Thank You, Louis Johns
Four days ago, on the Fourth of July, I wrote the letter again. It’s the same letter I’ve written, with only slight variations, every year on or around the holiday for 59 years. Because sixty years ago – on July 4, 1961 – I was granted renewed life. My existence very nearly ceased early in the afternoon on that day. And without Louis Johns – father, swimmer, person-paying-attention, and all around good man – it would have.
I was nine, and couldn’t swim a stroke. My sister was seven and couldn’t either. The two of us were left at the local community swimming pool and told to stay together in the shallow end. That lasted four or five minutes at best. I couldn’t get into the deeper water where the bigger kids were fast enough. I headed that direction almost immediately.
There were lifeguards, at least two of them. I was aware of them then and can clearly remember now that each had a “tower” from which to view the pool and that they were placed at the mid-way point between the deep and shallow ends, one on each long side.
I was directly beneath one of them.
All was well for a few minutes. I repeatedly pushed myself back from the edge five or six feet, then dog-paddled back. And then I wasn’t able to get back. I suddenly and unexpectedly found myself unable to move at all, in any direction. I could see safety five feet away but couldn’t reach it. I went under.
When I came back up I shouted, or thought I did. Surely someone would hear me. I disappeared a second time. Then I broke the surface once more and hollered again. The place was packed. This had to be noticeable to someone, I thought in a panic. But it apparently was not. I wonder yet exactly what the lifeguards were looking at during this period of time, and especially the one just six feet above me.
At about this time I became aware that I was going to die. I had just enough time to feel regret and then went down for the proverbial (and very real) third time. That’s the last thing I remember until the next day.
When I awakened in the hospital, with my mother at the bedside, I asked what had happened. And she told me.
A man named Louis Johns, father of seven (including one of my own classmates) had pulled me out, she said, surely saving my life. I later heard the larger story from him directly. He was in the pool with three of his own kids when he noticed my limp, floating body. Concerned, he turned me over and realized his worst fears. I was not breathing and my heart was not beating.
And then commenced a flurry of activity, involving resuscitation efforts; the summoning of an ambulance; identification of my younger sister who was witness to everything that happened from the time I was flung out onto the deck of the pool until I vanished into the back of an ambulance and down the street, siren blaring; and a return to our home of said sister by a police officer with the news for our parents.
That’s the short version. But the bottom line is that I’m most fortunate to be alive, and am extremely grateful to God and to Louis Johns, whom God used, that I am. I thank God regularly, and have thanked Louis at least once a year as well on this holiday (and also at Christmas). Until this year. Louis passed away recently at age 97. My letter this year was addressed to his widow, Ella Mae. I could not imagine not writing one, and will write one as long as she is living.
I’ve been given 60 years I might easily not have had. I hope I’ve spent them responsibly and well. And though I have no idea how many more I am to enjoy, God does. Every moment has been laid out in advance. So says Scripture, and I believe it. In the NLT, Psalm 139:16 says, “You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.”
So . . . four days ago I wrote the letter again, the letter of appreciation and gratitude for my life, lengthened by 60 years so far.
Thank you, God. And thank you, Louis Johns.
18 Comments
Sherri
What an amazing story! I remember reading about it before, but this had many more details…scary ones! I didn’t realize that you had literally passed out and were taken to the hospital. I’m sure I mentioned that I, too, nearly drowned in a lake at a much younger age. Thankfully, a woman nearby grabbed me before I had time to panic. I remember telling my very shaken parents that I could see bubbles going up past my face…I’ve had even more years than you to be very thankful for each and every one. God is good!
Carolyn Karlstrom
God IS good – that’s for sure! Thx so much for your comments. Yes, I remember that you had a similar scare when you were little. I’m so glad you survived it!! Life is pretty threatening, really, isn’t it? How would any of us attain to any significant age at all without divine intervention?
M.jBeth
Oh my! One never forgets those kind of life-threatening experiences. I had such at the age of 8-10 years of age when I got pinned between a loading chute my dad was backing up to a shed. I was standing against the shed, and he couldn’t see me. My mama Delores, who hardly ever was out helping load livestock happened to be there that day. She saw it happen and yelled at daddy to “Stop! Beth is behind!” I remember not being able to breath or move. I fell limp to the ground when released. I still remember that feeling and am forever grateful that I was given freedom from a tragic injury or death – another farm accident. My “Louis Johns” was my mama Delores. God IS good! 💗
ckarlstrom
Wow! That’s some deliverance story!! I’m so glad you were spared. Thank you for your response and praise the Lord for His intervention(s) in your life and mine!!! ♥️
KD Huber
I did not know this. I have that Bible verse in my prayers every night, asking God to show me what He wants from my life now, and to keep the evil one away, so I am able to discern His plan for my life now.
Reading your story explains to me a lot of what I see in you and the love you show to others in so many ways. I see Jesus in your life. I’m sure your hubby thanks Mr. Louis as well. 😉🙏
It will be wonderful to see the plans God has had, is having, is going to have in and through your life, when we get to heaven.
Thank you for sharing your story and I am grateful to Mr. Louis Johns as well for all your kindness you’ve shown me and my Mom.
Mad God continue to use you everyday till He comes to take us home.
Love and blessings to you,
KD~♡
Carolyn Karlstrom
How you’ve touched my heart, KD! Thank you so much for your sweet response. I’m so glad we’ve met and are friends. Many blessings upon you and your mom!! ❤️❤️
Trudie
Oh wow! God put the right man at the right place at the right time to pull you out of that pool! I can only imagine how grateful you are everyday! That’s wonderful that you still write his widow! I’ve read that verse several times for many years and it’s comforting. He has the final say so when we come home on that perfect, blessed, day. What a rejoicing that will be when my savior I shall see! 💜💜💜
ckarlstrom
Yes!!! Thanks so much, Yrudie, for reading this and commenting. I sure appreciate you!!
Jeanette Stark
An amazing story. My goodness. Praise God! You are loved by Him!
ckarlstrom
I know I am. And so are you! Thanks for responding . . . ❤️
Susie
I am thankful we have had each other for so long. I cherish every day. I will never forget that day and the panic I felt as I saw you sinking to the bottom of the pool. I love you
ckarlstrom
I’ve often thought you were probably far more traumatized than I was by the day’s events, as I remember so little. Nothing, actually, of the effort to save me, which must have been very difficult to watch. I, too, am glad we’ve had each other for so long. I love you too!! ♥️
Nancy Hoppe
Thank you for sharing, and how considerant of you to thank Loius and keep him up to date
every year! Strangely, this morning before hearing your story, as I was driving to church,
I was thinking about a liitle girl I pulled out of a swimming pool. She was under water,
Her parents were not there. She was 2 years old. I was wondering how her life turned out.
I am not taking any credit, if I were not there, God would have used someone else.
ckarlstrom
Wow – that you’ve had an experience somewhat like mine but from the other side – that’s amazing!! Good for you for acting. Oh, how I wish you knew what happened to the little girl and that she or a family member had been in touch with you. You’ve just been left hanging . . .
Thank you so much for your sweet response!
JoElla Harlan
Thank you for sharing this miracle!
Yes, you have been blessed! And we are also blessed by your beautiful life and testimony; by your unselfish and sweet spirit❤
ckarlstrom
Thank you so much, JoElla – it’s so sweet of you to say so! God is awfully good to me. And to us all!!
Elaine Buchanan
Wow!! Thank you too Louis Johns for acting so quickly to save this precious soul!! What a great story Carolyn and so glad that God put him there at such a time as that! Blessings!!❤
ckarlstrom
Thank you so much, Elaine, for that sweet response! I’m glad Louis was where he was when he was, too – God does provide!!