Vandalia ministers recover from crash

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - Exactly one month after the crash, a Vandalia minister and his wife, critically injured in a motorcycle crash, walked back into the hospital to say thank you.

Miami Valley Hospital employees said at times it seemed the entire congregation of Living Word Church was at the hospital praying for the couple.  Now, by what they call the grace of God, they are making a speedy recovery.

"I remember the skid and the next think I know the EMTs were picking me and my wife off of the ground," Living Word Pastor Pat Murray said.

"While I was raking leaves my husband said 'Pat and Jackie have been in a terrible accident and they are critical," Murray's mother Colleen said.

Living Word Pastor Pat Murray and his wife Jackie were airlifted to Miami Valley Hospital from Waynesville October 13.  Pat had a shattered vertebra, Jackie had a collapsed lung and was unconscious.  Doctors initially weren't sure if she'd survive or he'd walk again.

"People we never even met before have written us and said 'we're praying for you' we believe in their prayers and obviously its working," Murray said.
     
Both victims walked into the Rehab center Thursday where they spent the final two weeks of their stay with a cake to show their appreciation.

"This is just a small way for us to be able to say thank you," Murray told the crowd.   

"I have the luxury of seeing people back in the office so i see how they do overtime and their recovery progresses a lot of our nurses and patient care technicians therapists never see these people again," Dr. Michael Watts said.

Doctors are encouraging the couple to take it easy, but the Pastor says his brush with death and the way he saw God's work has him anxious to get back to work.
   
"I'll be back on Sunday morning delivering a message to God's people again," Pastor Murray said.

As for getting back on the motorcycle, the Pastor's mom has her own biblical answer.

"Thank God they had helmets on but you can imagine what mothers think about motorcycles right? I'm going to baptize his motorcycle in the river," Colleen Murray said.
   
Pastor Murray said he was unsure about motorcycle riding, but is getting the bike repaired.

Troopers hope to talk to Murray now that he's out of the hospital to find out more about what led to the accident.