When Justin Smith set off home one night in February, he probably thought it would be a routine journey. Sadly, Justin never made it to his destination.
Instead, he was discovered lying in the snow after more than 10 hours. Paramedic Emmett Thomas and his colleagues were the first on the scene. They determined that he was beyond saving.
The 25-year-old, found in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, no longer had a pulse. His father, Don, had been searching for him for hours. When he arrived, he refused to believe it was possible. He shook his son and tried to wake him, but it was to no avail.
Justin was rushed to hospital, where it was expected doctors would confirm he couldn’t be saved. Dr. Gerald Coleman, however, had a different opinion.
He was able to convince other doctors there was yet a chance Justin could be saved. He persuaded them to undergo a risky operation that was far from certain to work.
Don kissed his cold son on his head and told him he loved him.
Then, he witnessed a miracle. As the hours passed, Justin’s body warmed up and his heart began to beat again. After twelve days, Justin opened his eyes. He lost some fingers and toes to frostbite, but he was literally brought back to life.
Dr. Coleman was praised for his intuitive thinking, though not many were aware that the doctor had lost his own child nine years before Justin was rushed into his hospital. Some suspect it was just this experience that convinced the good doctor that Justin could be saved.
In any case, Coleman is a true hero, both for his conviction and his actions! Justin’s certainly here because of him.
What an inspiring story! Justin gets a second chance at life because of Dr. Coleman’s expertise.
Share this article to pay tribute to the fantastic team that saved Justin’s life.