It was a moment that could have changed everything for Willie Kearns, but by the grace of God and the power of adrenaline, Willie’s life was spared. Just two millimeters—that’s how close the 49-year-old from Wilmer, Alabama came to having his life altered forever. He was on the brink of paralysis, but he narrowly escaped the worst, thanks to a miracle and the quick actions of his wife, Jeniffer.
It all happened on September 22nd when Willie was doing some bush hogging on his beloved tractor at Gulf Crest, Alabama. As he worked, his wife Jeniffer followed behind in their family pick-up truck. They were almost finished for the day—just one last patch of land to clear. That’s when disaster struck. As Willie maneuvered his tractor, it hit the base of a tree, causing another tree to fall directly on top of him. The tree struck him in the back of the head, and that’s when everything seemed to stop.
“I ran toward Willie as he was yelling that his neck hurt,” Jeniffer recalled. Panic set in, but Jeniffer’s response was immediate—driven by adrenaline and faith, she managed to lift the heavy tree off her husband. In that moment, her strength and faith were the only things keeping her husband alive. She wasn’t alone in believing that something greater was at play. “Only adrenaline and Jesus helped me get that tree off my husband,” Jeniffer told me, and those words reflect the incredible power of both her resolve and her belief.
Willie was rushed to the hospital, where doctors assessed the damage. X-rays revealed that Willie had broken both his C-7 and T-1 vertebrae, each in three places. The doctors gave him a grim warning: had the tree hit just two millimeters over, Willie would have been paralyzed for life, and in some cases, such an injury could have been fatal. “The doctors told me that if I was hit 2 millimeters over I would have been paralyzed,” Willie shared. The realization of how close he came to a completely different life is staggering.
Fortunately, Willie’s injuries were severe, but not as devastating as they could have been. For now, he is wearing a neck brace and will be unable to move his neck for the next three months. While recovery is expected to be slow, the couple is thankful for the miracle they received, knowing that it could have been so much worse. The accident served as a poignant reminder of how fragile life can be, and how quickly things can change in an instant.
As they adjust to the reality of Willie’s recovery, Jeniffer and Willie are reflecting on the lessons learned from this near-tragic event. One lesson, in particular, stands out. “It is VERY important that hunters and workers DO NOT WORK alone in the woods,” Jeniffer stressed. “If I had not been there, my husband probably would not be here with us today. I can’t stress this enough about having a buddy in the woods. It can be called the buddy system so it can sound manly,” Jeniffer chuckled, lightening the mood with her trademark sense of humor.
Jeniffer’s words serve as a vital reminder to everyone who works or spends time in dangerous situations. The buddy system isn’t just a safety protocol—it’s a lifeline. For Willie, if Jeniffer hadn’t been there, the outcome could have been tragically different. It’s a sobering reminder that sometimes, safety isn’t just about the work you’re doing, but about who’s there to support you in those moments when things go wrong.
In the days and weeks to come, Willie and Jeniffer plan to focus on his healing. The journey ahead will be difficult, but they will do it together, grateful for the second chance they’ve been given. As Willie recovers, they will hold onto the lesson learned and continue to cherish the miracle they’ve experienced. The tree that fell that day could have taken so much more from them, but thanks to faith, quick thinking, and a lot of love, they’ve been spared.
Willie and Jeniffer’s story is one of survival, resilience, and the power of faith in the face of danger. They have been given a new perspective on life, one that will undoubtedly make them appreciate every moment they have together. As they move forward, they will be more vigilant, more grateful, and more aware of the preciousness of life. And when it comes time for Willie to heal fully, he and Jeniffer will look back at that terrifying day with gratitude—thankful that the tree missed by just a millimeter, and even more thankful for the miracle that saved his life.
For now, as Willie focuses on his recovery and healing, he and Jeniffer are taking life day by day, grateful for every moment they get to spend together. And as they continue to process the events of that fateful day, they are reminded that in the blink of an eye, everything can change—and so can everything we are thankful for.
Break the Law or Bury My Girl: A Mother’s Heartbreaking Dilemma to Save Her Daughter 1090
Yvonne Cooper, a 33-year-old mother from Lake Heights, NSW, is faced with an unimaginable dilemma. The kind of decision no parent should ever have to make. Should she break the law to save her eight-year-old daughter, or accept a future where her child’s suffering only worsens, potentially leading to her untimely death? The law in Australia still prohibits the use of medicinal cannabis, but Yvonne believes it is her daughter’s last hope.
Her daughter, Sienna, has been suffering from a severe form of epilepsy since she was just five months old. Diagnosed with epilepsy at that young age, Sienna’s condition only worsened with time. By the time she was three, doctors confirmed she had Doose Syndrome, a rare and aggressive form of epilepsy that does not respond well to conventional medications. Sienna suffers up to 100 seizures a day, a relentless assault on her body and mind.
Yvonne, a drug counsellor by profession, never imagined she would find herself in this situation. “As a drug counsellor, it’s the last thing I thought I’d ever want my daughter to take,” she says. “But I’ve seen so much anecdotal evidence that suggests it could end the seizures and save my girl.” The hope that medicinal cannabis could offer a solution has become Yvonne’s only lifeline, but it comes with a stark, painful truth—using it would be illegal.
Sienna’s health has deteriorated drastically in recent months. She is now so severely affected by the seizures that she spends most of her time in front of the television, unable to enjoy life. Her condition has stripped her of the ability to engage with the world around her, leaving Yvonne heartbroken and desperate. “Because of the damage from her seizures, her IQ has fallen from a normal 90-100 to 41-50. This means she has severe intellectual development issues,” Yvonne explains. The once energetic and curious child is now trapped in her own body, a shadow of the girl she once was.
The Federal Government of Australia recently announced plans to make medicinal cannabis more accessible, providing it’s been prescribed by a doctor. However, the process to get approval is long and complicated, and patients like Sienna, who have not yet been prescribed the drug, still face significant barriers. The process involves numerous approvals, and it could take months, even years, for Sienna to receive the medication that could help her.
“I’m campaigning for a change in the law,” Yvonne says, her voice tinged with frustration. “Currently, it would be illegal for us to give it to Sienna. I don’t want to break the law, but if I don’t, I’m convinced I’ll have to bury my girl.” Yvonne’s words are a heartbreaking reflection of the anguish she is living through daily. She is caught in a moral quandary, between her deep desire to do what’s best for her daughter and the fear of breaking the law.
Yvonne’s campaign is not just for her daughter—it’s for all the families like hers, families who are trapped by the system, unable to access the treatments that could potentially save their loved ones. Sienna’s case is just one example of the many families across the country who are facing similar struggles. Yvonne has become a vocal advocate for change, fighting not just for her daughter’s future, but for the future of children like Sienna, who are suffering in silence while the law remains unchanged.
Despite the legal challenges, Yvonne’s determination to find a solution has only grown stronger. She’s relentlessly pushing for a change in the law, hoping that one day parents like herself won’t have to choose between their child’s health and breaking the law.
In the meantime, Yvonne faces a daily battle, one that no parent should ever have to face. She watches her daughter suffer, unable to do anything to stop it. And she wonders: if the law doesn’t change soon, will she be forced to make an impossible choice—break the law to save her daughter, or let her go?
As Yvonne continues to fight for a future where her daughter can live a life free of pain and suffering, her story serves as a reminder of the urgent need for change in the way we treat families dealing with severe medical conditions. For Yvonne and Sienna, the clock is ticking, and time is running out.
