www. Char l es tonPhys i c i ans . com | www.Hea l thL i nksChar l es ton . com | 89 in May. He was already doing very mild physical therapy, which he’d started at Trident, but he was far from out of the woods. He’d just begun eating again but still could not swallow on his own. Though he had a neck brace, pins in his right foot and braces on both legs, the care team found ways to start physical therapy in the hospital, Penny explained, to “prepare his trunk muscles and enhance his strength for when he could get out of bed again.” The months of rehab were quite successful. Pete and Penny both maintain that their devotion to fitness and healthy living undoubtedly increased Pete’s rate of recovery. Prior to the wreck, the couple walked every day, and Pete regularly engaged in pushups and weightlifting. After he finished the rehab program, he enjoyed a special workout opportunity with his physician, Dr. Malcolm Gottlich, where both men did 10 push-ups, and Rod Whiting, vice president of public relations and communications for the hospital, filmed the event. Pete ended up doing 12 push-ups, much to everyone’s amazement. “It felt so great I couldn’t stop,” he declared. As of press time, Pete is nearly back to his old self: “I started with the wheelchair, then a walker, then a cane and now I can walk on my own, I still have a limp, and I have pain sometimes, but I can cut the grass or do whatever I want to do.” “They call him ‘the miracle man’ now around St. George,” Penny added, beaming. “They mean it in terms of faith and tenacity. Pete was never angry; he never complained. He even forgave the guy who hit him.” “The community in this area has been so loving and supportive,” she added. “We’ve had people send cards and tell us they’re inspired. They tell me they prayed for us, and they are so happy to see Pete. Our extended family, church family, the community – even people we didn’t know.” As devoted members of Bethel United Methodist in Harleyville, the couple is proud to share their story and assure everyone “miracles happen every day.” Between the two of them, Pete and Penny have five children, 14 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, and Penny noted that “the children are amazed, and the story has strengthened the faith of their family and friends.” They’ve been happy to return to regular worship and events following Pete’s recovery, including a Shrine Christmas party this past December. “Pete slow-danced with me,” Penny recalled with a smile. “And people clapped for us. I cried.” Photo courtesy of the Bazzle family. Photo courtesy of Rod Whiting.
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