The Doctors Told Him “There Was No Chance of Survival”

It was May 9, 2023, a day that began like any other spring morning. Joshua was in his home office preparing to deliver a virtual presentation when everything changed.

Joshua recalls, “Feeling like I’m in big trouble. And then I remember thinking, oh my God I am not okay.”

Without warning intense pain filled Joshua’s chest. Disoriented, he dialed 911.

Dispatcher says, “Ambulance and Fire. What is the address? “
Joshua says, “Oh my gosh. Please help me.”
Dispatcher says, “I’m sending the paramedics out to you now. Stay on the line.”

Paramedics arrived to find Joshua unconscious and rushed him to St. Mary Mercy Livonia hospital fifteen minutes away. His wife, Julie, was at work when the ER doctor called her.

Julies shares, “He wasn’t sure if he would make it. I wasn’t so calm when I arrived, but I also didn’t know what was wrong. So, there was a lot of mixed feelings.”

Doctors told Julie the devastating news: Joshua’s chances of survival were less than one percent. Joshua had suffered an acute type-A aortic dissection. A tear in the main artery of his heart, complicated by a massive stroke.  He was immediately air-lifted to the University of Michigan Frankel Cardiovascular center for emergency open-heart surgery.

Julie remembers, “My first reaction when the ER doctor said he may not make it was I was in shock. I just started praying that he would make it and that there would be a miracle because the medical chances were not in our favor.”

For nearly five hours, doctors worked to repair the torn artery using a graft. They warned Julie that even if Joshua survived, the stroke could have left extensive brain damage. He might never speak, walk, or recognize his family again.

Julie says, “He made it through the surgery, but he’s not out of the woods yet. That’s when the doctor told us about there’s a 40% survival chance after the surgery. There was still a lot of swelling, you know in his brain. So, they weren’t sure what the stroke affected. When the doctor talked about all of the deficits he might have, I was thinking in my head, no he’s gonna prove you wrong because he’s extremely stubborn and he’s gonna get through this. My specific prayers were for his recovery, as best as it could be and for strength to get through it.”

The next day, Joshua regained consciousness, but with devastating complications. He could recognize family, but he couldn’t move the entire left side of his body, couldn’t swallow, and suffered from left-side neglect; an inability to perceive anything on that side. Miraculously, his speech was unaffected.

Julie shares, “We were really happy when he started talking because that means the stroke didn’t affect his speech because he is a speaker. So, we didn’t want that to affect his speech.”

After three weeks in ICU, Joshua was transferred to inpatient rehab where he learned just how close he had come to losing his life.

Joshua recalls, “As soon as I had found out about it, I lost it emotionally. And I kept thinking about my wife and my kids and what their life would've been like if that, if it went a different direction.”

Rehab was brutal. Even the simplest movements felt impossible. Along the way, Joshua’s family, friends and church surrounded him with prayer.

Joshua shares, “I was told that walking especially without any devices, was not very realistic. It was something that you better get comfortable at the wheelchair because it’s something that it might not come back. I couldn’t even like, roll over on this flat table and I was just so frustrated and angry, and I wanted to give up. Prayer and faith were central in my healing process. They were the most important aspect of it. It gave me the faith to believe that I could get through it.”

After one month, a major breakthrough came. 

Joshua says, “Once they stood me up, I just felt so elated. It was like I just won, a competition. And I was just so excited because like okay if I did this then I can take some steps.”

Julie shares, “It’s rare to go from being lifted on a machine to walking with nothing. So, it just shows his determination and stubbornness that he persevered.”

One year later, Joshua walked into the survival flight base where the same team that once airlifted him witnessed the miracle. His progress astonished the medical community surpassing everything doctors predicted.

Julies says, “They very rarely see someone that has that condition survive. And when we had his year follow up with his surgeon, he said, ‘I’ll see you in two years.’ So, everything was fine. I attribute that to, prayer, our faith, the medical team and just his support.”

Today, Joshua has regained 80% of his mobility and even returned to what he loves to do the most, riding his motorbike.  

Joshua says, “You probably could hear me screaming down the road as I'm going, woo hoo. Just so excited. I mean it was amazing.”

Joshua shares his testimony in his ministry, New Life Mission, to help others find hope and healing in Christ. For the Spears’ family, every moment together is daily reminder that God still heals and performs miracles.

Julie shares, “I want people to know everything is possible with some prayer. God still does do miracles because I see it every day with my husband and his recovery.”

Joshua shares, “When we pray there's a God who listens and there's a God who answers. No matter how bad it gets. God is gonna help you through it.”

For more information on Joshua Spears and his ministry 'New Life Mission,' click the LINK!