The gospels are full of stories about miracles of healing like the healing of the blind man, named Bartimaeus ( Mark 10 : 46-52 ). How come, you might ask, does Jesus not heal people today like he did when he walked this earth?

Well, he does.

I was visiting Mobile, Alabama, during one of my parish missions, and I had the pleasure of having dinner with Drake Smith and his gracious wife, Helen. During the course of dinner, Drake shared with me an extraordinary story of the miraculous healing of his son in Hawaii. Drake’s son had a terrible accident that in normal circumstances, according to doctors and paramedics, should have claimed his life.

Following is Drake’s story of healing:

“Early in the morning of February 2, 2014, in Mobile, Alabama, I was taking a shower when my wife knocked on the door with a frantic tone in her voice, shouting: “You’ve got an emergency call!” I put on my bathrobe to take the call and was told my son was in a serious car accident and would not survive. I was plunged into a deep sorrow upon hearing this dire news, and felt totally abandoned in mind and body, not knowing what to do or how I could live through my son’s funeral.

“My son, known affectionately as Bubba, lives in Honolulu, Hawaii. He spent 20 years in the Navy, traveled the world, and his last tour of duty was in Hawaii. He retired, and since he loved Hawaii so much, he decided to remain there. It was in Hawaii that he had the accident.

“After receiving the heart-breaking call regarding the awful accident, I managed to stir up the courage within myself to call the Queen’s-Kamehamecha Hospital in Hawaii, and speak with the doctor in charge. He told me that the multiple injuries Bubba received were so severe that he was not expected to live. I was asked to come as soon as possible to Hawaii to make arrangements for the burial. Thus, I got an emergency 14-hour flight to Honolulu. All the way during the flight, I prayed for a miracle of healing. Jesus cured Bartimaeus, so why not my son Bubba?

“After I arrived in Hawaii, I proceeded to the hospital not knowing whether Bubba was still alive. The doctors met me and told me that Bubba’s condition was very critical. With so many extensive injuries: body crushed, internal bleeding, head injury and brain damage, his life could not possibly be saved. I was not prepared to hear this or to see my son in such a horrendous condition. I felt I had reached rock bottom with no hope in sight. My son was on life support, and I was dreading that I would be asked to discontinue the life-sustaining procedures. In my heart of hearts, I could not do that even though I was told to think about it, and make funeral arrangements.

“Prayer was my last recourse, and I prayed daily in the hospital chapel. Then I met Fr. Juan, a priest from Columbia. He was kind, and comforted me with a big hug, which in my condition, I surely needed. We made an instant connection. I spoke with him about my son and his condition and even asked if he would help me by performing Bubba’s funeral. After a tearful conversation and another warm hug, Father Juan asked if he could pray over my son. “Absolutely,” I said. We entered my son’s room holding onto each other and then we held onto Bubba as best we could. Father Juan offered a beautiful prayer of healing which brought me to tears. We walked out through the doors, heads bowed with grief. Then, Father Juan stopped, turned around and said to me: “I feel God is asking me to go back and pray some more for your son.”

“I returned to Bubba’s room with Father Juan. We both laid our hands on him and prayed. I was naturally distraught with thoughts of losing my son, but as the priest raised his hands in prayer, my emotions suddenly changed from grief to a palpable sense of peace and hope. I felt deep within myself that everything would be just fine because it was all in God’s hands.

“As I stood there praying with the priest for Bubba, I witnessed a miracle of healing taking place.

“Bubba began to revive before our very eyes. My faith was renewed, and I knew then my son would survive. From that day forward, Bubba’s progress was amazing.

“After four months in the hospital, the broken bones healed without a cast. The brain damage Bubba received was minimal, thank God. He began to walk with the support of a cane until the day he could throw it away.

“While I was staying with Bubba who was recovering at his home, I decided to track down the firemen and the paramedics who had responded to Bubba’s accident and assisted in saving his life. I wanted to personally thank them for the part they played as instruments in saving my son’s life. I brought Bubba along with me to meet the firemen and the paramedics. We had lunch together and discussed this extraordinary miracle of healing. The joy we all felt that day was indescribable.

“Bubba now speaks to groups about the dangers of drinking and driving as part of his way of thanking God for the miracle of healing.”

— Drake Smith