Becoming Phillip
You might know me as Phil. To staff reading my medical chart, I was Phillip. I was in their care after my bicycle and I were struck by a half ton Dodge Ram pickup truck. After regaining consciousness three days later, I was completely unable to speak. When I began learning to speak again, I decided to keep my "new" name. Even in that time of fear and suffering, there were extraordinary experiences that I wanted to hold on to. I wanted to hold on to, for example my intense desire to live and get better. I didn't realize how close to death I had come. I had no memory of seeing a white light. As far as I could tell, I had no divine encounter. I felt calm upon waking, until the reality of my badly broken body soon made itself known. I wanted to pray and found that I wasn’t able. I gestured to med techs and later to cleaning staff. I put my hands together, and they understood. They came to my bedside and prayed for me. With their help, I experienced connection, and wellb...