Faith Matters: Bruised But Not Broken
By: Tania Francois, KARK 4 News
Updated: January 30, 2012
Back in February of 2010 a then state senator heading to the capitol for the first ever fiscal session was involved in a hit and run accident. Roy Ragland and his wife Gail were broad sided while in their Honda accord by a man driving an SUV. Doctors say people with injuries like Gail Raglands don't survive. She had several broken ribs, a tear in her wind pipe and a punctured lung filled with blood and air. Despite it all Gail Ragland is alive and she says her faith is what mattered during her fight.
The accident was on February 15, 2009. Ragland's husband says she was knocked unconscious, eyes rolled back and she wasn't breathing. 'I said live in Jesus name, live in Jesus name. Lord just showed me I needed to do mouth to mouth. I breathed into her twice and the second time she took a deep breath and her eyes popped back and I realized she had a chance of living.'
Gail was rushed to UAMS where doctors operated for six hours. Doctor Matthew Steliga, a Thoracic Surgeon for UAMS, performed the operation. 'The injuries were pretty serious and most of the injuries was on the right side of the body with a broken clavicle multiple rib fractures seven rib fractures on that side and a tear in the bronchos of the wind pipe and the tear could be life threatening itself."
Gail Ragland says from that time, 'I have come a long long ways in this year and a half. The Lord Jesus Christ I give him all the credit. He used the doctors to help save me.'
During her time in the hospital Gail says along with her faith two things kept her going; being able to see her unborn grandson and the hope she'd be able to play just one more time. Gail plays the piano by ear but it was her right side, her shoulder that she hoped wouldn't fail her forever. 'By his stripes I am healed. We've been preaching faith and we had to live it.'
She also showed her faith towards Brett Crisel. police eventually caught up and arrested the man they say was driving without insurance, hit them and then kept going. "I didn't know what to do, I panicked." The Ragland's say fear is no excuse but forgiveness is part of their faith. 'The bible says forgive and so that's what I've tried to do but sometimes it still comes back on me why did it have to happen. The scripture says to whom much is given much is required so we're going to have to forgive.'
Meanwhile, Gail's recovery isn't over. She still undergoes physical and psycho therapy all because of the trauma she endured.
The accident was on February 15, 2009. Ragland's husband says she was knocked unconscious, eyes rolled back and she wasn't breathing. 'I said live in Jesus name, live in Jesus name. Lord just showed me I needed to do mouth to mouth. I breathed into her twice and the second time she took a deep breath and her eyes popped back and I realized she had a chance of living.'
Gail was rushed to UAMS where doctors operated for six hours. Doctor Matthew Steliga, a Thoracic Surgeon for UAMS, performed the operation. 'The injuries were pretty serious and most of the injuries was on the right side of the body with a broken clavicle multiple rib fractures seven rib fractures on that side and a tear in the bronchos of the wind pipe and the tear could be life threatening itself."
Gail Ragland says from that time, 'I have come a long long ways in this year and a half. The Lord Jesus Christ I give him all the credit. He used the doctors to help save me.'
During her time in the hospital Gail says along with her faith two things kept her going; being able to see her unborn grandson and the hope she'd be able to play just one more time. Gail plays the piano by ear but it was her right side, her shoulder that she hoped wouldn't fail her forever. 'By his stripes I am healed. We've been preaching faith and we had to live it.'
She also showed her faith towards Brett Crisel. police eventually caught up and arrested the man they say was driving without insurance, hit them and then kept going. "I didn't know what to do, I panicked." The Ragland's say fear is no excuse but forgiveness is part of their faith. 'The bible says forgive and so that's what I've tried to do but sometimes it still comes back on me why did it have to happen. The scripture says to whom much is given much is required so we're going to have to forgive.'
Meanwhile, Gail's recovery isn't over. She still undergoes physical and psycho therapy all because of the trauma she endured.
