Death's Doorstep: Prayer and a Miracle

By Dianne Ramandt

Death's Doorstep, Prayer and a Miracle, is a mother's story about her oldest son's crippling car accident, when a careless driver broadsides the car he is in. Author Dianne Ramandt depicts what this tragedy meant to her son, herself, and the rest of their family. This book describes what it was like to have a son dropped off on death's doorstep, with a brain injury and in a coma. She writes about the shock and emotional pain that she, and the entire family suffered, and how her faith in God and in prayer became everything she needed. It's a story about faith, prayer and miracles, but also about opposition and fierce conflict that followed, while her son received miraculous recovery, restoration, and underwent strenuous rehabilitation. Dianne takes the reader through her dark valleys of anger and unforgiveness, to the glorious mountaintops of forgiveness and victory over the darkness that had formed over her life. Her story ends with changed lives, strengthened faith, and a passionate desire to serve her Lord and Savior.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Word Alive Press
• Release date: Jan 4, 2015
• ISBN: 9781770694910

Book preview

Death’s Doorstep: Prayer and a Miracle

Dianne Ramandt

Praise for Death’s Doorstep: Prayer and a Miracle

"The powers of darkness attack us daily. But as Dianne Ramandt shows in Death’s Doorstep: Prayer and a Miracle, you can have the power to conquer them by knowing Christ. Whether you are feeling secure in the light of His love or searching for guidance in the dark night of chaos; her book is comforting, encouraging, and beautifully written from the heart of a loving mother whose faith is in God."

Rev. Heather Davidson, London, ON

Evangelist/Founder

Homeward Bound Ministries Int.

We all face trials in life. Some collapse under the pressure. Others turn to God for strength. In author Dianne Ramandt’s account of her son’s near–death accident, we see the trust of family and friends as their reaction proves God’s love and faithfulness. Share in the inspiring story as Dianne takes the reader from that first moment of knowing, through the painful struggles to God’s amazing miracles. You will be touched and encouraged.

Donna Dawson (Fawcett)

Author & Award–Winning Novelist

This written journey made me cry with both joy and sadness. I felt like saying phooey to all the naysayers who think their pragmatic version of life is the only possible outcome to difficulties. Once again proof positive everything is possible with prayer and God’s help.

Dick Fennell, Powell, WY

"The author of Death’s Doorstep: Prayer and a Miracle does a great job of sharing her experiences and trials during her son’s tragic accident and recovery from a severe head injury. It’s a story of redemption, healing and changed lives. It is also about forgiveness, and how God uses trials to make us more like Him. This book is a must read. It will encourage those who are trying to cope with situations beyond human capability."

Bill Brown, Marcy, NY

Leader & Agent: Fellowship of

Christian Farmers International

Dianne is a woman of steadfast unshakable faith in Christ Jesus. During her darkest hours as she waited for the Lord to move in her son’s seemingly lifeless body after a horrible car accident, she remained unshakable in her faith. When physicians saw decline and death, Dianne saw life, and was victorious.

Rev. Rosetta O’Neal

Former Pastor, First Baptist Church, Windsor, ON

This book is a beautiful testimony of the love a mother has for her child, which is mirrored in the love that God our Father has for us. I couldn’t read it fast enough to see what would happen next.

Sandra Haan, Byron Center, MI

Regardless of our individual journey, we are privileged to share in my long–time friend’s experience of God’s love and faithfulness.

Rev. Alex H. Gray, Bothwell, ON

"Death’s Doorstep: Prayer and a Miracle tells a harrowing story; something you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy. However, this straightforward book also demonstrates just how deep a mother’s love can be. It’s a testimony of real life. Once I began reading I couldn’t put it down."

Mieke Ghyselbrecht, Middelkerke, Belgium

This book allowed me to share in a journey of a mother with her son and with God that traverses deep, dark valleys and high mountaintops, from death’s doorstep to newness of life. The story starts with tragic news no parent ever wants to receive. It is written with honesty and without any sugar coating of the pain and despair that Christ’s followers can experience in this life, even when prayers are answered miraculously. A lasting memory of this shared trip is the confirmation that God will be with us through the valleys of life, for He is forever faithful.

Clare Wiersma, Chatham, ON

Deputy Chief of Police

Reading Dianne’s book was like looking over her shoulder as she recorded her feelings and the very personal events surrounding her son’s accident and subsequent recovery. She writes about life’s difficult valleys as a Christ follower. It’s a story of hope: Jesus as Victor, and how He wants us to be victorious with Him! Dianne shares the highs and lows in her journey to victory.

Jan Westendorp, Shelbyville, MI

"Death’s Doorstep: Prayer and a Miracle is a heart–moving story of a mother’s unfaltering love for her son, and a tribute to God’s supernatural working in our lives."

Brad Burke, MD, Metamora, MI

Author, Does God Still Do Miracles?

"I’ve read that God doesn’t give us pain, but allows us to feel it as part of free will. When we come to end of what we can endure as humans, we can turn to the One Who can take our pain and make it manageable.

"Dianne Ramandt’s depiction of that spiritual journey in her book, Death’s Doorstep was so forthcoming of that pain, I cried from nearly cover to cover. Losing, or nearly losing a child, is not a club anyone wants to be in, but if you have been there, this is a must read spiritual warfare guide for the sad and broken hearted."

Holly Selders, Chesapeake, VA

Sr.VP, Tidewater Home Funding, LLC

"Reading is not a luxury for devoted Christians—it’s a necessity for all of us. I am grateful Dianne Ramandt wrote down her story for us to read. Death’s Doorstep: Prayer and a Miracle is deeply rooted in her faith journey that reaches to the very core of the mother/son relationship. This book can give its reader courage when faced with trial or tragedy; knowing that our God is still the God miracles."

Matthew G. Swain, Barrie, ON

Pastor, Community of Christ

"In Death’s Doorstep: Prayer and a Miracle, we are invited to travel with the author on a journey of mental, physical, emotional and spiritual restoration in her son’s life, after a life–changing car accident. She allows us to share in her raw emotions as a mother who loves and wants to protect her son, knowing her greatest comfort and trust must be placed in God alone."

Nori Wiesner, Calgary, AB

God gives strength to the weary, and hope and encouragement to the fainthearted. What a wonderful must read testimony.

Dave Loewen, Carberry, MB

President of the Fellowship of

Christian Farmers Canada

Once I picked up this book I couldn’t put it down. Dianne’s account of a life threatening injury to her son not only reveals a mother’s unwavering love, but also God’s gift of hope and healing.

Rev. Darrell Shaule, Lucan, ON

As I read Dianne’s book, I could relate to the relationship between a mother and her son. I could almost feel the sorrow she described in which her son was clinging to life after a tragic accident. However, God stayed with her and comforted her. He never left. Through prayer and having faith, God can do anything! It is a miracle from God that her son is still here today.

Joanne Carter, Wardsville, ON

Death’s Doorstep: Prayer and a Miracle

Copyright © 2011 Dianne Ramandt

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

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

EPUB Version: 978-1-77069-491-0

Word Alive Press

131 Cordite Road, Winnipeg, MB R3W 1S1

www.wordalivepress.ca

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

Ramandt, Dianne, 1938-

Death’s doorstep prayer and a miracle / Dianne Ramandt.

ISBN 978-1-77069-232-9

1. Ramandt, Dianne, 1938-. 2. Christian biography--Canada. I. Title.

BR1725.R33A3 2011 248.4 C2011-900270-1

In memory of my parents, John and Margaret Veenema, who loved me enough to instil God’s Word in my heart, by faithfully reading the family Bible daily.

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:7)

CONTENTS

Acknowledgements

Introduction

One: The Accident

Two: Prayer

Three: Caregiver

Four: The Awakening

Five: Strange Motives

Six: Four Counties

Seven: Damaged Relationships

Eight: Going to Parkwood

Nine: Rehabilitation

Ten: Other Patients in Parkwood

Eleven: Conflict Returns

Twelve: A Blue Christmas

Thirteen: Continued Strife

Fourteen: Recovery

Fifteen: Forgiveness—Easier Said Than Done!

Sixteen: Strong Opposition

Seventeen: The Conference

Eighteen: Returning to Four Counties

Nineteen: The Wheels Inn

Twenty: Rejection

Twenty–One: Going Home

Twenty–Two: Life Goes On

Twenty–Three: Letting Go

Twenty–Four: Changed Lives

Twenty–Five: Only One Life

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Writing this book didn’t happen overnight, but after my oldest son, Edward, had a catastrophic car accident, and God answered my many prayers on his behalf, I couldn’t refrain from telling others about it. Then, between God placing it on my heart and