MrBee's story - The Impossible Miracle

[mmglobal]

All of you who have been in the internet spine patient community for a few years know about Willie Beeson. He posts as MrBee and has been through an amazing ordeal that includes 5 failed spine surgeries in less than a year. After 3 discectomies, he had multiple complications following a 2-level Charite' ADR done at Stenum Hospital in Germany. He then had his 5th surgery... a revision and again suffered multiple severe complications. I became intimately involved in his case shortly before his ADR revision surgery and have been with him every step of the way since then. A few months after his the revision surgery, when his intestines were shutting down and he had lost the major arteries that supply blood to his left leg, I was really worried that he was going to die. His doctors were telling me that loosing his leg was likely, and as things went from bad to worse to even more horrible, I feared that he would not survive.

He had an amazing recovery and in one day went from death's door to normal. There is a lot about his case that I don't understand and I've spoken at length to his treating physicians and there is much that they don't understand as well. Willie attributes his healing to the power of prayer. While I do not share his faith, I cannot argue with his amazing story of an impossible miracle.... I saw it unfold.

Last Thursday, I spend the entire day with Willie at the Bible Institute of Los Angeles (BIOLA), a prominent Christian college. Willie was sharing his story with 4 classrooms, packed with students. He's done this before, but this is the first time that I participated. I was there to fill in technical details and to share what I observed. A few years ago, if you would have told me that I'd be at BIOLA giving testimony to a religious healing, I would have said that you were on drugs. Again, I don't share Willie's faith and won't attempt to explain something I don't understand. I just feel proud and honored to participate in his life and am so happy to see my friend living a normal life... something I did not think possible. He is still happy and healthy... living pain-free and med-free. His ADR surgery was in August 2004 and the revision was in October. Things had spiraled down after that and in early April of 2005, I thought I was losing my friend. (If you look at the picture of Willie on the bike that I put on the GPN website, that was back in September of 2005, just a few months after he was healed.)

He's written a book about it. It won't be on the shelves until the summer, but it's available online. I'll have a copy to lend via the iSpine lending library. You can find it at: www.ImpossibleMiracle.com.

Below, you'll find what I posted on the ADR Forums the day I learned the good news:

Originally Posted by Posted May 11th, 2005

I had lunch with Willie today. Drove to his house... knocked on his door... let myself in and talked to his brother-in-law while I waited for Willie.

I was expecting him to come downstairs with a walker or cane. The last several times I had seen him, he looked like death warmed over. He's been in such bad shape for a long time, I was expecting the worst. He appeared behind me... I turned around and gave him hug... being very careful not to hurt him. He embraced me with a strength that I did not think was possible.

After the initial shock wore off, I stood in disbelief as I looked upon a healthy looking man... not ashen... not gaunt... not frail... not forcing a smile through a grimace of pain. We walked out to his truck and I asked about his pain... "What pain?" he replied. I expressed my disbelief and he stopped his truck near some very large trash bins that were on the street. He picked one up and flung it around... twisting and bending. I went and picked it up... it was heavy.

He's been off pain meds for 2 weeks.... dropping massive doses of morhpine-sulphate, cold-turkey, with no withdrawals. His back pain and leg pain is gone. His abdominal pain is gone. There is still some claudication (leg pain with exercise) from the occluded artery, but it's not serious enough to keep him from coming back to life... enjoying every second.

He attributes all of this to the power of faith and prayer. I'll leave it to him to explain the details. I don't know how to explain it.... I'm just glad to see my friend looking happy and healthy. As we ate lunch, I couldn't keep my eyes from leaking... it was so good to see him like this.

What a great day!

Mark

PS... Willie... take it easy!

Willie... thank you for letting me be part of this. I wish we could package your success and give it away!

Love to all,

Mark

[Maria]

I had seen Willie B prior to one of his trips to Germany I believe, maybe the first one as I it was at one of the spine events hosted by Mark with possibly Dr.Regan? Anyway, I definately met Willie and his family at an get together for Paulette and Dan and Willie had an amazing story of recovery to reveal.. I'm very much looking forward to reading his book! What he told me was just incredible to hear...

[dshobbies]

I too don't share Willie's faith but if we're talking about miracles, he was the one who first told me about Mark, the miracle man himself. Had it not been for Willie, I too might have ended up at Stenum but he insisted that I call Mark and remind him about an owed lunch???? Mark, did you ever repay him?

[mrbee]

Hello All at ispine,

It has been a while since I have posted to the forum I thought I should respond to Mark's wonderful post. Then my own update.

Originally Posted by mmglobal

He had an amazing recovery and in one day went from death's door to normal. There is a lot about his case that I don't understand and I've spoken at length to his treating physicians and there is much that they don't understand as well. Willie attributes his healing to the power of prayer. While I do not share his faith, I cannot argue with his amazing story of an impossible miracle.... I saw it unfold.

Mark witnessed my amazing journey through a horrifying time and place, with never ending reversals. Few people have such a witness to another's journey through such pain and suffering. This forum like others allow for sharing our common journey's albeit painful, but real to share. Mark joined me at the beginning of the worst of my path in back surgery. He followed me on this path through each terrible setback as my life force ebbed lower and lower.

Neither of us telling the other what we both knew, that my time was soon. He knew it all too well. I of course wished it to end. So for me to be alive today, in complete pain free living, vibrant living with no drugs for now over 3 years, fully restored to health, vigor and even youthfulness is the miracle. All happened instantaneously! How can one or any of us, understand how in this modern day of dis-belief of the supernatural, that this could happen? Read Mark's post again.

How to explain this? I experienced what we all desire, a moment with our Creator (if we acknowledge a Creator). Then, instead of passing from this life and beyond all prior belief's that I had personally known, I was given a miraculous healing. I love Mark for his truth and honesty that even if he doesn't understand it, he acknowledges the supernatural power that escapes science. For me it is simple and real, a moment in the passing through heaven three years ago as I was lying in bed 22 hours a day, invalided without the ability to walk, taking massive dosages of morphine and many other powerful pain killers. Then the miracle of being told in heaven I would be healed. Hours later...the miracle of this truth. Stopping all the drugs and never looking back, cold turkey and no withdrawels. Running miles, lifting, jumping, playing with my children...how does one describe a miracle, well this is one.

As an update to this forum; well I hope what I expressed (in short form) of my amazing story will help those here to know this impossible miracle is real. There is so much more to share, that is why I chose to share my story in my private journals with the world. It is too wonderful to keep private. I wish to thank all of you who have helped me in those dark days with your kind words and encouragements. May God bless each of you.

Mrbee
Willie Beeson

[ans]

W: I remember meeting you at Mark's party several years ago when you were cured. I find your story utterly amazing (wow, you can run!) and I'm glad you wrote a book about your true miracle. My best - Allan

[JeffreyD]

Willie,
I am so grateful that you have made the effort to share your story.
I know that when you shared at Biola the first time, my daughter who was in the class was greatly inspired and encouraged in her faith and in her hopes for her dad's spine troubles.
Seeing what you have been through on both sides of God's intervention in your life has affected my life positively as well, and I have enjoyed seeing what the Lord that we both serve has done with you.
I have told all of my friends about your story and now I will be able to give them the book to read.... awesome!
also, I want to publicly thank you for your prayers on my behalf, and all of the encouragement you have given (and continue to give) to me and to my wife.
Regarding miracles, I have always liked the following quote by C.S. Lewis:
"Miracles are a retelling in small letters of the very same story which is written across the whole world in letters too large for some of us to see."

God Bless you Willie,
Jeff

[mmglobal]

This was the only post lost to the system problem:

Originally Posted by KL Aguilar

I too have followed your story over the years. I have seen what seem like small miracles happen to others, but never anything like your story. I have also seen horrible things happen to wonderful people.

I have spent the last two years, going from surgeon to surgeon (most well-respected and well-known) and getting a different surgical recommendation from each one. My latest MRI and nerve tests show some minor improvements, but nothing miraculous.

Thank you very much for sharing your inspiring story, and for Mark for posting about you over the years.

KL, did you meet Willie at the Zeegers luncheon in Nov '06?

[mrbee]

Hi Mark,

I am glad you and Diane are together and enjoying this fast paced trip, pain free. Especially for Diane considering her recent surgery. Darla and I certainly enjoyed seeing the two of you on Sunday night. Diane looked terrific at 5 weeks post op. I am sure through after dinner you did the dishes. lol

Mark this conference sounds wonderful and incredibly informative. I am glad that not only are you there with Diane, but that she will be a walking and talking recent ADR success. Kudos to both of you. Once again I wish to say thank you for your committment to helping others as an advocate in the spine world. Many people I meet now in sharing my story come up to me and ask spine questions. I am able to refer them to you knowing they will be helped.

Having you at Biola 2 weeks ago was wonderful to add the real perspective of your role as a patient advocate let alone more so as my friend. I truly appreciate what you have given back to others in gaining the knowlwdge it takes and the relationships, well earned, with the world's foremost spine surgeons. Your advice has helped countless people in their search for relief. In spite of oppostion you keep it up!

Now to my ego, how did the book presents go? I am dying to know what Dr. Zeegers, Dr. Regan, Dr. Brau and Dr. Bertagnoli thought of you giving them the Impossible Miracle books. It is so exciting to have you do this! Thanks for offering! Anyway be good, get rest, and tell us more as you can!

God bless you,

Willie
aka MrBee

Dec 03 blew out L4-L5 disc
Dec 03 to Jan 04 Three discetomies in two weeks (it was awful)
Aug 04 1st ADR surgery for L3-L4 and L4-L5 (L3 subsided badly)
Oct 04 2nd ADR surgery revision to explant and reimplant ADR. Bad result..occulded iliac artery, poor placement of new implant @ L3-L4 and damaged nerves to abdomen and heart.
Oct 04 and Feb 05 Angio cather stent attempts (13 times) all failed
Feb 05 Scheduled bypass femoral to femoral (heard a voice say wait)
Mar 05 Called Mark, went to UCLA now scheduled for aorta-femeoral bypass to save left leg, surgery set May 05.
After bypass recovery, next surgery set to remove L3-L4 implants.
April 05...God showed up with miracle healing. No surgeries, no drugs, no recoveries, just instant healing. Thank you God! You ROCK!

[nomorepain]

Willie:
we have met and talked at several of Marks functions, and i like many are not of the same religious beliefs as you, but i do share a belief one the same! i'm glad you wrote a book about your experiences, as through prayer i believe a lot can be accomplished. I think belief, values and morals are missing in the world and youth of today. I am truely glad to hear you are continually doing so well, as i saw you in the tough times, and was amazed to see you in the GOOD times and the differences the last time i saw you, wow is about all i can say!
gary

[KL Aguilar]

In response to Mark's question, I did meet Willie although I did not get a chance to talk to him.

[mmglobal]

Willie, I was able to give your books to doctor's Brau, Regan, Zeegers. I was taken aback by the intensity of their replies. All were so pleased to hear my account of how well you are doing... All were so pleased to have been involved in helping you on your journey. All were amazed at your recovery and as I showed them the pictures in the book of your CT-Angio... they were shaking their heads... "it doesn't happen like that."

I won't try to recount their exact words as I don't want to get it wrong. I hope they'll express themselves for your website.

I have to tell part of the story as it relates to Dr. Brau. There was a serendipitous meeting that I still find amazing. To set it up... you were the first person I ever traveled with for surgery. At the time, we thought that I was just going to be a traveling companion. I don't think either of us realized what was in store for us. When I left you were in Stenum, I went directly to Chicago for the NASS meeting. (North American Spine Society.) The first day of the conference, I was standing in an atrium talking to your brother on my cell phone. Even though I was thousands of miles from you, I was still embroiled in your situation... hoping to find some answers for you. Someone grabbed my elbow and said... "Mark, do you remember me? We met in Vienna last May." (at the spine arthroplasty convention). It was Sal Brau, one of the leading vascular / ADR access surgeons in the US. Willie was trying to deal with his severe vascular complication and information was tough to come by.

I asked Dr. Brau if he'd sit down and listen. I had Willie's imaging on my computer. I told him what was going on and showed him the CT-A. Dr. Brau reached into his briefcase and pulled out three papers he'd written, including one titled, "Left Iliac Artery Thrombosis during Anterior Lumbar Surgery" - the exact problem that Willie was living through. While Dr. Brau never became one of Willie's treating physicians, over the next few months, he always made himself available to answer questions via email or phone. We spent many hours discussing your case. His explanations of the info we were getting and recommendations about other specialists were absolutely priceless.

As we talked about your book, I Dr. Brau if he realized how serendipitous our meeting was and how amazing it was that such a chance connection via Vienna and Chicago, would be so important to Willie. "Absolutely", was his reply.

The same holds true for Zeegers and Bertagnoli... all through your ordeal, they were asking about you and sharing their time freely to discuss your case, options, etc... It still warms my heart when 4 years later... they still ask about you, even though you were never their patient.

It was great to see you and Darla again. We've spent a lot of time together, but I'd not gotten to know her yet... what a great evening it was!

Take care... all the best,

Mark

[mmglobal]

I spent the day with Willie yesterday. We went to tape a TV program for a Christian network that will have a feature segment about his ordeal and healing. It won't air for a few months... we'll keep everyone posted. His book is getting a lot of attention even though it will not be on the shelves until next month.

We all know about his ordeal with the complications related to his ADR surgery and the complications following his revision. I don't know if those who know him from the online patient community realize that those 2 surgeries were the 4th and 5th spine surgeries that he'd had in a 10 month period. It was pretty amazing to watch as Willie laid out the story for the interviewer. It still hits me hard to hear it. While I was behind him, I could see that the interviewer was wiping away tears at a couple of places in the interview.

It's always so good to spend some time with Willie... he's doing great. He's such an inspiration.

All the best,

Mark