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Some are aware of the inspirational testimony of faith, great surgeons, outstanding healthcare & healing for Sandy this year. On Wednesday, April 23, 2025 Doctors accidentally discovered a very large, life threatening, aortic aneurysm in Sandy. Over the next 118 days Sandy was in Duke University Hospital (27 days), (15 days icu), (3) major surgeries all with an incredible lead surgeon Dr. Chandler Long & Dr. Chad Hughes. This entire time we understood Dr. Long’s candid explanation, rupture would not be survivable for Sandy, even during surgery.
We are grateful for the prayers & support of many. Rather than trying to write all that occurred in one long story, we are sharing this testimony in bite size segments. We hope this information will be inspiring and informative. Sandy is still in a recovery & healing process. Your prayers and well wishes are much appreciated. We do have a renewed compassion for all hurting and suffering with illness of any type.
The Power of Testimony:
On our radio special Pastor Brinkley read from Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony;…..
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Here is one of several testimonies we have received:
Mr Cookman . I had no idea. But from one who have had 4 heart
attacks three strokes and stage 4 kidney failure , family called in
2 times with very little hope you and your wife has encouraged me .
If I been honest I have given up on life and no longer desire to be
here. But it’s something about y’all’s story that has given me hope .
I thank God that your wife has made it through. You haven’t been
tested until you been tested with medical challenges.
God bless you and your family sir .
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Written: Aug 26, 2025 (lived April 23rd thru now)
We are Grateful:
James 5:16 kjv
….The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Dear Prayer Partners,
We have a wonderful testimony to share over the next few months. Last Tue, 8/19 about this time we were in the surgery waiting area at Duke University Hospital while Sandy was in a very long surgery. Ended up being 8 hours & 50 min in the operating room. This was her 3rd major surgery since doctors on Wed April 23rd accidentally discovered a rare, Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm, which was a huge Thoracic & Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm.
We started on that Wed with bronchitis and a precautionary x-ray. A series of Scans led to a 1am ambulance ride to Duke. 2:45am Duke ER, 5am ICU, 6am meeting with Dr Chandler Long. He let us know rupture would not be survivable for Sandy due to the size of her Aneurysm. He held her foot as she lay in the icu bed, and put his other hand on my knee as I sat in a chair beside her bed, he told her if you can be patient with me, “I’ve got you”. He explained he and Cardiac surgeon Dr Chad Hughes would do her surgeries, there would be 3 surgeries and a team was working on a complete surgery plan through the 3rd surgery.
We later learned that Duke has been doing this staged surgery method for this condition, less than 2 years. He explained a few other hospitals in the country started using this “staged surgery” method 5 years ago, because of the high morbidity rate with this surgery. One Doctor later explained Sandy had been “imminent” for rupture as she lay in icu until surgery #1, Wed April 30th. She was still in danger of sudden death due to Aneurysm rupture thru the 2nd surgery and until surgery #3 last Tuesday, Aug 19th.
The third surgery was over. Tuesday evening, August 19th. For (125) days our lead surgeon, Dr. Long had explained the (3) surgeries planned would be complicated but do-able, but we had an understanding with him from day 1, rupture would not be survivable.
Our first night at Cape Fear Valley, the gravity of this situation became so real when Dr.Domenech compassionately, but clearly explained to me the situation. I had hesitated to let anyone know, we were thinking bronchitis, maybe pneumonia. When I realized they were bracing for an aortic rupture I text Dr Mansfield & Dr Wells. They immediately started praying.
The situation was intense just after this 3rd surgery. Sandy was still on life support from the surgery. When I came in the ICU room our nurse was talking loud, “Squeeze my Hand Sandra, Squeeze my hand” she would say loudly in Sandy’s ear. The nurse would report to the medical team, “no fedal (feet) pulse, no femoral pulse, extremities very cold, she’s not responding to commands”. Obviously I was listening to everything intently.
Tears just naturally flowed. It was happening so fast I did not know what to think. Dr Wells text me words I’ll never forget:
No matter what you see; Trust Him
After some time, Sandy slowly started responding. There was a strong sense of relief. All the medical professionals at Duke were very compassionate and extremely professional. I could tell they were relieved and pleased as well.
Sandy’s memories start the next morning when Dr Long came by. I had spent most of the night in a chair beside Sandy’s bed just watching her breathe. I was so grateful and hopeful. Now, Sandy gets stronger everyday. We both hope to see many friends next week at the 2025 WIDU Anniversary.
No matter what challenges you are facing today, please be encouraged by Dr. Wells words to me, and to you through me; “No matter what you see, Trust Him.”
2 Corinthians 5:7 kjv
For we walk by faith, not by sight:
There were 118 days from “incidental” discovery April 23rd until surgery #3 Aug 19th. 27 days in DUH (Duke University Hospital), 15 days in icu. We give God the Thanks & Glory for Sandy still being here. Of course we are grateful to Dr Long & Dr Hughes, Duke Health, Cape Fear Valley Health and Dr Jos Santz, AAA All American Associates in Family Medicine as he caused this aneurysm to be discovered before it was too late. Yes, Sandy is tired as she recovers from (3) major surgeries over the past 125 days, but she is happy and very grateful.
We have many we want to thank. My plan is to honor the Lord by clearly sharing this inspiring miracle I had a front row seat to view. Sandy’s goal is to be strong by the WIDU Anniversary Oct 23rd & 24th to be able to stand and bear witness to God’s grace, love and kindness and healing power. When we needed HIM most he connected us with the right people, at the right time and guided us to the right places. Thank you for praying with us that Sandy will continue to heal completely and be able to inspire many by her presence at this year’s WIDU Anniversary.
Your brother in Christ, Wes
Written Aug 30, 2025 (Lived: April 23rd thru now)
Dear God, Please Heal Sandy…. And HE IS!
The CFV ambulance red light was easy to follow at 1am. As I drove Sandy’s white Honda Pilot my mind was focused on staying close with Sandy in that ambulance. This all seemed unreal. We started the morning with a cough that was bronchitis, hoping it was not becoming pneumonia.
We had never heard of an abdominal aortic aneurysm, (the triple aaa). Cape Fear Valley ER staff and doctors had been so kind, concerned and gentle with both of us. The doctor had asked me out of the room and explained resuscitation and what I would likely see with a rupture. As tears welled up in my eyes, he was compassionate; I am so sorry to say this to you but you are bedside, we need you to keep her calm, but I feel I owe it to you to let you know what may see, it will be very difficult on you.
The room seemed to spin but I knew I had to get it together. Of course Sandy wanted to know what they told me. I told her, they just want me to keep you calm. She looked at me like, yeah right, but she accepted and stayed calm.
Her cough Easter Sunday night was different than I had ever heard. I asked her to let Dr Santz look at her. She said she felt she was getting better. I was relieved when she told me on Tuesday she had an appointment the next morning. That Wednesday, April 23rd basically unfolded;
*early Dr visit,
*10am precautionary x-ray,
*2pm C-Scan,
3:45 call from CFV hospital, Sandy needed to come to CFV ER asap .
At Cape Fear Valley ER more tests, then Doctors informed us of the life threatening aneurysm. We had never heard of anything like this. After hours
of work on our behalf, a little after midnight, the doctor reported to us, Dr Long at Duke said he has seen this before, Dr. Long said, “Send her to me”.
I watched from outside the room, medical professionals on each side of Sandy’s hospital bed lifted her ever so gently, (I remember 3 on each side), to the stretcher for the ambulance. As I followed the ambulance in the very dark of night I found myself crying out to God, Lord please don’t take Sandy from me. But I quickly felt convicted, and apologized to the Lord.
I said Father, Sandy does not belong to me, she belongs to You. You have blessed me so much to have as a best friend the most wonderful and decent person I’ve ever met. Pastor Brinkley later encouraged me, no matter how much I love Sandy, God loves her more. He loves all of us more. But then I wanted to pray, but thought, what should I say. The only thing that came to my mind was the Lord’s compassion for children. With the most sincere childlike faith from my heart I said,
Dear God, “Please heal Sandy”.
I felt released in my spirit and focused on following the ambulance, hoping so much that there would be no rupture and someone at Duke could help us.
Today; we sincerely ask God to Heal You, Body, Mind and Spirit no matter what is challenging you, what you are going through, and for those you love. Dear God, please Heal and Help all of us, and everyone connected to us. In Jesus Name, Amen.
James 5:16 kjv
….The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
