Mich. Pastor 'Rapidly' Healing from Stabbing; Sketch of Suspect Released
A Detroit-area pastor who was severely stabbed in his home last week is recovering at a miraculous pace, according to an official update from his church Monday.
Though Kevin Ramsby was reportedly stabbed over 30 times when an intruder broke into his home last Tuesday, the executive pastor of Revival Tabernacle Church in Highland Park, Mich., is "healing rapidly" and may be out of the hospital by the end of the week instead of months as doctors originally thought, church staff reported Monday.
"The doctors are saying 'He's a miracle!'" they exclaimed.
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"Pastor Kevin's doctor said it best... that we thank God for all the surgeons, and physicians and nursing staff that have had Pastor Kevin in their care, but we honestly know that his life, and his recovery are ultimately in God's hands, and He is the one who's doing the miraculous work in Pastor Kevin," church staff added.
According to reports, an intruder broke into Ramsby's home around 3 a.m. last Tuesday and stabbed him repeatedly during the altercation that ensued. Ramsby's wife and children were out of town at the time of the attack. The pastor had also been out of town but returned home ahead of his family.
"The stab wounds were so many, and so severe that Pastor Kevin lost consciousness and was left for dead by the perpetrator," Revival Tabernacle staff had reported.
"With nothing less than what we know to be the strength and power of the Lord, when the intruder went to another room of the house, Pastor Kevin came to and miraculously gained strength to get himself out of the house and crawl to his neighbors who quickly responded to his cry for help," they continued. "How great is our God?"
After Highland Park police and medical emergency teams arrived on the scene, Ramsby was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he underwent immediate surgery. Ramsby had sustained injuries and lacerations to his back, face, neck, and abdominal areas, but fortunately suffered no damage to major arteries or to his lungs.
Though Ramsby arrived in critical condition, the pastor's condition was upgraded to stable after about eight hours and doctors were reportedly able to repair the intestinal damage that he sustained.
On Thursday, however, Ramsby suffered from a persistent fever that doctors initially believed was due to international bleeding. The doctors later found the source of the fever – an infection at the spot where one of the incisions had been made.
By Friday, Ramsby's temperature dropped back down and the pastor was able to breathe without the help of a ventilation machine.
He was eventually able to relay a message to his church in time for Sunday, when his wife told the congregation he praised God for all that He was doing in healing him and thanked God for the city and for the community.
"Where this incident may shed a negative light on the city in some people's eyes, Pastor Kevin was clear to point out that the community's response to his call for help, and the rapid medical response helped get him to the hospital on time," church staff reported. "And of course thanking the body of Christ for being there to pray and support his family.
"Sarah also shared on a side note that Pastor Kevin was scheming to try and get a sprite or diet coke," they added.
The church is now praying that its members and the community will not recount last week's incident "over and over, but to what glory that God is going to get out of this."
"Please stand with us in prayer that this be the same for Pastor Kevin," they urged.
Also on Monday, the Michigan state police issued a composite sketch of the suspect behind last week's stabbing.
Police are searching for a black male in his mid-30s or early 40s who ranges from 5 feet 9 inches tall to 6 feet, Detective Herb Fluker of the Highland Park Police Department said Monday, according to The Detroit News.
In the sketch, the suspect appears to have a cleanly shaven head and no facial hair.
