I was sent a email from the son of longtime music artist Jimme Rodgers. Some of you may not remember him but I ask you to read the letter and keep them in your prayers.
Hello Everyone!
My name is Michael Rodgers. My fathers name is Jimmie Rodgers. Some of you might remember him from his musical career that has now spanned fifty years. In 1957 he recorded a song called "Honeycomb" and followed it up with a string of hit records totaling 25 top ten singles,eighty million records sold worldwide and concert appearances throughout the world.
Through all of that he carried himself with grace, charm and an incredible sense of humor and style. In 1967 when he was 33 years old my father was injured in what is now known as a road rage incident. He suffered severe head injuries and underwent three brain surgeries.During one of those surgeries he lost 28 square inches of his skull on the right side of his head. Since 1968 he has carried what is considered to be the largest steel plate ever implanted in someone's head.
It took Dad nearly 15 years to recover from the last surgery in 1968 as he had to learn to walk,speak and regain his motor skills. He was not suppose to live more than 10 years with this steel plate in his body as the body continually tries to reject these kind of implants. Over the years as he has gotten older the skin on his scalp has gotten thinner and the remaining bone continually cuts his scalp. If left this way this situation will eventually lead to his death.
Over the last 15 years he has had over 60 different skin graphs and other surgeries. The last such surgery was 18 months ago and it nearly killed him. He now has a hole in his head the size of a half dollar and it has been this way since February.
My dad is tough. He is the definition of the word. He has avoided what is about to take place and tried everything imaginable to live with the constant pain and discomfort and he has now made a decision that will define what will be the rest of his life.On Thursday June 28, 2007 a team of Brain Surgeons in Hot Springs Arkansas will remove the steel plate that he has carried with him for 39 years. They plan to remove the outer layer of skin and lift the plate away from the position it has held covering the outer layer of his brain. If successful they will replace the plate with a new material that has been developed that will recreate the skull bone and will not be rejected by the body.
If this surgery works he will have the chance to live what is left of his life without pain. Dad has made the decision. The Doctors feel confident that all will be fine and we are stepping out on faith that this is the right course of action.
As someone who some of you know to be a fairly private person I am opening up to you about a very serious family issue. From now until the end of next week and beyond if possible I kindly ask you all to please do the following.
* Please pray for my father that his surgery and recovery will be successful and that his health will be completely restored.* Please pray for the team of Doctors and Nurses that will be performing the surgery so that they might have guidance and wisdom during this time.* Please pray for our family that we might have strength and courage to face the days ahead in helping Dad with his recovery.* Please put my father Jimmie Rodgers on your prayer lists at church or through an email request such as this one. (Feel free to copy and send).All of us are connected in this life in some way. I believe there is power in prayer and power in positive thought. I believe that together all of us through prayer and positive energy and thinking can help that to happen.Thank you all for being a part of and playing a part (large or small) in my life.
Name: Jimmie Rodgers
Date of Surgery: June 28, 2007
My family and I thank you. And my father thanks you and will be most appreciative to you for your thoughts and prayers.
God Bless,
Michael Rodgers
4 comments:
I will definitely pray for him and add his name to our Thurs. night prayer service too.
We will pray for your father and the family specifically as you requested.
Mark
mdnusbaum@yahoo.com
if you get a chance to update us
Please go to http://tinyurl.com/37pzot for an update from Michael.
Miracles do happen and one happened June 28, 2007
The surgery began that morning with a group prayer with the Dr's and family.
Dad was in great spirits talking with the nurses and the admitting staff and even signed a few autographs for them.
He didn't seem to have a worry in the world but deep down I know he was nervous.
When they wheeled him into the operating room the surgeons had "Jimmie Rodgers Greatest Hits" on the CD player.
Dad suggested that they turn that guy off as he didn't really like that guy to much (Ha).
They all laughed and asked what he wanted to hear. Dad said how about a little Johnny Cash. And so Johnny sang dad to sleep.
Once he was out cold they put JR back on the music system and left it on the rest of the surgery.
About four minutes after beginning, the Doctors pulled back the scalp to reveal the plate. When they did that the plate literally lifted up and jumped up away from his head. The Doctors, five in all a Neuro Surgeon, Two Plastic Surgeons,Two Stem Cell Specialists and the rest of the team began to clean the plate and lift it away from the head. It released itself and came away clean.
On the video tape of the surgery we could hear the Neuro Surgeon say Oh my God look at that. How did that get there?
Under the plate was revealed a complete and intact skull bone where three months ago there was none.
The entire hole in the bone which was an eight inch by six inch oval had grown completely closed with a new skull bone which was smooth and shaped to match the existing skull. It was perfect in every way and was the same thickness as the other bone.
The Doctors said that in 35 years of surgery they had never seen anything like it. They did not need to recreate a new skull bone at all. Dad was completely healed and made whole again after 40 years.
The stem cell Doctors sprayed a stem paste made from dads blood over the skull bone and onto the skin flap and the Plastic Surgeons closed him up. The stem paste will keep him from swelling and will encourage skin growth onto the bone.
The entire procedure took about 28 minutes and after one hour in recovery Dad walked out of the room on his own much to the anger and dismay of the nursing staff. He spent one night in the hospital and was released yesterday.
When we left the hospital yesterday he was hungry so we went to a nearby Olive Garden restaurant for lunch.
You should have see everyone's face when dad walked in with this turban bandage on his head. It was very funny.
As of this morning June 30, 2007 he went bass fishing and when I spoke to him about an hour ago he had landed two.
My father and our family want to personally thank everyone who has sent emails and well wishes from around the world.
Your prayers and positive thoughts were heard and all of our lives have been changed in such an amazing way.
We cannot thank you enough.
So if anyone asks you how Jimmie Rodgers is doing please tell them that he is completely healed and is in perfect health.
God Bless you all and thank you again so very much.
Michael Rodgers.
Note: My original email was sent on Monday June 25th to about 65 friends and co-workers that I know.
That letter was forwarded and here are some of the results and responses that I received.
Within a 48 hour period I received emails from Honduras, Germany, South Africa, England, France, Denmark, Sweeden the Phillipines and Italy. As well as from nearly every state in the union including North Pole Alaska.
Dad was placed on the Australian Prayer Network which reaches over 10,000 prayer partners worldwide. He was also placed in dozens of prayer chains throughout the US and abroad and prayer groups were held the morning of the surgery while it was in progress.
Also, I received word that 14 Catholic Churches around the country held a special mass for Dad the morning of the surgery.
On XM Satelitte Radio a DJ named "Matt the Cat" who hosts the 50's on 5 show paid tribute to dad the night before the surgery.
Dad called in to thank him and Matt said "Jimmie we are going to make you a miracle" and then he played dad's record of the same name. It was very touching and Dad teared up a little on that one.
Also on XM Radio the Rollye James Show had a tribute program for Dad as well and fans from all over the country called in and said that they were praying for him.
This is just and example of the response one email request for prayer can receive when sent to such a limited group of people.
I firmly believe that dad was healed and given a new skull bone because of the faith of dad our family and so many people throughout the world. Please never forget that prayer works. Prayer is powerful. God is Great!
Please forward this letter to everyone that you might have sent the prayer request to so that they may know the outcome as well.
Much Love to you all,
Michael Rodgers
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