TO A WORLD OF LOVE

Hello everyone. This is Shelby. I just wanted to THANK everyone for all the LOVE, PRAYERS, and SUPPORT that you all have extended to me and my family. My AWESOME wife (Vicky) and BELOVED sister (Gina that my mother didn't know about...lol), have been working so hard making phone calls, answering questions and setting up blogs to keep you all informed about my status.

It has been a rough ride from time to time, but each time I stayed focused on God and knew that he would pull us through. I say US because I wasn't the only one going through this. I can see by the blog comments in the guestbook that this incident has effected many people not just me. I would love to THANK each person individually, but I know I would probably leave someone out by accident and I don't want anyone forgotten or left out.

Reading the comments have given me even more strength than I can explain. I know my church family at the FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH of SUNNY SIDE lead by MY Pastor Joel Stewart (I am very proud to call Joel my pastor) began the first prayer chain and from there many other churches (from what I understand) all around the world had started their own prayer chains and I understand some in which had special prayer during worship services.

Vicky has always told me we can't go anywhere or do anything without running into someone that knows me. I used to laugh it off as not being true. Since this incident I have discovered she was right. Gina tells me I'm a lot like her father and I have never met a stranger.

All of you guys are awesome and will forever have a special place in my heart. I want to take a moment to thank all of those of you that took time out of your busy schedules to write, call, or visit. I know from time to time I was not much in the conversations. It really means alot to me to know I have so many friends and family. I also want to thank you all for being willing to take time out of your own lives to minister to my wife and children. This also helped me by not having to worry about things at the home front. Those of you that brought me books to read, bible study, and games they helped a lot in diverting my attention when things got stressful.

I am very proud of my children (Kip, Amber, and Chase) for jumping in and helping with getting things done so Vicky could focus on things that needed to be dealt with such as keeping Dr Burrowes informed on what the doctors were doing or not doing at HMC. I was so thankful that God brought Dr Burrowes home and allowed him to get directly involved in checking further into my medical status. Dr Burrowes kept us informed on everything. He would set down and discuss what needed to be done. This made Vicky and I lots more comfortable. I really believe that Dr Burrowes prayed about discussions that needed to be made before he made them.

The staff at Atlanta Medical Center were very professional and would come in and check on me regularly this also made us all feel comfortable. I know alot of you heard horror stories about things that occured at Henry Medical Center. Those incidents were isolated to certain individuals not the entire staff. I had lots of great nurses at Henry Medical Center I even had a few that sat and prayed with me. I thought that spoke volumes about those people.

I know that God is in charge of everything and always will be.

Again THANKS for ALL of your LOVE, PRAYERS, and SUPPORT.

I LOVE YOU ALL and PRAY that GOD sends each of you a special Blessing on each of you and your families.

Shelby Holmes