Front Parking Spot - The Miracle Miler
Front Parking Spot – The Miracle Miler
Morning was beginning to break as we drove by Southwest Memorial Hospital in Houston. The hospital was a very familiar place to me. It was a place where hours were spent in prayer at my brother, Jim’s bedside. It was a place where Jesus listened and answered. It is a place I’ll never forget.
Twenty-eight years ago, my brother Jim Richter, was a healthy and vibrant 30, year-old with a wife, Theresa, and two small daughters, Lauren and Jennifer. He also had a very successful career as one of the top sales representatives for a national financial service company. Both personally, and professionally, life was very happy and rewarding for this young family. However, Jim’s world began to unravel when he was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease. The disease treatment had some severe side effects such as pseudo-tumor headaches. Unexpectedly, one of these headaches took a turn for the worse. While attending a college football game, Jim was overcome by an excruciating headache and lost his memory. After barely making it home he was rushed to the hospital.
It was not long before doctors determined that Jim’s brain was swelling. Multiple tests were run but each turned up inconclusive. The doctors could not determine the cause of the swelling. Five days after being admitted into the hospital, Jim became completely unconscious and radical steps needed to be taken to save his life. Part of his brain needed to be removed. If not, he would die. The outcome of the surgery was unknown, but without surgery, death was certain. My entire family mobilized into action to be by Jim’s side.
Immediately, my brother Jay and I were on the next flight to Houston. Fearing the worst was a natural human emotion but somehow, I was overcome by a deep feeling of peace that I knew was coming from Jesus. On the plane ride, Jay and I studied our Bibles and we stood firm on the many promises in both the New and the Old Testaments in regards to divine healing. Jay and I both refused to accept that Jim would die, despite the bleak outlook. “Please Lord, you made Jim, I know you can heal him! Use his healing for Your glory!” we prayed.
When we arrived in Houston, late that night, we had not received word yet about Jim’s surgery but we were equipped with God’s word concerning his healing. It was nearly midnight and the hospital was quiet. With tears in our eyes, Theresa met us in the hallway. She said that Jim was alive, but the doctors weren’t sure about his prognosis. The surgeons had removed close to an inch of his brain, near the area of comprehension. In their opinion, the prospect of him surviving or having any comprehension at all was in serious doubt.
Surviving through the night was the next challenge. I truly believe that God’s gift of faith was planted deep within our hearts that night. Theresa knew in her heart that Jim would be healed and so did we, regardless of what the doctors said. We chose to stand on Jesus’ words in Matthew 17:20, “for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” All throughout the night, those words seemed to carry me through. I knew God’s promises and I prayed them. The doctors had their prognosis but Jesus had His; a supernatural one.
The next day, Jim began to show unbelievable recovery signs when we gathered around his bed. We mentioned his favorite team, the Florida State Seminoles. With a breathing tube intact and eyes shut, Jim lifted his arm to do the FSU tomahawk chop. This was instant proof that Jim had the mental ability of comprehension. “Thank you, Jesus!” our hearts cried. Later that day Jim pulled out his own breathing tube and the doctors were amazed and commented that Jim’s recovery was nothing short of miraculous!
Weeks went by and Jim continued to recover. By this time, the doctors were able to attribute the near fatal brain swelling to a massive stroke. He had to learn to walk, talk and do most everyday things all over again. Although the progress was slow, Jim began to regain many of the functions the doctors’ thought were irreversibly damaged. In fact, Jim’s miracles seemed to be happening one right after the next. Continued tests showed that Jim’s kidneys had been healed and once again we praised God for this miracle. It was clear that Jesus had answered the hundreds of prayers that were being said for Jim across the country.
A year after the brain surgery, Jim began to feel tired and he was plagued by weight loss. After another series of tests, Jim was diagnosed with Stage 4B Hodgkin’s Disease, a type of cancer. It was reportedly in his lymphatic system and in his bone marrow. Again, Jim’s prognosis was not good. The survival rate for patients with this type of cancer is relatively low, so once again, the doctors did not give Jim much of a chance. After all that he had been through, it was hard to believe that Jim would have to battle for his life once again. Despite this, I couldn’t stop thinking that Jesus was faithful before and I knew he would be there for Jim again.
Just as before, God’s wisdom and peace filled my spirit as Jim embarked on the challenging road of chemotherapy. He received 6 out of the 8 treatments, but his body could no longer take the grueling treatment. Jim was simply too weak to continue with the chemotherapy, so the decision was made that the 6th treatment would be his last. It was time to trust Jesus again. Once again, faith proved to be the best treatment of all as Jim received another life saving miracle. In subsequent tests for traces of cancer, no cancer could be detected. Jesus healed him completely.
For several years after Jim’s cancer cure, he volunteered at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. His life story and faith in Jesus Christ had been a witness to many, including Clarita Rocky. She was going through a similar battle as Jim, and they became friends. It wasn’t just the cancer that bonded them, but also sports. During the course of their friendship, the topic of running a marathon came up. Clarita tried to encourage Jim to get involved in distance running and to eventually try a marathon but Jim resisted. Running 26.2 miles seemed like an impossible feat. However, he had just overcome some other seemingly impossible situations in the past. He finally agreed to give it a try.
Unfortunately, not long after Jim decided to take up running, Clarita lost her battle with cancer. Shortly before her passing, Jim promised her that he would run the Houston Marathon in her honor. After her passing, Jim expanded his dedication to not only run for Clarita but for other cancer victims he had met along the way. In doing so, he made a commitment to help raise money for the American Cancer Society.
Of course, running a marathon would be another miracle for Jim. The longest he had ever run was 3 miles. Through persistence, determination and a deep faith in God, Jim believed he could do it. He trained for a year and raised over $7,000. This marathon, indeed, had the makings of another miracle, if only he could finish.
I boarded the plane for Houston on January 15, 1999, once again with my brother Jay at my side. This time, things were different. There was laughter and anxious anticipation on the plane. We were going to be at my brother’s side once again, only this time to cheer him on and join him for the last couple of miles until he finished.
The Houston Marathon took place on January 17, 1999 in the streets of downtown Houston. We passed the hospital on the way to the start of the race where so much had taken place. Thoughts ran through my mind about everything that had happened inside those hospital walls and to be back for a marathon, was surreal. It became clear to me that Jim had come full circle from the brink of death. I was so grateful for the opportunity to experience this moment with my brother. I said a quick prayer for the Lord to help Jim finish this marathon and to claim this victory that He made possible.
While running, Jim had a bright yellow t-shirt that said “Go Jim” on the front and “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13) on the back. He also pinned 4 ribbons on his shirt with the names of family and friends that had lost their courageous fight. At the starting gun of the race, Jim pointed upward to heaven with tears in his eyes. I wouldn’t have missed this for the world, I thought. All of Jim’s supporters followed him, along the marathon route, giving encouragement along the way. However, since Jim had never run more than 20 miles before, Jay and I decided to run the last 6 miles with him. This was very symbolic to us because of the other times we were next to Jim as he battled to overcome the other hurdles he had faced.
Just before the end of the race, Jay and I had to exit. However, we were able to get near the finish line to see Jim’s moment of glory. Theresa, their daughters and many friends cheered with tears running down their faces as Jim sprinted through the finish line in 5 hours and 15 minutes. He had made it. He ran the race of his life! The race finish was his but the true victory belonged to the master healer, Jesus Christ!
Jim has truly been an inspiration not only to our family and friends but also to the people of Houston. His story was published in the local paper before the race and many people seemed to recognize and support him before and after the race. The best recognition he received was from the town of Missouri City, Texas when then mayor Allen Owen proclaimed, April 5, 1999 as “Jim Richter Day” as a testament to Jim’s dedication, determination, and courage in facing and overcoming the many challenges in his life.
Of course, none of this would have been possible without God’s guidance and healing power. Jesus said, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9:23) I know this to be true and my brother is living proof.
Today, Jim and Theresa live in Sugar Land, Texas with their two high school boys. Their daughters are both adults and live in Texas and Florida. Jim is retired from running marathons now. However, that first Houston marathon inspired fifteen more amazing marathon journeys. Jim has raised thousands of dollars for cancer research with Team in Training and the American Cancer Society. He is still cancer free after 26 years and is enjoying this amazing adventure we call life.