Dare to be Free - A Victim to a Victor of Trauma
Overcoming Life's Greatest Obstacles Through Faith, Resilience, and God's Healing Love
DARE TO BE FREE
From Victim to Victor: A Journey Through Trauma
By Rev. Dr. Deborah G. McBride-Lewis, Creative Author
Each of us experiences unexpected blessings in life and moments of extraordinary kindness. These moments fill us with joy and inspire us to share them with others. By communicating acts of uncommon favor, we express love. Every act of kindness is unique, and we should actively celebrate and share these gestures, helping to ease the world's suffering by extending the love we have received. Ultimately, what matters is not merely what we say, but the good we do.
I am grateful for this platform, Influential Women, because it encourages authentic sharing among women. My journey into Christian leadership, centered on womanist concerns and biblical theology, did not happen overnight. It was forged through a traumatic, life-threatening automobile accident involving eight vehicles on April 3, 2019.
Sustaining multiple broken bones led to a complete transformation in both my life and ministry. There were moments when survival was uncertain—whether due to the accident itself, the surgeries that followed, or subsequent complications. Yet throughout it all, I experienced a profound assurance: "No to death, and yes to life."
Through this experience, I have come to see God's plan for healing and restoration through Jesus Christ as a source of deep gratitude. I have learned that even the most painful experiences can produce unexpected growth. In my darkest moments, God's love was present, revealing Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit in new and powerful ways.
Scripture reminds us that love is from God (1 John 4:8) and that God is love (1 John 4:16). It is time to share God's healing love because, just as love lifted me, it can lift you too.
A Miracle in the Making
We often prefer not to talk about traumatic experiences. Yet rising above physical, mental, and spiritual battles and witnessing God's healing power is what I want you to know about me. I hope my story inspires someone who may be facing their own struggle.
The truth is that embracing vulnerability and acknowledging that I was once a victim of trauma has empowered me to see myself every day as a victor of transformation.
I AM A MIRACLE!
Before the accident, I envisioned my ministry primarily as that of a Christian intellectual. I imagined preaching and teaching the Word of God from the comfort of the pulpit. My goal was to explain biblical passages in simple and practical ways.
In truth, however, I struggled with pride and self-promotion, fueled in part by the privilege of studying the Word of God around the world. Participation in interfaith settings strengthened my confidence and helped me navigate a religious landscape often dominated by men.
But God had a different plan.
Through His miraculous restoration, my calling became clearer. Today, I am called to serve as a womanist preacher and prophetess of the Lord Jesus Christ, proclaiming God's message, especially to women.
The revelation of Jesus Christ is the spirit of prophecy that God gives to His servants (Revelation 1:1), and that Spirit always points to Jesus Christ (Revelation 19:10). The universal Church of Jesus Christ continues in the apostolic and prophetic teachings of the New Testament and stands alongside the prophets of old, who called people to God through faith.
My goal is to please God regardless of obstacles, suffering, or even death, as I faithfully pursue His will. Only then is my joy in following Jesus Christ complete.
Medical Challenges and Miraculous Survival
The following medical summary illustrates the severity of the trauma I endured and the courage required to overcome it.
At age 57, I was involved in a high-speed motor vehicle collision. I was initially treated at St. Anthony Medical Center, where CT scans of my head and cervical spine were performed. Due to the severity of my injuries, I was transferred to the University of Chicago through the University of Chicago Medicine Aeromedical Network (UCAN), which provides rapid helicopter transport for critically injured patients.
According to medical records, I experienced multiple cardiopulmonary arrests both at the scene and upon arrival at the hospital. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) restored spontaneous circulation on several occasions. Upon arrival, emergency medical personnel had already performed life-saving interventions, including bilateral needle thoracostomies and intubation.
During the initial trauma assessment, no palpable pulse could be detected. Additional rounds of CPR and emergency chest tube placement again resulted in the return of spontaneous circulation. During these interventions, my systolic blood pressure dropped dramatically from 125 to 75 mmHg.
Personal Troubles
Motor Vehicle Collision Injuries
- Motor vehicle collision (MVC), initial encounter
- Left hemidiaphragmatic rupture with herniation of the gastric fundus and proximal gastric body into the left lower chest
- Small right and minimal left anterior pneumothorax
- Traumatic diaphragmatic rupture with contusion of multiple left ribs
- Pelvic injury
- Left femur fracture
Personal Trauma
Medical Complications
- Neurological: Encephalopathy; subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH)
- Cardiovascular: Cardiac arrest
- Pulmonary: Acute respiratory failure
- Renal: Electrolyte and fluid disorders
- Gastrointestinal: Diaphragmatic hernia repair
- Endocrine: Stress hyperglycemia
- Hematologic: Anemia
Personal Transformation
Physical Healing
With focused physical therapy, I regained the ability to walk independently. This progress laid the foundation for my continued healing and recovery.
Emotional Healing
With the support of skilled therapists, I worked through trauma, accepted my physical scars, and learned to love myself again. This emotional work opened the door to deeper healing.
Spiritual Healing
Through spiritual counseling and the support of women ministers, I experienced unconditional love free from judgment and doctrinal debate. Their compassion helped me move from survival to victory and inspired a deeper commitment to God's calling on my life.
A New Purpose
Today, I share the miraculous love I received with others. From the darkness of a devastating automobile accident to the light of renewed life, I can joyfully testify:
"Wow—I am a miracle of God, and I dare to be free!"
My journey reflects transformation in body, mind, and spirit.
Reflections on Influence
As I reflect on my journey, I invite you to consider these questions:
- Can we truly be influential women without sharing our stories of overcoming adversity?
- Is our influence meaningful if we fail to acknowledge the physical, emotional, relational, mental, and spiritual challenges that have shaped us?
- Does our impact deepen when we invest in the lives of others through genuine, transformative love?
- Are we truly influential if we have not triumphed over difficulties that sought to diminish the human spirit?
- How do our struggles strengthen our ability to influence, encourage, and uplift others?
These are questions worth pondering as we reflect on our own journeys of healing, purpose, and influence.
