We often hold onto the belief, even if subconsciously, that we can live forever. However, life sometimes delivers unexpected challenges.
On a typical Sunday morning, Ryan Finley woke up, stretched widely, and pinched his wife, Jill Finley, to wake her up as well.
“I went to wake Jill up, which is a miracle in itself as I never, ever, do that on Saturday mornings,” he later recalled.
When she didn’t respond, Ryan’s pulse started to race. Realizing something was wrong, he immediately called emergency services and performed CPR on his wife.
When the paramedics arrived, they quickly transported Jill to the hospital, with Ryan following close behind.
After a medical evaluation, doctors concluded that Jill had suffered a cardiac arrest.
She underwent a procedure to stabilize her, while Ryan waited anxiously outside the ER.
The doctors came out with an update, ending with “pray for your wife.” Ryan understood the gravity of the situation. “When a doctor tells you, you need to start praying, I feel it’s about as serious as it’s going to get.”
Shortly after, they informed Ryan that Jill was in a coma.
He couldn’t comprehend that his 31-year-old wife, who was healthy just the day before, was now in a life-and-death situation.
During the two weeks Jill was in a coma, many visitors came to pray for her recovery. One day, Jill’s cousin visited with a Bible and read to her for an hour.
He left the Bible with Ryan, suggesting he read from it if he felt inclined.
Ryan made it a routine to read passages out loud to his wife, hoping she would soon wake up.
After 11 days, Ryan went home to contemplate whether to wait for her recovery or to follow the doctors’ advice to remove life support. The doctors were certain there would be no improvement.
He knew that once they took her off life support, she would pass away shortly. On the 14th day, he made the heartbreaking decision to let her go.
About five hours after she was removed from life support, Jill started to mumble and move. Ryan, heartbroken, stepped out, believing she was suffering in her final moments.
He clearly remembers what happened next: “The nurse came out and said, ‘I think you need to come in, she’s talking.’”
Expecting to say his final goodbye, Ryan walked in and was shocked: “I walked in and Jill was talking. The first thing she said was, ‘Get me out of here. I want to go home.’”
Unable to process the situation, he shook his head in disbelief.
He thought she was just mumbling, but then he asked her about their pets’ names and a few mental math questions, all of which she answered correctly.
She even asked to go to her favorite Mexican restaurant for dinner. Ryan then realized Jill wasn’t going to the spiritual world—she was coming back home with him.
When asked what brought his wife back, Ryan responded without hesitation: “God. Divine intervention. I honestly feel that way.”
Jill’s recovery wasn’t immediate. She had to relearn basic motor skills, like brushing her teeth and tying her shoelaces.
Grateful for a second chance, they vowed to always be there for each other, especially in times of need.
Jill also supports Ryan’s decision to take her off life support when she was in a coma, as she doesn’t want to spend her life as a “vegetable.”
Ryan says: “There’s still not a night that goes by that I don’t wake up. I’ll usually kick her, and if she kicks me back, I know we’re OK.”
We are so happy that both Ryan and Jill Finley are well and remain together.
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