I labored all night. We arrived at the hospital around 1:30am anticipating the joy of holding our sweet baby boy. His name would be Andrew Camp and on September 19th he came at 12:45pm. What joy! We held him, we kissed him, our daughter met him and visitors came to celebrate.
One particular visitor was my brother, Lance. I remember his light blue collared shirt and navy pants. I remember him sitting on the couch by my bed. I remember him saying he had to leave and get back to work.
Through the night I bonded with our little boy and touched his little hands. "I can't wait to get to know you."
The next morning I got a call from my sister, "Has mom gotten ahold of you? Lance has been in a wreck." In all honesty, what went through my mind was "no big deal, fenderbender". My sister went on to tell me she didn't really know the details but she did know that my brothers wife, Christy, was unable to locate him. She said that while driving that morning, Lance had called Christy complaining of cold sweats, nausea, and a rapid heart beat so she advised him to pull over right then and wait for her to come get him.
Hi Camp, my sweet boy
Welcome to the world sweet boy
I love you sweet boy
When Christy went to get Lance, he wasn't where he said he would be. Christy knew this wasn't like him. She was calm. Her legs go numb and a peace ran through her heart. She knew whatever was about to happen meant God's will.
He looks like his momma.
No, he looks like his daddy.
Five more miles and Christy saw lights. Five more miles and Lance's car was in a ditch but Lance wasn't there.
"Come in, meet our son! Our little bundle of joy. Please, come celebrate with us!"
After a long 30 minutes Christy located Lance at Holsten Valley Medical Center. He'd been put through X-ray, CT, MRI, you name it. His blood sugar dropped to near death numbers and his body blacked out. At 75 miles per hour a tree was the only thing that stopped him.
What we learned was Lance's whole body had been crushed from head to toe. Broken ribs, spine, and hand, concussion, severe trauma to the intestines and hips, punctured lungs, and a shattered ankle. Lance's whole body was one large bruise and parts of his flesh looked as if it had been put through a meat grinder. There's no other way to make you understand.
What we learned was Lance's whole body had been crushed from head to toe. Broken ribs, spine, and hand, concussion, severe trauma to the intestines and hips, punctured lungs, and a shattered ankle. Lance's whole body was one large bruise and parts of his flesh looked as if it had been put through a meat grinder. There's no other way to make you understand.
I get a call, "Its not looking good. He hit hard. His seatbelt broke him but it saved him... "
Lance is dying.
Camp, Sweet baby let me hold you closer.
Lord, don't take Lance now. This can't be his time.
Camp, Little boy, let me protect you.
Neither one is mine, Lord. They are yours.
Two days went by and Lance was getting worse. Nothing stopped the hiccups and the Doctors felt it was time to "go in". What he found was nothing short of a miracle. The force of impact caused the seatbelt to sever the main artery in his large intestine which should have caused him to bleed to death. Death was knocking at his door but God had other plans. Lance's circumstances should have killed him within minutes but his artery created a fold keeping him from bleeding on the inside.
Camp, don't cry, momma will feed you
Lance be strong
Camp, momma and daddy love you
Lance, don't be afraid
Lance seemed to get worse before he got better. The doctors told us he would probably heal with a different personality then before and we prepared our hearts for that. His custom made back brace and broken body left little room for hope. Long nights of endless tears; long days with heavy hearts.
One particular night my family received a mass text from Christy that things back at the hospital weren't looking good. After responding to Christy that we were all praying I rolled over feeling completely hopeless.
Pray.
Pray hard .
Father, heal him. Only you can heal him.
Tears rolled down my face and I fell asleep.
What Lord?
"Child, trust me, rest."
I have a dream.
As I stood at the end of a dark hallway I watched Lance step out of a hospital room. He is walking!
One particular night my family received a mass text from Christy that things back at the hospital weren't looking good. After responding to Christy that we were all praying I rolled over feeling completely hopeless.
Pray.
Pray hard .
Father, heal him. Only you can heal him.
Tears rolled down my face and I fell asleep.
"Child, trust me, rest."
I have a dream.
As I stood at the end of a dark hallway I watched Lance step out of a hospital room. He is walking!
LORD, HE WILL LIVE! Lord, I will see my brother walk again.
Several weeks went by and Lance started to wake up. He started to walk. He started to talk. He started to heal. He was the same Lance as before - only many more scars.
Camp started to wake up. He started to walk. He started to talk. He started to learn. Flawless skin and a child-like heart. Room for scars on each part.
Camp started to wake up. He started to walk. He started to talk. He started to learn. Flawless skin and a child-like heart. Room for scars on each part.
Lance Torbett, God has a mighty mighty plan for you
Note: The stranger who saw Lance disappear off the Interstate called 911 and waited for cops to arrive. Later when Lance went to the police to get the man's contact information there was no record of anyone calling in or speaking to the police. No name. No face.
Isaiah 43:1-3
"The Lord says, "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you a blaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
