Robert D. Lesslie - Angels and Heroes: True Stories from the Front Line

Thank you for the two amazingly awesome books you have written. As a Christian pursuing a career in medicine, I find them really inspiring. I had tears in my eyes many times, especially in Angels on Call. I love, love, love these books!

Alina

The book was an inspiration during a difficult time in our livesYour humility and humanity jumped out at me. I truly believe God works through us and that there are angels among us.

Chuck

I am a busy working mother but managed to read the entire book in less than three days. The way you described the people and the situations was brilliantYou see things in a very special way and have made me seethank you.

Jamie

I loved every bit of it. It touched me greatly and I have told my friends about itIt also gave me a much better understanding on what goes on in an ER. I sincerely believe it should be read in high schools, colleges, etc.

Mosheh

I recently visited the USA from FinlandMy husband and I have enjoyed these little storiesGreat book and wish you would write more.

Inka

The most inspiring and relatable book I have read throughout my college career in nursing schoolI often feel that my small contributions of extra time with patients or a simple smile have no impact on anyones life. I was inspired by your book and appreciated the Bible verses throughout.

Katie

Just read your book Angels in the ER and loved it. Couldnt put it down. Very well written. Excited to see another one is on the way! God bless you.

Bill

Having spent ten years as a coordinator for our emergency department, I was very intrigued to read your storiesYou have a very eloquent way of relating things that most people will never experience, but probably shouldYour kindness, care, and compassion shine through.

Alicia

Your stories touched me deeplyI am a retired RN7 years in infant ICU. We got the worst of the worst. It was a hard job, but so worth itOn a brighter note, your book made me feel that I still might have a purposeI keep praying for Gods will to be done in my life.

Jackie

The Bible verses, along with the stories, had me searching my heart for peace and grace (something I havent felt in some time). Thank you for your dedicated care to all of the people whose lives you have touched, and thank you for reminding me that God really is with us all of the time.

Terri

ANGELS

and

HEROES

Robert D. Lesslie, M.D.

HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS
EUGENE, OREGON

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Verses marked RSV are taken from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1946, 1952, 1971 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Cover by Left Coast Design, Portland, Oregon

Cover photos Thinkstock Images / Comstock Images / Getty Images; James Steidl / Shutterstock Images; SVLuma / Shutterstock Images

Back-cover author photo Penny Young

All the incidents described in this book are true. Where individuals may be identifiable, they have granted the author and the publisher the right to use their names, stories, and/or facts of their lives in all manners, including composite or altered representations. In all other cases, names, circumstances, descriptions, and details have been changed to render individuals unidentifiable.

ANGELS AND HEROES
Copyright 2011 by Robert D. Lesslie, M.D.
Published by Harvest House Publishers
Eugene, Oregon 97402
www.harvesthousepublishers.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Lesslie, Robert D., 1951-

Angels and heroes : true stories from the front line / Robert D. Lesslie.

p. cm.

Summary: Angels and Heroes Dr. Robert Lesslie 978-0-7369-3775-7 Dr. Lesslie shares amazing experiences of the courageous men and women who exhibit the grace and strength of angels in the face of danger every day.
Provided by publisher.
ISBN 978-0-7369-3775-7 (pbk.)
ISBN 978-0-7369-4131-0 (eBook)
1. HospitalsEmergency servicesPopular works. 2. Emergency medical personnelPopular works. I. Title.
RA975.5.E5L469 2008
616.025092dc22

2011007094

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, digital, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Printed in the United States of America

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 / LB-NI / 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

With special thanks

To Les Stobbe, my agent (and Rita, his wife), who believed in my work and found it a home.

To Paul Gossard, my editor, who has refined my manuscripts, tried (sometimes with success) to teach me proper grammar and style, and taught me that the delete button is my friend.

To my wife, Barbara, who has always been a faithful encourager, and my worst and best critic.

To the dedicated people at Harvest House Publishers, who have always been professional, caring, and helpful, and who allowed the people in these pages to tell their stories.

And especially to those who shared their stories with meJerry Waldrop, Mike Blackmon, T.R. Jones, and Cathy Crash Adams.

Fire Station No. 1

Layout of the ER

O reader!
Had you in your mind
Such stories as silent thought can bring,
O gentle reader!
You would find
A tale in every thing.
W ILLIAM W ORDSWORTH (17701850)

+

W ould you lay down your life to save another? Maybe your child, or your spouse. But what about a total stranger?

It takes a special man or woman to be willing to put him or herself in harms way in order to save another person. Most of us cant understand that kind of thinking, that kind of deliberate self-sacrifice.

The true stories in these pages are from people who have done just that. They are the firemen, policemen, and paramedics who stand between each of us and certain disaster. And they do it every day.

As I talked with these professionals, I was humbled by their willingness to share their most profound and sometimes troubling experiences. And I was inspired by their unshakable faith, which they demonstrate in their words and through their actions.

It is my hope that in these pages you will also find inspiration, and a new appreciation for the heroes among us.

This is my Fathers world.
O let me neer forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.

T HIS I S M Y F ATHERS W ORLD