Victory Collection-Book One

For Pete's Sake

For Pete's Sake

They were the most popular boys at Johnson High School a few years ago. Ever popular with the girls and the other students, they grew in confidence and hope for the future. Paul and Pete Finch were identical twins and the track stars of the school. They each won consistent blue ribbons because they never competed against each other. Paul was the best at the mile run and Pete, the 60 yard dash. The looked forward to receiving college scholarships in two years.

They ran everywhere they went. Paul would even jog 8 eight miles after school to see his girlfriend. (I guess he thought perspiration was romantic. But, it was the effort that impressed her.) It was also very good training. Both youths left home at 4:30 a.m. each morning, to run to the neighbor's farm to milk his 26 cows. It all tested their endurance, which was important in their sport.

The day of the qualifying meet arrived and Pete was the school's best chance to go to the Regionals for the 60-yard dash. He noticing a tingling in his feet for a day or two, but dismissed it as minor, deciding he could run it off.

Despite all of the practice and training, during the race Pete sustained a devastating injury. He was in the lead, when suddenly his blood pressure dropped, significantly, to a dangerous level. He passed out and fell. Gaining consciousness, he advised the emergency room doctor that he'd had the flu a week before. After a spinal tap and other tests, it was determined Pete had Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS). It is an autoimmune disease where the Peripheral nervous system attacks its own cells and destroys the body's ability to send messages from the muscles to the brain and spinal cord. GBS can lead to Spinal Stenosis, COPD, or Neurogenetic Shock. Pete was becoming a paraplegic, and doctors tried to prepare him for life in a wheelchair.

Everyone at the competition had circulated the word around school. It was the buzz in every hallway and bathroom. Whether it was a test coming up or a sports competition, the students would say: "Do it For Pete's Sake. It became a catch phrase, a household word. All the kids and their families, in fact the entire city, reached out to him with calls and letters. The television station sports broadcast elaborated on his specific disease and prognosis. People started to send money, and a contribution center was set up. Strangers started giving online. I wouldn't say the Finches were poor. But medical bills were mounting, and it was taking a toll on the family. Father took on a second job and mom worked part-time.

The pain and weakness were almost unbearable. But, Pete was undaunted. He did his physical therapy, in spite of seeing no results. He prayed but had not yet had an answer. Then one day, he thought he had made a breakthrough. He saw a sudden, significant improvement. But, it was just a fluke. Hopes were high, which added to the disappointment. Was God playing games with their emotions? Never!

What, then, would explain the false hope. As well as we serve a good God, there are also the presence of those who are bent on evil. Spiritual forces that exercised the right to the free will God gave angels and mankind. They are still at work in this world, causing havoc and disease.

Pete understood that and was not afraid. He put his trust in the Lord and persevered. Meanwhile, his plight was becoming well-known and support was growing. Social media got involved and soon the public, from various countries, took an interest in his story.

Still, Pete was not distraught. He had a good attitude and outlook. As Christians, he and his family believed in miracle healing or that God, at least, would see him through it. Their faith was strong and without doubt, except the week complications set in, and he couldn't breathe. He was on a ventilator, but that is a risk in itself.

As the disease progressed, the paralysis in his legs began to effect his entire body. He couldn't lift his arms or even move his head. He slipped into a coma for a few weeks, hovering between life and death. Family and friends prayed. They couldn't reconcile their thoughts with the fact that he might die. They knew they had God and each other and the support of their church and community. That included a growing number of other towns, especially those with students the boys had competed against.

Pete survived and learned to operated a device that enabled him to operated his wheelchair by inhaling or exhaling on a straw tube (wand). He was paralyzed from the neck down, so this device gave him a measure of independence. If God healed him even partially, he said when he could speak, Pete knew the world was watching. He would praise God anyway and show everyone he would remain faithful all the way.

While all of this was happening, Paul was able to advance through the ranks as the high school athlete extraordinaire. He seemed to excel in competition at every level, saying his achievements were on behalf of his brother. The phrase "For Pete's Sake" took on a whole new meaning and caught on, especially among the young people. A movement of sorts began, with participants chanting it everywhere. Sports sections in newspapers and magazines featured the young athletic wonder.

Paul was asked to appear on a public television talk show as the next Junior Olympic hopeful. His time was comparable to the elite in the sport, with 3.25 for the mile run (1600 meters). He hoped to exceed that, by the time he reached the National Junior Olympics Championship, to win the competition. He was motivated by love for his twin brother. Over 2300 athletes, world wide, participated in this event. Paul was sponsored by a famous company with a budget of at least $2,500 to defray the cost of his transportation and other expenses.

The Finch family was all there at the Nationals, proudly speaking to TV reporters about the twins. The race was televised from start to finish. Fans were jammed into the stands and the overflow areas. Banners were held, with encouragement word of support, such as "Go Paul"and "You got this Paul". Someone brandished a particularly large one on which was written: "For Pete's Sake" and a new crowd started to chant the phrase.

Pete and his parents were on the sideline, at the end of the run, cheering Paul on. He was ahead of the crowd and close to the finish. Suddenly, he grabbed his brother's wheelchair and ran it across the finish line! The audience was on their feet with excitement! The sports announcer leaped up from his chair and yelled: "Finch has done it! He has taken the Olympic gold medal! A new all-time world record!"

Just then, to add to the victory, for the first time since his fall, Pete lifted his finger to honor his brother as number one ! The crowd cheered wildly! Photographers scrambled to catch every memorable moment. In an amazing gesture, Pete raised his arm completely, pointing skyward to honor God! The TV announcer was ecstatic. "Can you believe all of this, sports fans?" he shouted. "FOR PETE'S SAKE !!"