Shannon Kerr--Nov. 1st Meeting Recap

This meeting was a special one.  We were able to welcome back a former member who has an incredible story to share--the most incredible part of all is that she is here to share it with us. Joining Shannon for our meeting were her husband (Jason), mom, dad, brother, sister-in-law, and several friends/other former MOPS members. 

On September 14, 2015, Shannon and two of her four children were involved in a very serious car accident when a semi truck collided with Shannon's vehicle. (Here's an article about the accident.) It's hard to describe the severity of their condition in words.  I will let this video, made by Shannon's brother, Dan McCauley, speak for itself.  If you missed this meeting, please watch. If you were at this meeting, watch it again.  In just over 14 minutes, you can view photographic evidence of a true miracle of God!

During our meeting, Shannon and her mother, Shelly, worked as a team to tell their story. Jaydalin (age 4 at the time) sustained minor injuries and was in stable/good condition.  Kyra (age 7 at the time) was taken to the Pediatric ICU with injuries to her liver, lungs, pelvis, and head.  She was sedated and ventilated.  As you saw in the video, there was a point where doctors were unsure whether either Shannon or Kyra would survive their injuries from the accident.  By the grace of God, Kyra awoke and was able to go home in only 15 days!

Shannon however, was a much different story.  Four days after the accident, doctors told the family that Shannon was not going to make it.  But the family trusted in God, and God had other plans.

The whole story is amazing and leaves me in awe of our God and the power of prayer. But there was one certain part that left me even more awestruck, and that was the family's encounter with three separate angels.

The First Angel: When Mike, the first person to arrive on the scene of the accident, looked into Shannon's crushed vehicle, he saw two adults (one in the driver's seat and one in the passenger's seat) and two children inside, even though Shannon was alone with her two girls (or so they thought).
The Second Angel: On the Friday after the accident, Pat and Jason (Shannon's father and husband) encountered an African man in full African garb in the elevator at the hospital.  The man said, "Can I pray for you?" They prayed together for Shannon. When they finished, the man said "You do not believe what you hear [at HCMC]. You only believe what God tells you."  Before they parted ways with the man, they asked him if they could pray for him.  He just chuckled and walked away.  They never saw him again. Three hours later, doctors suggested that they unplug Shannon and let her go.  Needless to say, they did not follow that advice.
The Third Angel: At night another day in the hospital, Pat was walking past a room where an older gentleman was cleaning. As he walked by, the man said, "She's gonna be okay. It's up to Him." Pat continued down the hallway for several steps, but then turned around and went back.  The man was gone.

Shannon was unconscious for a long time.  On the weekend of November 6th, they put Shannon's skull piece back on.  Shortly after that, Shannon responded to Jason and her family in a way that they knew that she knew them! Praise the Lord!!!

For Shannon, the road to recovery was still far from over.  She went through intensive physical, speech, and occupational therapy.  She had to be taught how to drink, swallow, walk, cook, and drive all over again! She "graduated" from the intensive therapy in March and was able to go home. She still needed lots of assistance with things and her mom was able to continue to stay with her at her house until June 10, when they decided that Shannon was cleared and able to take care of her family. 

What I personally remember most during the time of Shannon's accident and recovery is that all the family wanted was prayer.  And more prayer. God has a purpose for Shannon, and her time on this earth is not done yet. The Kerr and McCauley families have a message for you, and that message is to spend time with the Lord. He's waiting for you, and His love is a free gift! As Shannon said, "Jesus loves you and all you have to do is love Him back." They truly believe that Shannon was spared so that she could help bring more people to salvation through Jesus Christ.  If you are reading this, and want to know Him, there are many people at MOPS who would be happy to talk to you, including any member of the Steering Team or Shannon's mom (Shelly McCauley) who is a mentor mom in our group.