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A Story of Survival Save Email Print
Posted: 1:42 PM May 21, 2008
Last Updated: 9:25 PM May 21, 2008
Reporter: Will Jones
Email Address: will.jones@wsaz.com

A | A | A

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A grandmother from Cross Lanes lives on after doctors gave her family little hope she would survive.

Saturday Val Thomas was put on life support after she suffered a heart attack. Her son says when the doctors told the family there was nothing else they could do, he had to make a heartwrenching decision to take her off life support.

"When we all said our goodbyes and I had peace with it," said Tim Thomas, the son of Val Thomas. "We had already started making funeral arrangements."

Tim Thomas left the hospital, but he didn't get far before he got a phone call that his 59-year-old mother was not ready to die.

"When they were taking her off life support, mom's arm had moved and her foot had twitched," Thomas said. Val then asked the nurses "Where is my son?".

Her family says its truly a miracle she is alive today. In fact, they give all the credit to God. They say the machines didn't save her, just the grace of God.

Val is still at CAMC Memorial Hospital, but her family says she is recovering and almost back to normal.

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Posted by: Shannon on May 29, 2008 at 02:15 PM
Praise be to our Lord Jesus!!!! I am very happy for Val's family to still have this precious women in their lives.

Posted by: Rose on May 28, 2008 at 03:01 PM
Okay you religious followrs, answer me this. Why didn't this woman report going to heaven when she died? For the love of crumb cakes, the old lady was dead cold for 17 hours and she didn't claim to step foot through those pearly gates. Get with it, no heaven exist.

Posted by: Clova on May 27, 2008 at 11:32 PM
I believe in miracles and am waiting on one for my husband who is suffering from anoxic brain injury. This story is very uplifting to me and I believe that when we learn to get out of God's way that we'll see more miracles of healing, raising from the dead and deliverance. We've had saying at our church for a few years, "Let go and let God. The Bible says "when you've done all to stand, stand and watch the glory of the Lord. Thanks so much for sharing the story with us all.

Posted by: Jen on May 27, 2008 at 08:40 PM
I would also like to add that if there was anything unusual about her recovery, it will be written up in a prominent peer-reviewed medical journal. I would read that paper with great interest.

Posted by: Jen on May 27, 2008 at 08:29 PM
Erin, it is my understanding that her organs weren't in the process of being removed. She was on life support and then woke up as she was being taken off of the ventilator, which is not uncommon. Please correct me if I'm wrong on this fact. I would also direct you to http://www.theness.com/neurologicablog/?p=300 for a blog article written by Dr. Steven Novella, who is an academic neurologist at Yale. He sees patients like Val on a regular basis. Don't get me wrong, though. I'm very happy that she survived the ordeal. I'm just not convinced that it was a supernatural event.

Posted by: Erin on May 27, 2008 at 12:12 AM
I go to Val's church. This comment is for Jen...if she wasn't really dead as you say then how could the doctors take her organs? They can't plan to take the organs of a person with any chance of survival. This was a miracle. The video of her sitting up in bed was only a couple of days later. They said that she had no signs of the heartattacks or stroke that occured!! What An Amazing God!

Posted by: bonnie on May 25, 2008 at 11:49 PM
how wonderful Jesus is. the great work that He began to do He will finish it. bless you mom and may your story build faith in lives that need a touch from the masters hand

Posted by: Jen on May 24, 2008 at 02:45 AM
It's wonderful that this woman survived her heart attack, but the story doesn't make sense as it's reported. After watching the raw footage of her son's interview, he apparently thinks she was dead for 17-1/2 hours when in fact she was on life support with a heartbeat during that time. Also, the "rigor mortis" he describes sounds more like decerebrate posturing, which occurs in coma patients and is NOT rigor mortis. During rigor, the muscles start breaking down. There would be no way for her to be sitting up in bed and eating after that. I would also love to know the date of her heart attack and how far into her recovery the video was taken. I think the reporter really dropped the ball on this story.

Posted by: Donna on May 24, 2008 at 12:45 AM
This is just an AWSOME story, GOD can do anything!

Posted by: To Pete on May 23, 2008 at 11:30 AM
Why is it so hard to let people believe in what they want. Someone has to come on here and try to bust everyones bubble. Prayers to all. Thank God she is doing better.

Posted by: PAm C -ky on May 23, 2008 at 10:04 AM
Praise the lord almighty, he as indeed showed us HE IS IN CHARGE.Miracles are happing more and more.Christians unite and pray that the day of our lord and savior is upon us. THIS SHOULD WAKE UP EVERY ONE TO THE FACT THAT JESUS OUR LORD IS WATCHING AND HE IS REAL HE IS THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIGHT. When my mom was dying of cancer we prayed, she got better but took a turn for the worse, I prayed lord our GOD heal her and show those non believers your real or take her home so she will not suffer, three days later she was in heaven no pain and sorrow. GOD BLESS THIS FAMILY FOR HE HAS INDEED BESTOWED FAVOR TO YOU.

Posted by: Melinda on May 23, 2008 at 08:52 AM
AMEN. GIVE THE CREDIT WHERE THE CREDIT IS DUE. GOD DOES HEAL PEOPLE NOT DOCTORS. DOCTORS DON'T LIKE TO THINK THAT GOD HAS MORE POWER THAN THEY DO. I DON'T TRUST ANY DOCTOR WHEN THEY TELL ME SOMETHING IS OR ISN'T WRONG. SHE HAD FAITH, BECAUSE FAITH IN GOD IS GREATER THAN ANYTHING I FACED IT WHEN I WAS YOUNGER THEY TOLD ME DUE TO TYNOL I HAD DESTROYED MY LIVER AND I WASN'T GOING TO MAKE IT, I HAD THE STRONGEST FAITH IN GOD I WAS FINE THE NEXT DAY THEY SAID I'M ALRIGHT AND THEY DON'T KNOW HOW, AND I WOKE UP AND SAID GOD IS HOW. AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T SAY THAT, AND I SAID I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU CAN OR CAN'T SAY THAT IS WHO HEALED ME. SINCE THEN I AM A VERY FIRM BELIEVER IN THE HEALING OF JESUS. AND HE HEARS ALL OF US & YOU BETTER GET TO KNOW HIM BECAUSE THE END IS NEAR! GOD BLESS THIS FAMILY AND KEEP YOUR FAITH.....

Posted by: Bill on May 22, 2008 at 07:54 PM
Praise God.....we are starting to see the signs and wonders and God's glory being poured out on all flesh. The Florida Outpouring ( Todd Bentley) has reported 9 resurrections since it started 49 days ago

Posted by: Beth on May 22, 2008 at 07:44 PM
I am so happy for the Thomas family. This is such an awesome story. A true blessing from God. I agree with Amber, we all needed this story. Even though I do not know Mrs. Thomas, a blessing this big, just gives us Christians confirmation the lord is still in control. Thanks for the uplifting story WSAZ.

Posted by: Barbara on May 22, 2008 at 07:38 PM
I can't wait to find out what Val's mission is going to be and what she experienced during those hours of no brain activity (probably lots of peace). Would love to see a follow up story in 6 months. May God continue to bless you Val!

Posted by: Pat on May 22, 2008 at 06:00 PM
Praise God from whom all blessings flow! May He continue to bless this family.

Posted by: me on May 22, 2008 at 06:00 PM
wake up people God is telling us he is still in control.. praise God in heaven on this miracle.. through God all things are possible...

Posted by: Nancy on May 22, 2008 at 04:48 PM
Our God is an Awesome God He Reigns from heaven above With Wisdom pow'r and love Our God is an Awesome God!

Posted by: fay on May 22, 2008 at 03:39 PM
God Bless this family! I'll keep them in my prayers. What a wonderful outcome!!

Posted by: Thankful on May 22, 2008 at 02:39 PM
So thankful for your miracle! Thanks for sharing your story with us. It is so good to see "good news" make the news. God is faithful! May He continue to bless your family.

Posted by: Pete on May 22, 2008 at 02:37 PM
Look, I'd be very happy to accept metaphysical explanations for this, but her son, Tim Thomas, rather arrogantly states "there is ONLY ONE explanation", that Jesus was responsible for this. Well, he also "KNEW" Jesus was taking her home for good...Except thankfully Tim Thomas was wrong about that part wasn't he? (...and why does he look angry when he is saying this?!) I really like Val's more humble statement, more typical of someone who has actually had a Near Death Experience. In the future I hope to be hearing more from Val, less from Tim. Go Val!

Posted by: MIRACLE on May 22, 2008 at 02:33 PM
GOD WORK'S IN MYSTERIE'S WAY'S.

Posted by: BIGMAMA24 on May 22, 2008 at 02:31 PM
MY MOM HAD SOME THING LIKE THIS ONE TIME PRAISE LORD MY MOM LIVED AND VAL THOMAS

Posted by: Michelle on May 22, 2008 at 02:23 PM
This story neglected to mention that 3 people also got saved! Praise the Lord!! God is so very good!!

Posted by: Lora Foster on May 22, 2008 at 01:37 PM
Praise the LORD!!!! GOD is GREAT!!!! This is proof that there is a GOD above and those who do not believe in him this should change their mind. I am sooo happy for the family and their friends. God bless us all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Jim on May 22, 2008 at 12:54 PM
According to Penn State medical study done last year and on going work in the study,the practice of giving oxygen to people who have a heart attack is not the best thing to do.In some cases it causes the body to react by making the blood veins shrink due to the over supply of oxygen in the system.Check it out.Hope she has a complete recovery.

Posted by: LYNNE on May 22, 2008 at 10:57 AM
IT'S A "GOD THING"!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS IS A WONDERFUL MIRACLE AND TESTIMONY!! GOD BLESS YOU AND I HOPE YOUR MIRACULOUS STORY WILL TOUCH MANY OTHER LIVES.

Posted by: jenni on May 22, 2008 at 07:52 AM
AMAZING!! GOD is an amazing person. GOD bless everyone.

Posted by: Bethany on May 22, 2008 at 02:29 AM
I recently gave my heart to the Lord, so I am proud to say that I will be praying for the whole family and Mrs.Thomas and her son! Praise God, he is a miracle worker! God Bless!

Posted by: geri on May 21, 2008 at 09:23 PM
praise the lord give our lord the praise,what a wonderful story.

Posted by: connie on May 21, 2008 at 09:16 PM
i do believe yhat that god makes mircales he dont get the credit he deseves. i hope your mother stays in great health and does great and you all enjoy the 2nd chance god give you with her. GOD BLESS YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR FAITH. I HAVE A FREIND THATS REALLY SICK WITH CANCER THEY SAY THERES NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR HIM SO I HOPE THAT EVERYONE READING THIS WILL SAID A PRAYER FOR HE THAT A MIRCALE WILL BE DONE FOR HIM. THANK ALL YOU ALL.

Posted by: Kathy on May 21, 2008 at 07:22 PM
What an uplifting story in these troubled times! May God continue to Bless Mrs. Thomas and her family!

Posted by: A Blessing on May 21, 2008 at 04:16 PM
God will always have the final say,,,, what a touching story,

Posted by: Stacy on May 21, 2008 at 03:57 PM
What a true miracle. Just a week and a half ago, my mother had a heartattack on mother's day. She spent a week in the hospital, and is doing ok now. Still weak, but doing ok. Your family will be in my prayers. God does do miraculous things.

Posted by: Bob on May 21, 2008 at 03:47 PM
I'm going with the God reason!

Posted by: ASHLEY on May 21, 2008 at 02:46 PM
I'M SO HAPPY FOR THE FAMILY WITH GOD ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE :)

Posted by: Anonymous on May 21, 2008 at 02:39 PM
WOW.. THATS GREAT. GOD BLESS HER AND HER FAMILY

Posted by: Amber on May 21, 2008 at 02:02 PM
Praise God! at last some good news instead of all the robbing, killing, and gas prices! Thank God for this miracle people!

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