Man with ALS Prayed in Church and Opened His Eyes to Find a Special Visitor Standing with a Gift
September 16, 2019
An ALS prognosis isn't good. But John Coffaro finds his faith growing even stronger in the face of this terrifying illness. And his inspirational story is filled with heart-stirring moments that remind us that God is with us always!
Doctors diagnosed John Coffaro with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in February of 2019. The illness is also called Lou Gehrig's disease, after the hall-of-fame baseball player who was diagnosed in the 1930s.
What Is ALS?
ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that damages motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. As the motor neurons shrink, signals from the brain telling the body to move no longer make it to the muscles. Gradually, the person becomes paralyzed, though they can still hear, see, think, and feel.
RELATED: Tragic Accident Had Him Doubting His Faith Until God Gave Him & Navy Seal ‘Geezers’ Purpose
An ALS prognosis is especially scary because there is currently no cure for the fatal disease. The sufferer loses the ability to move, speak, swallow, and eventually, breathe.
In the face of the devastating news, John Coffaro found strength in his faith. He turned to a book written by one of his spiritual counselors, Father Jim Willig.
Moment Of Prayer Brings Unexpected Visitor
Father Jim died in his early 40s after a battle with renal cancer. And his book covers many of the same emotions and fears John is experiencing with his ALS prognosis.
"I have all the same feelings, all the same questions, all the same concerns about my children that he had," John explained. "So it was just amazingly touching."
But the connection goes even deeper.
One day at church, John closed his eyes to pray. When he opened them, an unexpected visitor stood before him.
It was Father Jim's younger brother, Ed Willig. John and Ed had gone to high school together, but Ed was there thanks to a special prompting by the Holy Spirit.
Ed told John he didn't know why he'd decided to show up at church that day. But when he did, he'd noticed John's name on the prayer list and learned of his ALS battle. Ed took a medal from around his neck and gave it to John.
RELATED: Son Finds Guardian Angel Moments After Race Car Driver Dad Barely Escapes Wreck
The medal belonged to Father Jim, who gave it to his brother Ed just before he died. And John sees the unexpected gift as a sign from above, deepening his faith that God will see him through his ALS struggle.
"From a moral perspective, from the human condition, my story is not good. But when I look through the same eyes, through a spiritual lens, I see great hope for me," he said.
Son Plans Special Tribute For Dad With ALS
Breaking the news of his ALS prognosis wasn't easy. John's two older children live nearby. But his youngest, Sam, was just finishing up college when John shared the diagnosis.
John Coffaro with son, Sam | Credit: Go Fund MeAfter graduation, Sam was already headed straight into the U.S. Army. But he had an idea for a special way to support his dad.
Sam grew up watching his dad run. John Coffaro had taken up the sport and even ran several half marathons. And Sam decided to take a brief furlough from the Army so he could come home and run the Air Force Marathon with his dad.
Only a few months after his ALS diagnosis, John was already using a rolling-walker. So, to make the goal of running with his dad a reality, Sam started raising funds for a Team Hoyt Running Chair.
These are custom-built running chairs for physically challenged individuals who still want to participate in marathons. And the Team Hoyt Running Chair is the result of another inspirational father-son duo, Dick and Rick Hoyt.
Story Behind Team Hoyt
In 1962, doctors advised parents Dick and Judy Hoyt to essentially give up on their son, Rick, who was born as a spastic quadriplegic with cerebral palsy.
"They said, 'Forget Rick. Put him away, put him in an institution. He's going to be nothing but a vegetable for the rest of his life'," Dick recalled.
But Dick and Judy knew God had bigger plans for their son.
After spending years fighting for their son's inclusion in "normal", mainstream life, Rick expressed a desire to participate in a 5-mile benefit run for a Lacrosse player who had been paralyzed in an accident.
Even though Dick Hoyt wasn't a runner, he was willing to do anything to help make his son's dreams come true. And their incredible journey blossomed into a grander design still inspiring people today!
WATCH: Inspirational Story Of Dick And Rick Hoyt
Team Hoyt - The story of Rick and Dick Hoyt from rlmelco on GodTube.
Son's Dedication To Father With ALS
When Sam Coffaro turned to social media for help in raising funds to buy his dad, John Coffaro, a Team Hoyt Running Chair, the response was overwhelming. In just a few days, he had enough donations to afford what he started calling "Chair Force One".
But people didn't stop giving!
With over $8,000 raised, Sam has more than double the money needed for the chair. The excess will bless John with a specialized lift for his home, with the remainder of the money going to the ALS Association.
In addition to the donations, many have reached out to Sam asking to join him and his dad during the Air Force marathon, which takes place September 21, 2019.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Boy Starts Lemonade Stand To Take Mom On Date After Dad Dies But He Never Expected The Turn Out He Got
All of the prayers and support have meant the world to John Coffaro and his entire family. And it's just another way God is showing John he's not alone!
"Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me." Psalms 23:4
h/t & Featured Image: Cincinnati Enquirer
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Those Who Are Lonely or Isolated This Christmas - Your Daily Prayer - December 23
This Christmas, remember how precious you are to the Creator. Remember that there is nothing you can do or say that would ever separate His presence and love from you. It’s okay to go through Christmas feeling alone and isolated, but make sure you turn to God to fill those feelings of loneliness.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Those Who Are Lonely or Isolated This Christmas - Your Daily Prayer - December 23
This Christmas, remember how precious you are to the Creator. Remember that there is nothing you can do or say that would ever separate His presence and love from you. It’s okay to go through Christmas feeling alone and isolated, but make sure you turn to God to fill those feelings of loneliness.
Past Stories
- Husband Decorates His Neighbors' Homes For Wife Who Loves Christmas
- Couple Befriend Older Neighbor After Hearing Music Coming From His Apartment
- California Man Carpools With Adult Children On His Very Last Day of Work Before Retirement
- Family of Three Grows To Seven Overnight With Birth of Quadruplets
- The World's Oldest Dog Spike the Chihuahua Turns 25 Years Old
- Christmas Tree Planted Back in 1979 Inspires and Unites a Small English Village
- Dick Van Dyke Turns 99 After Evacuating From a Wildfire and Welcoming His Lost Cat Back Home
- Santa and Mrs.Claus Continue to Spread Christmas Magic Even With Santa's MS Diagnosis
- Little Girl Gets a Big Elf On the Shelf Surprise Honoring the Little Brother Who Passed Away
- Little Boy From England With Leukemia Delivers Over 400 Christmas Gifts To Kids At the Hospital
- Gold Star Family Receives a Big Surprise That Will Change Their Lives Forever
- 8-Year-Old With Down Syndrome Is a Hero After Saving Sister From House Fire
- Man Paralyzed At 17 While Snowboarding Has Found True Love and a Wonderful Life
- His Wife Passed Away, Now Their Special Tree is the 2024 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
- Granddaughter Captures Last Words Between Grandparents, Married For 69 Years
- New York State Police Rescue Woman Needing a Heart Transplant Stranded in Snowstorm
- Born the Same Year the Titanic Sank, World's Oldest Man Dies at 112
- Family Receives Support From School and Community After Losing House in a Fire
- Soldier Reunites With His Military Dog Yyacob After Years Apart
- Chicago Man Discovers That The Owner Of The Bakery He Loved To Visit Was Actually His Mother
- Husband Pays For 40 Pet Adoptions At Shelter For His Wife's 40th Birthday
- Parents Find Healing After Loss of Son By Donating His Beloved Key Collection To Little Boy
- Mom Dances With Son At His Wedding After Being Placed in Hospice Care 2 Weeks Before
- Grandmother and Young Granddaughter Battling Cancer At the Exact Same Time
- Community Brings Christmas Joy to Virginia Woman With Just Weeks to Live
- Four Friends Recreate A Fun Vacation Photo From 50 Years Ago
- School in Arkansas Mourns the Loss of Their Beloved Emotional Support Dog Abby
- 93-Year-Old Has Made Sure To Attend Every High School Football Game Since 1946
- Texas Mom Doesn't Remember Delivering Triplets After Rare Complication After Birth
- United Airlines Pilot Buys Pizza For 155 Passengers After They Make An Unexpected Stop
- Teenager With Down Syndrome Enjoys Playing Kickball After Parents Organize Neighborhood Game
- Woman in Shock After Finding Winning Lottery Ticket At the Bottom of Her Purse
- Australian Couple Walks Into Their Bedroom To Find the Cutest Koala
- 5 Boys and Their Father Were Saved By Good Samaritan After Explosion
- Daughter of WWII Soldier Finally Learns What Happened To Him, 80 Years Later
- Sisters Scream With Joy Watching Their 4-Year-Old Sister Take Her First Steps
- Her Mom Put a Message in a Bottle As a Child, 26 Years Later Her Classmate Found It
- This Missouri School Was Renamed After Their Much Loved and Dedicated Custodian
- Michael Strahan's Daughter is Now Cancer Free and Has Taught Him All About Perseverance
- These Two Newlyweds Found Love in Their Late 90s, After Meeting At Their Retirement Home
- Sisters Who Were Adopted By Separate Families Nearly 40 Years Ago Reunite After DNA Tests
- Oldest Living Person in the US Passes Away at 115, After a Long and Faithful Life
- At Just 20 and 22 Years Old, These Two Sisters From Minnesota Saved Their Family Farm
- After Over 450 Days in a Shelter, Boone and Rellie Find Their Forever Home, Together
- Sweet Kitten Named Coraline Loses Both Her Eyes, but Inspires Many with Her Spirit
- Donny Osmond Sees the 'End of the Tunnel' Coming After Performing for Over 6 Decades
- An Iguana Hitches a Ride on a Garbage Truck in Tennessee, Now Trying to Find Its Owner
- 6-Year-Old Starts 'Poop Scooping' Business to Help Animals and Adopt One of His Own
- Bride's Dad Drops During Father-Daughter Dance, but Things Lined up Perfectly to Save His Life
- Young North Carolina Father Risked His Life To Save a Couple and Dog From a Sinking Truck
Top Music Videos
The Statler Brothers 'Til the Storm Passes By' The Statler Brothers Live Performance
Jeremy Camp Jeremy Camp 'Ready Now' Powerful Official Music Video
Mark Schultz 'Different Kind of Christmas' - Live From Mark Schultz
Brad Stine Has Issues Brad Stine’s Hysterical Take on Adam Naming the Animals is Pure Gold
Kari Jobe Kari Jobe - First Love
Blogs
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.