One Step at a Time

Through These Doors: A true inspirational story of a family overcoming crisis
by Dwight Alexander

One moment life is normal and in the next you have somehow stepped through a doorway and everything is in pieces. It was a beautiful summer day when Dwight Alexander received the news that his family had been in a deadly car crash. It was unbearable two young sons barely alive and his wife killed upon impact. Through These Doors is the actual account of the ordeal the Alexander family endured but more than that, it is a chronicle of how, through the grace of God and the strength of their faith, they triumphed. The journey was long and hard, taking this father through doors that led to intensive care units, surgical waiting rooms, and to a final farewell to his wife. But at every turn, no matter how difficult or terrifying, there was always so much love, support, and companionship from family, friends, and acquaintances, Dwight could little doubt that the Lord was carrying him along through so many unfamiliar doors. But would He restore Dwight's sons? Would He answer Dwight's plea for full recovery? Through These Doors is a faith journey fueled by nothing less than the promises of God. Can any believer then doubt the outcome?

Although the wreck that injured them comprised mere seconds, Collin and Grant would need hours, days, weeks to recover, if they recovered at all. Grant was monitored closely by highly competent staff in ICU; the danger of his brain swelling drastically and causing irreversible damage was clear. Collin's doctor planted a chair at his bedside for an all-night vigil with a child whom he frankly feared would die. The boy sustained several injuries, any one of which could claim his life. His lung injury was severe, resulting in acute respiratory distress syndrome and severe respiratory insufficiency syndrome, which simply translated, meant that Collin could not breathe until his lungs recovered. The possibility of his developing pneumonia was very strong, his heart was badly bruised and he suffered a number of broken bones, including a compression fracture of the spine and an open fracture in his leg which could not be treated until he stabilized. Perhaps no one outside the medical staff truly comprehended the complexities of the combination of these injuries and the extent of the fight the young boy had ahead of him simply to continue living. Many people had grasped the essence of the horror, however, and prayers were constant and widespread through the night that God would spare Dwight's two children, that somehow this family would emerge in victory from these atrocities.

After a couple of hours of sleepless repose, I decided to get up and go check on the boys. At least I would be doing something, thinking something, feeling something-besides fear. As I opened the door and the light from the hall blinded me, I hit a barrier and the door stopped. Peeking my head around, I saw one of the most touching sights of my life. On the floor with a pillow lay our friend Glenda, acting as sentinel at my door, listening for any sign that she was needed.

Glenda jumped up and scolded me gently. "Dwight! You need to be asleep."

I shook my head at her, "I can't, Glenda. I just can't."

As I looked around, I saw other friends twisted into chairs, lying on loveseats.

Glenda and I checked on Grant. He looked the same and the attending nurse gave us the report: "No changes-stable but critical, and the swelling was a little on the increase." I tried not to panic at these last words. Lord, how much can his brain swell before ...? One step at a time, Dwight, one step at a time. A little is better than a lot; we'll take what we can get. He was hurt badly; he needs time to recover, time ... and care.

Then, it was over to the other hospital to check on Collin. Dr. Fernandez was still with him, looking as if he had climbed Mt. Everest in a snow storm. He smiled when he saw me and said, "Well, our boy survived the night."

Survived the night. Survived the night.. Then, you weren't sure he would make it. You thought he might die and you stayed right by him. The doctor's exhausted countenance was proof that he had been doing everything he could possibly do to keep my son alive; he briefly explained to me how it had been "touch and go" with Collin throughout the early morning hours because of his delicate condition.

You did it, Doctor-you and God. Looking back, I firmly believe that it was the incredible amount of prayer lifted up that night which kept those boys alive. God heard these prayers and He listened. Reflecting on the boys' injuries, I now believe they were destined to die, but that a merciful God heard the fervent prayers of so many and intervened to sustain their lives. With all my heart, I now believed that my sons would make it. I believed that my God had said "yes" to the prayers of His people.

Now that I knew my boys were still with us, I thought of the one who was gone, Tina. I kept expecting her to walk up beside me, to grab my hand ... I kept thinking of things I needed to tell her. It simply was not real that she was lying somewhere on a cold table with a cloth draped over her. Tina, Tina ... My wife-where is she? Where is her body?

Besides my emotional turmoil, there were practical matters to deal with. We had discussed no funeral arrangements, no details. We had not had the luxury of a calm moment in which to do so.

This was Sunday morning, usually a very routine and predictable time in the Alexander household. Normally, my family rise to shower, eat breakfast and dress for church. I would check on events at the barn early and come back to get ready. Tina would be the hub of the activity, everyone's focal point, making sure the needs of her family were met; maybe Collin would lose a shoe or Grant would be looking for his Bible or I would misplace a scribbled announcement that someone had handed me to read to the church. Tina was always the one to help, to suggest, to prompt; we relied on her, we loved her. Her presence in our home was irreplaceable.

She's gone ...

I had never planned a funeral before.

© 2006 by Dwight Alexander.

About the Author

Dwight Alexander is a motivational speaker. Raised and educated in rural East Texas, he was a partner in a family-owned business until he entered the field of sales and marketing. Dwight, who lives on a ranch in Sulphur Springs, Texas, enjoys raising purebred cattle, traveling, and spending time with his wife, Michelle and their children.