I survived a vehicle explosion

As told to Megan Messerly

Sunday, Aug. 9, 2015 | 2 a.m.

It was my last day of vacation, and I felt empty. I was trying to fill that void through drinking, women and partying — trying to do what I thought any 25-year-old kid would do. I was clouded about where I was going in life.

The house I bought was underwater. I worked a good job but wondered whether I would be a server at a steakhouse my whole life. Two and a half weeks earlier, my girlfriend at the time and I broke up.

I got invited to church, but I didn’t go. I went to the pool at the Palms. I got there around 10:30 a.m. and had five drinks with no food and little sleep. I remember being in the pool. I remember seeing my friends hanging out. I remember making plans for later that night. I remember leaving the Palms, getting in the car — and that’s all I remember.

My co-worker parked in front of my home about 5:30 p.m., but he never woke me up. He told my family he had the AC on in the car full blast. He stepped outside, smoked a cigarette. I’m still sleeping. He comes back in the car and falls asleep with his foot on the gas pedal.

My neighbor said he thought they were cleaning carpets outside because there was a revving sound for 45 minutes.

My co-worker is asleep. I’m asleep. The car blows up.

My neighbor hears the explosion and comes downstairs. He sees me engulfed in flames, and I’m screaming for help. He goes back upstairs and grabs some covers. This gentleman delivering Capriotti’s grabbed me and took me to the other side of the street. He suffered second-degree burns on his hands. Then the car blew up a second time.

I was in a coma for more than 90 days. But it was miracle after miracle — God came through.

After I woke up, I also said all the “what if’s” and “why me’s.” I was bitter. The fire came from the engine, but cars don’t blow up, you know?

But with all the people, not only my family but so many friends, so many doctors, the room was full of light. The staff in the hospital said I’m a miracle. People I didn’t know took the time to come pray for me and share words of encouragement. I was like, “God does love me. He grabbed me from the burning flames.” I fell back to my faith.

I still had many, many operations. I lost count at 30. I think we hit 30 in the first month. My injuries were all burns. Eighty percent of my skin burned. They’re considered fourth-degree burns because they went down to my bone. They took the good skin from my legs and put it all over my body.

Sometimes I still get a phantom pain. My legs are real sensitive, so if I’m standing or walking for long periods of time, it hurts. But I try to walk the majority of the time on my legs and use my chair at home.

I work a part-time job and go to school. I play wheelchair rugby because I’m a big-time sports guy. I try to eat well and stay active. I’m also involved with a ministry called Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and we try to impact kids and get them active in sports. I plan to give back to the community in a big way.

I have major goals, and they’re gonna come through. I was a go-getter beforehand, and this hasn’t stopped me.