Grace Upon Grace

Y’all. I am so excited to share the story that I am going to tell you today. It is such a testimony to God’s goodness to all of us. I promise you will be blessed by reading this.

Many of you know the story of Perrin, and what happened 6 months ago. For those of you who don’t, allow me to give you a quick run-down. My sister, Hannah, and Perrin met while working together at Applebee’s. They had been dating for two years when tragedy struck.

I remember Robbie and I were having dinner at the Robinson’s house when my mom called and said there had been an accident and Perrin was being rushed to WakeMed. My stomach is in knots right now typing this. Hannah called me a few minutes later, hardly able to talk. “Sara! They’re saying he won’t walk again. What do I do?!” From what I could piece together, Perrin had been playing basketball (one of his loves) at the YMCA downtown, and was going too fast in a lay-up, and landed against the wall and didn’t get back up. He couldn’t feel anything from his neck down. Robbie and I hurriedly left our friends house, and got in the car, shaking.

And so began a two week long hospital stay in the ICU. My sister, oh my sister. She had just started a new job, and thankfully had very understanding administrators and fellow teachers. She spent hour after hour at that hospital, just hoping for a miracle. There was so much hope, in all of us. We all thought for sure he would recover. Sure, he may be paralyzed, or just slow moving, but we’d get through it.

Robbie and I went to visit him one time in the hospital. He was completely unresponsive, put into a medical coma so that his body could recover from the pneumonia and fever he had fallen victim to. I couldn’t even speak. I just stood there, eyes wet, listening to the non-human breathing of the ventilator that was keeping him alive. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life. Robbie spoke to him, told him how we all were thinking of him, loved him, and how William was ready to play with him again. We spent some time with his mom and family members, before leaving.

The next morning, on my way to work, I got the phone call. My mom. “Perrin’s gone”, she said. WHAT!!! Gone?! From a basketball accident?!! The sport with probably the lowest injury rate, certainly the lowest DEATH rate. My mom, sister, and Perrin’s family stood around him that morning as he fought for his life. My sister. Watched the love of her life die. Can you imagine that?? His mother. Watched the love of her life die. He coded several times in the night, and the decision was finally made to let him go, let him be at Peace.

The good news? Perrin knew Christ. We all know he is okay, living in Heaven, smiling at us every day. Watching over his mom, watching over Hannah. There was a lovely funeral service, and not a dry eye in the house.

I am SO thankful for the outpouring of love from friends and family over the past six months. I STILL have friends texting me, asking how Hannah is. She pretty much is like you’d think she is. She has good days and bad days. She is so strong.

For those of you wondering, how could our God, such a loving God, do this?? Shew, we wish we knew. That’s the funny thing. We just have to trust. His plan is perfect. Even when it definitely does not seem like it.

Over the past six months, we have discussed faith more and more. About how awesome it is that God made his promise, that we WILL see Perrin again, if we believe and trust Him.

It wasn't until a week ago, that Hannah shocked all of us. We were at dinner for Robbie’s birthday, discussing how Perrin loved to eat there, when somehow we got on the topic of faith and seeing him again. Hannah looks over at me and says, “I've already done all that you’re talking about. I have trusted God. Where do you think my strength is coming from?? I’m not sure WHY he did this, but I trust Him and His plan.” Whoa. Crying in Brasa Steakhouse. That’s me. “Really?!” I said. This is amazing, I thought. I am SO proud. A time where a lot of people, even strongly rooted in their faith, would have turned their back on God. This has brought her TO Him. Perrin is smiling REAL big right now.

It turns out, in the hospital, on her knees, she wept, and begged God for salvation, and to do what he needed to do for Perrin. Whatever that meant. The next morning, he died. Chills, right?? It is SO amazing to me. Such a tragic, tragic ending to a beautiful life, but a beginning of another type of life. Real life.

I write this, with Hannah’s permission, to inspire. If you are struggling with loss, or bad things happening to good people, while still seeking Him. What a testimony. God has single-handedly been carrying Hannah through all of this. When she questions, when she cries, when she is weak, He is strong. She is safe in His arms, and will one day understand The Plan, and be reunited with Perrin. What a joyous day.

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. 

Psalm 28:7