A Story of Survival
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Updated: 9:25 PM May 21, 2008
A Story of Survival
A grandmother from Cross Lanes lives on after doctors say she was going to die.
Posted: 1:42 PM May 21, 2008
Reporter: Will Jones
Email Address: will.jones@wsaz.com
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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.

Latest Comments

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.
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The Yell: Comments this Week
The Yell: Comments for Week of 3/14
  • Posted By: Walt: The latest NBC poll (that I've seen...Tuesday March 16) says that 46% think we should pass Obama's health care bill, against 45% who think we shouldn't.
  • Posted By: MK: Curt you are absolutely correct about the cigarette taxes. I guarantee Christina and the like are enjoying free heath care for their children (CHIPS) which is funded purely off of tobacco taxes. You see Obama has already raised taxes for the smokers for this little increase in CHIPS coverage. Note: Most smokers do not make 250K.
  • Posted By: Margaret: Smoking ban.I understand why people dont want to breathe second hand smoke and all the problems that smoking causes.However I dont think that the lawmakers have the right to ban smokers from smoking.It should be a personal decision,a great comprimise could be easily reached and would be fair to all.Let the bar owners decide if they want to allow smoking in thier bar.If the owner decides that they want to allow smoking they would be required by law to place a sign on the door that states is is a smoking establishment ,enter at your own risk.It would replace the no smoking signs on the doors!Then people could choose whether they want to enter and breathe smoke or go to another bar that is non-smoking.That would make everyone happy.The smokers can smoke and the non-smokers wont have to tolerate second hand smoke.
  • Posted By: Palins Poison by Andy: Sarah Palin is a nit wit who spreads lies on every topic she speaks on. She claimed that Alaska produces 20% of our nations energy when it's actually under 3%!!! This is her OWN state! This woman was a breath away from being our VP! She claimed that the Christmas Day bomber stopped talking after being read his Miranda rights, which of course is not true and he has talked extensively providing info on all the points that Mrs Palin mentioned. She claims several times that health care reform will result in "death panels" which will decide who will receive health care. Just about every American is aware that this is a LIE and has been proven to be a lie over and over and yet she still uses this claim to put fear into Americans. I ask, if you have to stoop to lies and fear mongering to get someone on your side do you really have a leg to stand on?
  • Posted By: why i quit...: i used to watch wsaz almost exclusivly,not anymore.i generally flip thru and watch whats on their liberal agenda just to see if i,m wrong.very seldom am.tea party people are thought of as the perverted hollywood types,if you know what i mean.so i for one will be surprised if wsaz covers the taxed enough already people.on the other hand if you dont,wont work,are a drug addict,alchol abuser,lazy,live off other peoples hard work,they cant do enough reporting on their victimization.go figure.go tea party,decent people.keep on trying to get above the people who seem determined to destroy this country.wsaz,p.c.
  • Posted By: buck: What good does it do to evaluate a bill once it is passed on its merits? Can you say puppet on a string? Furthermore a 3000% drop is nuts. Mathematician not needed to know 3000% is totally out of this world. What this means is Obama has no idea what is in the bill. Obama said this already and still it’s being voted on. I just hope our congressman realize Obama is being a puppet on a string, but they don't have to be one to. Our president is trying to pass a bill that he is relying on someone else to write and he has not even read. I know our congressman read this page so please pay attention to what we the people want, and what Pres. Obama has admitted to. Again I say, he said we as well as he would know what was in the bill once it passed on its own merits, to include a 3000% decrease in premiums. This is totally not fair to we the people. I know there will be people who disagree with this, but again I say that is Obama's own words. He has no idea.
  • Posted By: what is...: how can you tell an anti semite from a muslim?can free speech even say the word anti semite?this administration seems to want to inflame the palestians against the israelies.whats with that?you dont put out a fire by throwing gasoline on it!!!!what is the end game for this administration?strange....
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  • Posted By: curt: it just amazes me to see that most of you smoking ban commy,s out their like the health department and others would like to make smoking illegal all together,and when this does happen one day as Im sure it will if things keep going the way they are in this country,then I hope you enjoy digging deep down in your wallet and purse to pay the taxes that we smokers pay on a daily basis ,because one thing is for sure if big brother isnt getting his money from us then he will steal it from everybody?
  • Posted By: Hey Channel 3: Are you guys covering the Taxed Enough Already (TEA) party protest outside Rahall's office in Huntington tonight at 6? I heard today that Obamacare will create 159 new federal agencies and raise taxes by over a Trillion dollars.
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  • Posted By: obamas world...: give the muslim brotherhood what they want,take israels land .instigating more terrorism on the israelies.what will he cover up in indonesia?so many questions so few transparent answers.
  • Posted By: Sahara: What happened to Chris Olson? We just loved to watch the Morning Coffee Quiz?
  • Posted By: portsmouth citizen: I would like to see WSAZ cover the nut mayor we have in Portsmouth. She is trying to blame our fire dept and police dept for the problems in Portsmouth, while she gives herself a raise and remodeled her office. She forgot to mention that there is asbestos and mold so bad in the police station that officers are in as much danger in the building as they are fighting crime. She also forgot to mention that the fire department works their tails off to protect our city, and do not make great money, but do it with amazing passion. Before she blames these men and women, she needs to take a look at herself. She interupted a man very rudely that was speaking in front of a group, and when he said, maam, can you give me just a minute, she yelled at him for not calling her Madam mayor!!! What a power trip! We need to get her out of there! Come on WSAZ, cover this nut, and get the word out there!
  • Posted By: Anne: FYI to a few callous veterinarians in the region: Our pets are very dear to us. Unfortunately, when their bodies cannot be saved, and they have to be "put to sleep", some kindness would be greatly appreciated. Some reverance, consideration for the pet and the people involved, and basic kindness would be helpful in dealing with this horrible experience. Shame on those of you who do none of the above; a huge thank you to those of you who act with some semblance of respect.
  • Posted By: Keith...thanks Jim: No offense, I just didn't know what you were trying to say. Clarification is good sometimes. I have noticed the people who call names the most on here and impugn other folks intelligence are often the worst spellers, can't put a sentence together, often can't carry a coherent thought to completion, etc..but I often say "corpseman" now when talking about those folks in the Navy, just as a tribute mind you, no disrespect intended. I am going to study geography now, my family is planning a vacation to one of our 57 states, we just haven't decided which one, we just have to remember and take our asthma "inhilators" along so we don't get winded.
  • Posted By: plain as day: well i see wsaz,obama news has slowed,stopped free speech 3 days.
  • Posted By: george: to christina:support the smoking ban in your own home and keep your nose out of others business!! how bright you must be,for your info my wife had twin girls,and the doctor told her NOT to quit because it would cause stress on the babies. thats from a doctor which im sure by far your not!!! so you want to chrg. her with child abuse,how foolish are you!! you need to worry about whats in your own closet and not everybody elses!!!!
  • Posted By: Jeremy C: I agree with Christina though I'd go a step further and clear this up once and for all and make cigarettes illegal.
  • Posted By: Dave: @christina do you support a womans right to abortion? Just a question, I am curious. The health department does not have the right to make any laws, only elected offficials, elected by the people are supposed to pass laws. If the majority of people want a smoking ban, the ban smoking. But don't leave up to appointed officials in the Dept. of health. smoking is bad, but smoking bans are unconstitutional, and that is worse.
  • Posted By: Big Earl: Hello good WV coal miners and there kin did any of you people see that show on the PBS channel the other night about WVs own Rocket Boys Homer RoyLee Quintin and Sherman Odell can somebody at Governor Joes office tell these people down to the TV station to quit bumming money while were trying to watch the show last time it was WVs own adopted son John Denver singing Country Roads Take Me Home got interupted or WV adopted son John Boy Walton doing the talk over on the history of WV show getting cutoff who is the people that sits around talking on the phone in the back of the room you are trying to watch the show next thing somebody comes on trying to sell you a Edsel or a 200 dollar t shirt it is the working coal miner what keeps the PBS station afloat they ought to give all certified WV coal miners free Rocket Boy tshirts.
  • Posted By: Christina: I support the ban on smoking. All studies show the dangers of this recreation. Now; when is someone going to be bold enough to create and pass a law that charges and convicts woman who smoke while pregnant of CHILD ABUSE? The baby does not have the choice to smoke or not to smoke, but YOU do!
  • Posted By: Hey Everybody We Are All Getting A BIG RAISE!!!: Obama said that if his health care bill passes costs would drop an incredible 3000%!!! That means your boss will save sooooo much money under his system he/she can afford to give you a big raise! Now if you pay $1000 dollars a month for your coverage, a 100% savings on that would mean you pay zero dollars; a 3000% drop in cost would mean what, your employer saves or gets back from somewhere around $3000 to $30,000 dollars? No, I am not making this up; I heard Obama say it. Great news. Why wouldnt anybody support Obamacare. Boy that Bush sure was dumb.
  • Posted By: Keith...if you love your country and cherish your freedom, act now...: The way things should be in America: Barack Obama decides something is good for us, it becomes law. Period. Vote on a bill? Why? Read a bill? No need. Televise the hearings? What a joke. Barack says it, that settles it. Oh, Garydon, where are you now that there are real "faceists" at work? Folks, it will be a long, difficult fight this fall, but Nick J. Rahall must be defeated in the House election. He has carried the water for Obama and Pelosi on this Obamanation healthcare bill from the start; he was one of the first to endorse Obama; he is largely protected by WV media, who refuse even to publish his office phone numbers in order that you can call and voice your opinion; Nick and Nancy's bill raises 10 new taxes immediately; gives no "benefits" for 4 years; will ration your care, will raise your premiums, will limit your choices. Sound like a good deal? If you possibly can, log onto the League of American Voters website and contribute to the ads they are running...hurry, do it now.
  • Posted By: Jim: Keith,mirrows an often mispelled and mispronounced word for mirrors,believed to be attributed by an abbreviated note from an illusionist to his aide to line mirrors in a row to cause an optical effect of seeing the same thing over and over again much like the republicans telling stories whether true or not over and over again only to recant after the damage is done.Myself I use the word as a tribute to a person we both know who often mispronounced the word matter of fact he mispronounced so many words and made up so many that there was a term coined after him Bushism's
  • Posted By: Big Earl: Hello good coal miner people of WV and there kin did you people see where the WV Mountaineer basketball team is going to what they call the Big Dance well I say congratulations I heard them people from over on the McCoy side of the river is to well I bet Coach Huggins won’t be dragging a tree hugger around everywhere with him sticking a camera in her face ever time they call timeout as his Number 1 fan I say pack the muzzle loader and go hunt treehugger wildcat did you people ever read that story where our own Devil Ance Hatfield off the WV side of the river hunted wildcat with his bare hands he treed a bear to I read it in that book Story of the Devil hey you hippies and dopeheads head back over to Ohio and cheer for your buckeye nuts look out Shaggy it’s the WV State Police ruh roh Scooby hide the dope.
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