We have been praying for our dear friend Jan Kascak who was hit by a van, while riding his bike May 6th. Jan's recovery has been amazing. We are praying for a full recovery. Here is his story ...



My testimony of when God touched me!

May 6th, 2008 at 8:00 a.m. in the morning I was riding my mountain bike on Lakeshore drive when I was hit by an uncontrolled vehicle. I was taken by ambulance to Penticton General Hospital. Due to the severity of my injuries, and the possibility of severe brain and/or spinal injury, I was induced into a coma. A chest tube was put through my right side in order to support and hopefully re-inflate a collapsed lung. Other injuries included 9 broken ribs on the right side, a broken tibia and fibula on my right leg, a broken jaw, and many other broken bones throughout my face. I was transferred to the ICU unit at the Kelowna Hospital.
My wife, Kim, my mother, Anna, and my daughters, Ashley and Amanda, along with Amanda’s fiancé, Neil, (who both flew from Fort McMurray that day, Tuesday) were the first of many to support me at my bedside. A great deal of strength was also drawn from my sister’s Maria and Eva, brother’s Mike and Peter, his wife, Vicky, as well as our long time friends Randy and Deb as I remained in a coma state.
An extensive operation took place on Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. and lasted five hours until 2:00 a.m. in the morning. The smallest of these procedures, a tracheotomy (neck tube), was done in order to allow me to breathe because my mouth would be wired shut. The doctor’s inserted a rod from my lower knee to ankle through my right fibula. Screws and plates were used to put my jaw in place and throughout the rest of my face along the top of my eye socket, below my eye socket and on both sides of my nose, adding up to twelve plates in all.
On Friday night, May 9th, around 11:00 p.m. I awoke from my coma. Kim and Ashley were holding my hand. As I attempted to open my eyes in desperation, I began to cry. Kim and Ashley started crying with me. I was unable to move my arms because my arms were tied down, my eyes were swollen shut, and my body was very weak; I did not stay awake long and soon fell back to sleep. Later Ashley confided in me that this was the most difficult moment in her life.
Around 12:00 a.m. a nurse came to attend to me; I felt irritation inside my mouth between my tongue and teeth that were wired shut. Nurses tried to dislodge the irritation, but could not because my mouth was wired shut. I also experienced difficulties in my trachea because I was coughing mucus up from my lungs. I fell back asleep and awoke about 2:00 a.m. Saturday morning completely disorientated. I did not know where I was, my heart started to pound. My hands were tied down by my side and a light was above me shining in my through the small crease my swollen face would allow. I reached with my left hand and was able to touch the feeding tube that was inserted in my nose. I had not even the slightest idea as to why there was a tube there, confused I pulled on the feed tube and it hurt so I stopped. For the first time in five days I was conscious, but felt an indescribable feeling of fear.
Even though I could hear vehicle’s driving by, people talking and felt a cool breeze over me, I desperately tried to grasp what was happening as I gathered my thoughts and I started to cry. It was that moment I had thought my soul had left my body and I was awaiting my fate with God. To say I was scared is an understatement!
I had to get a hold of myself and started to pray to God. I told God I put my Faith and Trust in Him and His will be done. I asked God to give me a sign where I was going.
In a moment calm came upon me, and I believe the Lord had put his hand on me. The Nurse came over and began to tell me it was only 4:30 a.m. and Kim would be here about 7:00 a.m. I began to pray to God and thank him for saving my life. I prayed to God, I cried to Him and He put a smile on my face. I knew then that Jesus Christ the Son of God had performed a miracle and was healing me.
My loved ones were at my bedside to wake me up that Saturday morning. No one could see it but I had a smile on my face. My hands reached out to grab Kim’s hands and her love poured into my heart. Amanda and Ashley grabbed my hands and I could see tears coming out of my daughter’s eyes. Everyday I could hear family and loving friends crying over me and they always told me how much they loved me. I knew that already, but what a wonderful feeling when so much love is given to you.
My sister Maria is a devote disciple of Jesus Christ, and when she had came to visit that first day in the Kelowna General she whispered to my wife to not fear, that I will be okay because she had seen Angles in my room all around me. My thoughts came back to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ the Son of God and I thanked Him for giving me back to my loved ones. I have not stopped praying to God! I always set aside each and every morning at 5:30 a.m. to pray and devote my time to the Lord for about forty five minutes, sometimes longer as my prayer list keeps growing.
God loves me and He loves you, trust in him, have faith in him, give God full control and He will not disappoint you. Pray to Jesus Christ and ask Him to forgive your sins and they will be forgiven. Give yourself freely to Jesus Christ and pronounce that He is your Savior and through Jesus you will be with the Father our Lord God in heaven.

God Bless you all
Thank you for your Prayers
For God has Bless me

Jan Kascak
Aka Kazzy