God's Story - A Personal Story from Walter Anderson

My vital signs were normal, yet the paramedics recognized something and transported me over 25 miles to Parkland Hospital in Dallas. Had I been taken to the local hospital, I would not have lived. Just 45 minutes after arriving at Parkland, I had a MRI and a shunt placed in my brain in ER. The following day I underwent major brain surgery. I was doing fine for the first couple of weeks, other than not understanding my situation.

At this time, the Dallas Mavericks were in the finals with Miami. I tried to get my friends to contact Mark Cuban and do a "Make a Wish" for a suite to a game. My friends tell me that I would get so mad at them when they tried to explain that I would not be allowed to leave ICU to go to a basketball game. This is just one of the many funny stories that are told of my behavior during my stay in ICU.

My recovery was coming along very well, but the doctors warned of the possibility of vasospasms. After about 10 days, I started having vasospasms.

On the 15th, Jan saw 6 to 8 doctors talking outside of ICU. She went to the door and overheard the lead doctor say, "Well, we're in uncharted waters now". She asked one of the doctor what was meant by "uncharted waters". She was told that they don't normally get this far, so they didn't know what to do next. Due to severe vasospasms that night, my blood pressure was elevated to 215. Jan was told that I may have a stroke or heart attack, but if they did nothing, I would have major brain damage or death from the vasospasms. The very next morning I was moved from ICU to a private room.

Four days later, the doctors told Jan that I would be in the hospital for 6 more weeks, be in a rehab hospital for the remainder of the year, my personality would not be the same and that I would never be able to do my job again. The next day, June 20th, I was released from the hospital. Before leaving the hospital, I had 4 doctors tell me that they had no explanation of my healing, that I had a friend above. That I know!

I was in out-patient rehab (Pate Rehab) for the next 3 months, before returning to work fulltime in October 2006. I actually played golf on July 2nd, just 1 month from the day of my aneurysm and 2 weeks out of ICU. I later found that I wasn't supposed to have played so soon, but I did.

I have been told by many doctors that I am lucky to be alive. I know that I was "blessed". Only a 1/2 of 1% live and of those, over 75% have physical or mental disabilities. I had many people, not just family and friends, praying for me. My friends have all told me how strong my wife was during this time. Her faith shined for all to see.

I am thankful for all that happened and the changes that came about in my life. Very few people ever experience God's hand so clearly in their life. I am forever changed.

In March, I had the opportunity to meet and speak with Brandon Heath (three '09 Dove Award winner) about one of his hit songs "Wait and See". He too has been told that he's lucky to be alive. In the song, Brandon sings of God not being finish with him yet. God has plans for us and we'll just have to wait and see. Boy, can I relate to this song.

I share this, not that it is my story, but it is "God's Story".