Barbara brushed with death at 39 after a brain hemorrhage, the same condition which caused her grandmother's death at age 41. But Barbara's life didn't end there. She went on to write many books and poems, gain two additional master's degrees, and even win a three-week archaeological dig in Europe.

Barbara's Connection with Jesus

My connection with Jesus at this time in my life is indescribable. All that he has done for me was completed, and he now shares with me peace, mercy, compassion, patience, kindness, love and respect.

"I would rather have peace in the world than be president." --Harry S. Truman

My dear grandmother died from a brain hemorrhage when she was 41 years old. At 39 I discovered that I inherited the same medical condition.

I had just completed teaching my weekly CCD class at our Catholic Church. Everything was wonderful! After class, I met with one of the other teachers and we had a brief discussion. It was joyful and pleasant.

All of sudden I could not hear a word she was saying. Also, my hands and feet felt numb. I turned and ran to my car so I would be home with my beloved family before things got worse.

Driving down the street towards my home, I thought the top of my head was going to explode! I could not continue driving so I had to pull into a driveway where a friend lived with her husband, who is a doctor.

At that point, I collapsed and landed on the horn. My friend ran out with her husband and that is all I remember ... until many days later.

"Love has no breaking point." --Jesus Christ

My husband and children received a phone call.

They were told by my friend's husband that I definitely had a hemorrhage and he had called the ambulance. When my husband arrived at the hospital, they told him I was going to die.

Healing prayers began with everyone in my family initially, plus the church offered prayers continuously for me. All my teacher friends at the middle school prayed daily plus my students did as well.

"We love Him because He first loved us." --John 4:9

After a very strenuous three weeks in the hospital, I did come out of the coma and after many tests, I was told things were back to normal! Everyone was so thankful to God and they all continued prayers as a 'thank you' for his gifts.

To this day, God's gifts have extended in many wonderful ways. My brain has been blessed. Since then, I have written 70 children's books for my family, plus 30 books of poetry for them, and a 400-page autobiography. I also gained two additional master's degrees and achieved many prizes for submissions of essays, poetry, plus a $5,000 scholarship which resulted in a three-week archaeological dig in Europe.

All of this is unexplainable and obviously gifts from God. To this day, Jesus has forwarded me into sharing his gifts of love, peace, mercy, compassion, patience, kindness and respect with everyone!

I have been teaching now at a college for ten years and every student is aware of the gifts within me which I share with them.

"The love of God never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning." --The Bible

I totally agree with these truths and experience them every day. Amen.