical team thought  he just had some rebleeds from areas in his brain that had bled during the initial accident.

On July 4th the family  was called by the Neruologist to come to the hospital as soon as possible; a decision had to be made; Jared could have surgery to remove the hemorrhage, probably   leaving  him in a vegetative state for the rest of his life.   If Tracy decided to let things go, Jared would most likely die in 30-60 days.

Her decision echoed the principle Jared expressed in that Facebook post.  She determined:  We will wait on God to restore him!

That day she set  a course to do whatever was needed to see Jared experience a meaningful life.   She prayed, “Lord, with your holding my handing, keeping  me steady, we will see this through.”

Less than two years later, on May 8, 2010, a group gathered at Oakhurst Community Center, Oakhurst, CA watched as Jared walked across the platform, unassisted, to address the the audience.

I can imagine Tracy feels an invisible squeeze on her hand as he begins to speak.   She can not help but sit in awe that less than 2 years ago, most of the world seem to give up on this young man who has just walked to the stand;  he is speaking to the crowd.

Did she whisper: ” Lord, I knew it would happen, if you held my hand, keeping  me steady along the way.”

I like to think so.

Part of the presentation was this video: TBI – The Story of Jared Marr prepared by Jared’s youngest brother, Nik Marr, and Matt Sconce.

Here are some comments from close friends of Jared and Tracy concerning the video:

You will see lots of footage of hospital type therapy, but know that his mother did a TON at home before he would be accepted to any rehab hospital.

Pay attention to the message about drowsy driving!

Jared’s heartwarming post made May 10, 2010:

Jared's wonderful team, missing Malcolm. They believed!

Jared Marr just so u know i can walk now by myself if some one just hold my hand plus i like friends to hang out with.

Jared, oh Jared! what a beautiful phrase ” i can walk now by myself if some one just hold my hand.”

We hold your hand, figuratively, in support; looking forward to the day you walk and throw both arms in the air at the same time, shouting

“Look!! the world said I wouldn’t, but my Mom screamed back:

“With God’s help HE WILL!!”     She held my hand all along the way.

HERE I AM WORLD!!   HERE I AM!!”