So this past week, something happened that quite frankly, nobody would have imagined.  Over seven months ago, I was in ICU and never projected to do anything outside of a wheelchair.  While I was in ICU, my son Dan and his girlfriend Riley visited us in Pensacola.  They saw me while I was heavily medicated.  They saw me when I could barley feed myself, let alone roll over without assistance in my hospital bed.  They witnessed my transfer from ICU to some unknown “inpatient rehabilitation treatment center” where we had no idea on what to expect.

And then they left.  Dan left a dad who had been healthy and strong all his life.  Dan left a dad who had an uncertain future.  And as Dan left - Kyle told him to worry about himself.  Focus on flying.  Focus on your mission.  And I will focus on getting better.  And as he headed out to his first deployment, Amy made him a promise.  “Don’t worry, son.  When you get back, Dad will walk up and give you a hug.”

Now from Kyle’s perspective, he was worried about “overselling” what he might be able to do.  After all, none of his doctors were that optimistic.  Kyle didn’t want to disappoint Dans expectations for when he returned.

Well, last week, I witnessed a miracle.  As Dan flew his helicopter in from his first deployment, Kyle and I were there to to watch that amazing landing.  Dan flew in, and as I held my breath, Kyle walked across the flight line - and in a moment that I had dreamed about for seven months, father and son hugged for the first time since Kyle had been in ICU.  Take a look at the picture - God is good!