“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith." ~ Ephesians 2:8
Chris Trokey entered the world ten
weeks early. Rushed by ambulance to the
region’s only neonatal ICU, the preemie was given only a flip-of-the-coin
chance of survival. He weighed just 3.2
pounds at birth, but within hours the tough little guy started breathing on his
own.
Distraught parents searched for a local pediatrician skilled
enough to deal with the health issues that premature babies often face. Enter Dr. Michael Shannon sporting a denim
shirt and shoulder-length hair. He
seemed remarkably calm. They hit it off
immediately.
Weeks later, after several days in which the baby fought a
dangerous fever, Dr. Shannon took the entire family into his care. Working tirelessly to keep the infant alive,
he even slept beside Chris in the NICU for two nights so that his parents could
return home for some needed rest.
Fast forward 30 years.
As Shannon traversed the Pacific Coast Highway toward the beach, a
semitruck pulled out directly in front of him. The physician had no time to react. Having remained conscious during the impact,
he felt intense pain. His legs and feet,
pinned beneath the crumpled dashboard, felt blistering hot.
Help arrived in less than two minutes. Engine Company 29 from the Orange County Fire
Dept. was nearby; returning to the firehouse when they got the call. Their timing couldn’t have been better.
Fire crews quickly doused the flames and pried the roof open
to remove Shannon for transport to the nearest trauma hospital. The paramedic placed Shannon on a gurney and sat
with him in the back of the ambulance; siren’s blaring.
Only then did the injured doctor notice the young man’s
nametag – Chris Trokey. Could this be
the same man who he’d saved as a preemie three decades earlier? The same boy whose parents had courageously faced
the possibility that their newborn might not survive a frighteningly high
temperature?
Ever the professional, Trokey remained completely focused.
The day after Shannon’s surgery for internal injuries and
severe leg burns, Trokey and the crew from Engine 29 visited Shannon in the ICU.
That was unusual; firefighters and
paramedics routinely save lives. But
this case had been such a close call.
That’s where their connection became confirmed. Chris Trokey returned Dr Shannon’s favor. Each of them entered the other’s life at a
critical time, watching over them until they got well; giving without
expectations and then getting it back when needed most.
Not a coincidence – a God thing! Then again, all things are.
Christ my King, it’s tempting to think that we might be able to help
ourselves out of our predicaments, but our help comes from God alone. Help us turn our lives over to You in faith,
trusting in Christ’s death on the cross. Amen
