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Man Fights for Life After Deadly Car Accident

Elizabeth remembers, “All he could do was turn the wheel and it was just a screeching sound and it was over.”

July 7, 2002 Chicago, IL
    
Reporter says, “A car lost control, crossed the median and slammed into a minivan that was carrying a family of 5. “

In the van were pastor Raul de la Matta his wife Elizabeth, and their 3 children.
        
Elizabeth says, “I was just so disturbed by the sight of my eyes and the first thing I did was cry out to the Lord for his help.”
    
Elizabeth and the younger children had minor injuries while their teenage daughter suffered some broken bones but would recover. Raul on the other hand was airlifted to Loyola hospital in critical condition.
    
Elizabeth recalls, “They said, ‘I'm sorry, your husband is between life and death, I felt helpless.’”

Medical records state, “The patient remained hemodynamically unstable.”

Raul suffered multiple fractures in his arm, femur, and pelvis but the doctors’ main concern was keeping him alive. His blood pressure was at critical levels; a sign there was internal bleeding. Doctor Michael Stover was his lead orthopedic surgeon.
    
Elizabeth says, “When you have injuries to your pelvis especially in a car accident that’s kind of a marker for other organs to be injured.”

Medical records state, “…the patient underwent embolization of the right internal iliac artery.”    

After hours of searching, doctors found a vein in his pelvis that had been severed. They stopped the bleeding and waited for him to stabilize. Meanwhile, Elizabeth called on their church to pray.
        
Elizabeth remembers, “They were praying for life, that he not die, that he live, that he'd be able to walk, that he'd be able to continue preaching.“

It was hours before Elizabeth was allowed to see her husband, who was in and out of consciousness.

“I was devastated with the sight that I saw, I couldn't recognize him at all. I held my tears, and I wanted to be a strong wife, and I told him, "Honey, we are all okay.  We love you.  We're praying for you, and you're going to get through this and you're strong, you're a conqueror
    
Medical records state, “The patient was then stabilized hemodynamically overnight.”

Prayer continued throughout the night and by morning Raul had stabilized. Doctors began repairing the fractures and searching for signs of internal damage. Elizabeth remembers getting the news.
        
Elizabeth says, “No internal organs were punctured, when the doctor told me that, he said, ‘it's just broken bones.  We can work with broken bones.’ that, for me, was very peaceful. And I said, ‘thank you, Lord, because you've heard our prayers.’”
        
But Raul still faced a long hard recovery. In the span of seven days, he went through numerous reconstructive surgeries. Afterwards, he woke up and was coherent for the first time since the accident.
         
Raul remembers, “Doctor Stover came in. All I remember him saying is ‘you were involved in a very severe car accident and you're not going to be able to walk for at least two years.’ it felt like I put all my dreams in a firecracker and they just blew up.  Literally I said, ‘what am I going to do with my life?’ not to be able to stand up, not to be able to play with my children, not to be able to play tennis with my son. It felt hopeless.  It felt like either the lord does something or-or-or that's it.  My story's done.”
        
Raul, his family, and others prayed as he began rigorous physical therapy.
    
Elizabeth says, “It was such a hard process to see him go through that, but he was very strong and he decided to get better.”
        
Raul progressed faster than anyone expected. Then, after only 11 months of therapy he was back on his feet.
    
Raul says, “From the walker to the crutches. From the crutches to the cane.  Then from the cane to holding onto someone, and then I was finally able to walk. Not two years as the doctors had said.”
        
Today, Raul walks without any issues. And when he and Elizabeth aren’t pastoring their church in Illinois, they’re traveling the world sharing their story.
        
Raul says, “It doesn't matter how dark the situation looks, the love and the light of Jesus will pull you through.”

Elizabeth says, “Cry out to God our savior, and he will help us.  He will help you, and he will meet you at your situation.”

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