- [Narrator] Bruce and HelenaAusink were driving down

I-95 through a rainstorm ontheir way to a family reunion

in July, 2018 when their carhydroplaned and hit a tree.

Bruce and their three youngdaughters weren't hurt

but Helena was knocked unconscious.

- At that moment everything changed,

I knew that she was seriously hurt.

I did not panic, I just rightaway like opened her mouth,

listened for her breathing,checked her pulse,

I felt a faint pulse.

She began to take gaspskind of like intermittently.

- [Narrator] As Bruceheld his wife's head still

another motorist called 911.

Moments later an ambulance arrived.

Helena was incubated

and rushed to Nash EmergencyCare Center in Rocky Mount.

- I think they were concerned right away

about her making it.

I just remember justconstantly asking God,

petitioning the Lord, saying,

"Father protect her, be with her."

- [Narrator] Time was criticalbut with a MEDEVAC crew

grounded due to weather shehad to be taken by ambulance

to Vidant Medical Center inGreenville, North Carolina,

over 40 miles away.

By then she was in acoma and on a ventilator.

- They explained she's hada traumatic brain injury,

her brain is swelling,her body's shut down

because of that, 'cause it'strying to self preserve.

She was non-responsive, sothat wasn't a good sign.

And it was at that point

that I was in the moment of despair.

- [Narrator] Doctorsput Helena on medication

that would keep her sedatedand allow her brain to heal.

Meanwhile Bruce sent out acall to prayer over Facebook.

Friends and family fromall over the country

joined with him to pray.

- I was very, very concernedthat she wouldn't make it.

Or if she does make it what level

of functionality isshe gonna come back to?

I didn't know, have any idea,what the future looked like

at that point.

- [Narrator] After a few daysthe swelling in Helena's brain

had gone down and doctorsbegan weaning her off

the sedatives to see if shewould regain consciousness.

- You know with her beautifulpersonality it was extremely

difficult to look at her and reflect upon

where she is right nowversus where she was.

It would just prompt me to pray.

- [Narrator] After a weekthey took Helena off the vent.

- And so for that hour andsome change it was just amazing

and I felt such victory in that moment.

Then she started likestruggling to breathe

and it was like a coughing type thing.

And they had to put it backin, I was there for that

and that was an emergencyactually to put it back in.

And so that was anothervery difficult time

because here I thoughtwe were on the fast track

to success and we were putright back where we were.

- [Narrator] In fact it was looking worse.

Doctors scheduled atracheotomy to insert a tube

in Helena's windpipe toget her off the ventilator

and allow her lungs and airway to heal.

But her loved ones didn't give up.

- That became like the big prayer focus.

Let's pray that she can beextubated and not have a trach.

- [Narrator] Then the daybefore the tracheotomy doctors

decided to try one more timeto take Helena off the vent.

- When it was successful itwas just huge praise report.

- [Narrator] But Helena stillneeded prayer and healing.

When she was transferred

to Riverside Select Specialty Hospital

for rehab four days later shestill couldn't speak or walk

and doctors weren't sure ifshe would ever fully recover.

- Her Glasgow Coma Scale which is a scale

of severity the best you can get is 15

and hers was three at the initial scene

which is totally impaired.

- When I first started takingcare of her she couldn't talk,

she was in the bed, had restraints on.

She had a feeding tube in her nose.

- [Narrator] Then just twodays after being transferred.

- I walked in the roomand I said, "Hey girl."

And she said, "Hey," inthis little, raspy voice.

She didn't know my name butshe knew exactly who I was.

- When I came the first thingI say, go over close to her

and give her a kiss and say, "I love you."

One time she said, "I love you too."

It was so faint and I just exploded.

I was like, "Yeah!"

- By day five she was walking a little bit

with a walker, gettingup and down to the chair,

following commands, havingshort conversations.

- [Narrator] After justover three weeks in rehab

Helena went home.

- It was just beautiful to have her back,

to have her back in the kids' life.

- The biggest thing is thatI was thankful I was alive

and so I was just so grateful for that.

That I was there for them.

- [Narrator] Nine months afterthe accident Helena completed

a 5K run while five months pregnant.

Later she gave birth to ahealthy baby boy, Josiah Lee.

- Most people have some sort of deficit,

Helena doesn't have any deficits.

She drives, she exercises,she probably could run

a marathon tomorrow.

I mean that's just kinda how she is

and that's how she wasbefore the accident.

So it's pretty miraculous.

- Without prayer, without a miracle

she wouldn't be functioninglike she is today,

may not even be here.

- Whenever I met someonewho would come up and say,

"We prayed for you while you,after your car accident."

I would just say, "Thank youso much for your prayers.

Your prayers moved the heartof heaven on my behalf."