Man Who Was Paraplegic for Over 20 Years—Prays in Middle of Night and Is Miraculously Healed

Aimee Herd, Fred Delaney : Apr 6, 2005
WWSB-ABC News

(Sarasota, Fla.) Sixty-seven-year-old Barry Yoder believes in miracles. Every time he takes a step he is reminded of the healing power of God that touched him on May 3rd of last year.

After a back injury in his yard in May of 1982, Yoder was left a paraplegic, confined to a wheelchair for nearly 22 years, and confined to his bed for 4 years. His church family at Westminster Presbyterian bought him his wheelchair, built a lift so his wife could lift him from his bed, and even built a special ramp so Yoder would be able to bring his wheelchair into the choir loft.

On May 3rd, 2004, in the middle of the night, Yoder was praying. He will never forget what happened next. "An electrical charge came down through my hands and my feet…Immediately, I could see my toes start to wiggle…I could feel my bed sheets…that's how sensitive the feeling came back…I threw off covers and walked out of bed with no therapy." His wife, Winnefred, heard the commotion and screamed when she saw him, not realizing it was her husband, walking. "He said, 'I've been healed,' and we cried and rejoiced and praised God…you wouldn't believe what a happy occasion it was."

The medical facts were investigated by Dr. Joseph Pecoraro, who came to the conclusion that it was a miracle. "I've seen miracles before, and there's no question in my mind [that] it's an act of God."

Yoder’s walking is not the only miracle, however; he was also diabetic, oxygen dependent and had high blood pressure. All of those conditions are gone and his oxygen level is 98%. He and his wife desire to share their story with others since, they say, many people experience smaller miracles but don’t pause long enough to acknowledge them.