The selfless actions of some set an example for the rest of us

I’ve heard people say over and over again, “I just can’t see how someone could make it through a full-term pregnancy and not know they were pregnant.”

Well, for my pastor and his wife, that’s what happened.

A little background — the couple had been trying to conceive for 17 years, and after more than two decades of marriage, had, for all intents and purposes, given up.

That may partly explain their ignorance of his wife’s early pregnancy signs.

To complicate matters, Bro. Jeff’s wife, Mrs. Cheryl, was of a “fluffy” build and suffered from regular complications from diabetes.

After she started having problems with extreme hip pain, she visited the doctor, and when asked if she could be pregnant, she answered with a shake of her head no.

Doctors proceeded to X-ray her hips, send her for MRIs and do tests that left the medical staff with an interesting diagnosis — bone spurs.

It wasn’t until a few weeks later that Mrs. Cheryl went to the emergency room for severe stomach cramps and at almost 6 a.m., only about three hours after her hospital admission, Benjamin Luke made his arrival via surgery.

His parents were overjoyed, rightly so, having waited so long for such an unexpected gift, but little Luke had a long road ahead.

He was born with Cerebral Palsy, an effect the majority of us looking on saw as a malpractice lawsuit waiting to happen.

Doctors did full MRI’s and X-rays of her hips — where the full-term, 7-pound-plus baby was resting — and they didn’t see him?

Several of us asked Bro. Jeff, “Are you going to file a lawsuit?”

His answer was admirable: “What is a lawsuit going to give me? I have the one thing I’ve waited for more than 17 years and never thought I’d get. There’s not any thing else in the world I want.” I took that to heart. In February, an incident at a local bar left a man in his 30s recovering from extreme injuries brought on by the attack of a young man in his early 20s.

The victim was airlifted to a hospital in Little Rock, underwent several surgeries, and is now at home recovering, living his life, however altered it may now be.

But, as things go, there are court dates, legal procedings and more, some of which have taken place, and some of which are yet to come.

The man who was attacked, whom I’ll not mention by name because I’m writing this without his knowledge, and I’m sure, without his approval, wants no recompense for the deeds done to him.

He’s not actively pursued compensation for mounting medical bills, he’s not fought for the charges he rightfully could, and he’s been quoted saying that the kid has his whole life ahead of him, and he doesn’t want to be a part of the reason the attacker’s life is forever worsened by the consequences of his actions.

He’s also not seeking any recognition