One moment in time can change everything. The Surgeon came out and told me that he was not going to lie to me, but Joe's condition was extremely critical. He said that he would do what he could do, but did not know if Joe would make it through the surgery. He then told me that he would need God to direct his hands.
The Surgeon's note on 03/02/1999 read like this: "It is remarkable and a miracle that he is awake."