Evan Kirksey and Family

On December 8, 1998, just 32 weeks along in the pregnancy, Evan Michiah Kirksey was gifted to his parents by the Lord God almighty. Evan, meaning “God is gracious’ is to be taken literally in retrospect to his wonderful life and testimony. Michiah means, “Who is like God?” Interestingly enough, if he had been born just a few hours earlier, on the 7th of December, his competitive parents had arranged for the name “Machiavelli.” As history indicates, that name may have signified a much different outlook on Evan’s life.
Currently, Evan, an only child, is a 17 year old senior at Willard High School in Willard, MO. His parents, Stormie and Daren Kirksey are the proud parents of this fine young man. Daren, a former basketball star at SBU in Bolivar, MO is a teacher and coach in the Springfield school system. Stormie, a 1992 graduate of Skyline High School is a former Miss Merry Christmas queen and athlete. As a beautiful and talented young woman, Stormie was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease known for attacking organs, called lupus. Unfortunately, this disease has had its ruthless effects on Stormie since her senior year of high school. With so much ahead of Stormie, she put her faith in Christ and has not looked back. Daren, a man of faith himself has supported his wife and son through sacrifice and courage.
When Evan was younger, he provided many hours of entertainment and fun to his whole family. Evan, the social bug that he is, is well traveled and quite intelligent. Having moderate cerebral palsy has not slowed him down intellectually. While his physical body has had to overcome a lot, his spirit, his passion, his courage, his faith and his mentality, is strong.
As a young boy, Evan accepted Jesus into his heart while attending vacation bible school at Southern Hills in Bolivar, MO. This faith in Christ, along with a dedicated father and grandparents, provided Evan with much needed stability while his mother was in and out of severe illness and near death experiences. Evan remained strong and hopeful. He always provided a bright smile, a warm hug, and a sense of gratitude.
In October of 2013, Evan traveled to the Shriner’s Hospital in St. Louis, MO to undergo an intrusive spinal fusion surgery that would correct a very dangerous and potentially threatening scoliosis condition. Wouldn’t you know, Evan was only seen with a smile – not a frown. That young man was hurting. He was struggling. Nobody knew it. He couldn’t allow himself to be seen as anything but hopeful. Mainly, he wanted to be strong for his mom. He also, being a strong Christian, knows the word of God. He knows the meaning of “God is gracious.” He would not allow, even at the age of 14 and ¾, to have people feeling sorry for him.
Recently, Evan has been championing at the varsity level in speech and debate at Willard High School. The articulate and linear approached thinker can debate with the best of us. God gave him the knack for logic and argument. A true conservative, Evan understand the value of freedom and what it means to be a patriot. He represents common sense and strategic thinking. However, Evan empathizes and promotes love for all of God’s people, even those who aren’t like-minded. Evan is a role model for how to treat your neighbor.
On Sunday November 13, 2016, Evan was traveling with a friend, headed to a country church to witness to a baptism. Sadly, the country roads proved to be too much of a challenge for the driver and as the asphalt encountered the gravel, the vehicle flipped and rolled three times landing upside down. The driver, trapped, was unaware of Evan’s situation. Thankfully, they were both wearing seatbelts, and Evan, not allowing himself to stay ensnared in the vehicle, willed himself out by head butting the broken window and digging a layer of dirt out of the ground. As he inch wormed his way unrestricted, he realized his friend was not able to get out of the car. Evan made his way back to the road and an angel (or human in a vehicle) stopped to check on him. Together, they communicated appropriately and others came to the rescue. The car was lifted, the friend was rescued, and they were under the supervision and protocol of medical responders. When at first, responders realized Evan had mobility and was a courageous fighter; it might have been tempting to release him early and simply chalk it up and discuss how fortunate he was. However, the decision was made by the grace of God to brace Evan and have him go out on a stretcher to Mercy in Springfield via ambulance. Once Evan arrived, a panicked set of parents scrambled to gather facts and emotions. X-rays proved to confirm the worst. Evan had broken his neck. To be specific, he had a compound fracture of C6 and C7. “Evan should not have lived” explained the doctor. His spinal cord should have been severed. Clambering to find words and tactic for communication, Stormie sought the support and prayers of loved ones. Meanwhile, Daren stayed strong for Evan. Within minutes, family began to arrive and then friends, then social media etc. Evan, scared, and rightfully so, began to wonder what the world was going to be for him. Concerned for his friend at a neighboring hospital, Evan mused the foulest. At nearly 18 years old, his senior year ahead of him, into a very successful championship caliber season of speech and debate, anticipating the tenure to come at his daddy’s alma matter, SBU, Evan pondered the idea that things might be changing today. These changes might be life threatening. They might not be life threatening, but life altering. As Evan has overcome so much with CP, spinal fusion, and an ill mother, he buckled down and “got his brave on.” He felt the presence of the Holy Spirit ministering to his soul. Evan was reminded the power of prayer and the joy of his salvation. Evan proclaimed his faith and allowed the love of family and friends to pour into his life while he laid there for it to unfold. Evan patiently waited for the emergencies of the hospital to settle down so he could have his own serious repair of the body. Do you wonder if that bothered Evan? He was expectant to get maintenance on his broken body soon, but understood and respected the nature of the emergency room. He desired that others received their care first (especially if that was timelier to their safety). Under the care of brilliant surgeons, Evan faced a very invasive and prolonged surgery that would determine his physical fortune. While God is the great physician, He empowered the medical professionals and modern science to execute their skillful graft.
Evan’s family and friends patiently awaited the beginning of the surgery for several hours after arriving. Evan finally was able to receive the surgical attention in the mid evening. Lying supine, the surgeon had to enter the spinal cord from the front of the neck, attach a bracket, and then provide necessary stability for a pronation surgery which entailed wires and lots more. When the doctor came out after midnight, he gently conveyed to Stormie and Daren the good news that Evan would recover. His road to recovery will require time, money, energy, focus, patience, etc.
Evan was looking forward to his senior year, thriving in speech and debate, showering his friends with his intellect and social humor. Evan was headed into the most enjoyable part of the culminating factor of his senior year – the spring semester. He was prepared to ride this thing out in style. Nearing the end, the joy is part of the journey that allows the destination to climax so memorably. However, life throws curve balls. Evan has never let any of us down in his time on this planet. Should we abandon him or his family to endure this process alone?
Evan, we love you. We are praying in Jesus name that your recovery will be quick. We are praying that your needs will be met physically, emotionally, spiritually, socially, and financially. We are interceding on your behalf for your spirit to endure this hard time. We are thankful for your family and friends. We are thankful for the medical professionals and other helping hands. We are thankful you are who you are. We are hopeful that your life’s journey will be a testimony to other people and through your experiences; others will see the light of Jesus in you. And most of all in this situation that you did not ask for, but God allowed to happen, people, at the right time and right place, will come to know Christ on a personal level, repent, and be saved, so God’s glory could be extended.