Mark Schlachtenhaufen

EDMOND — Edmond woman lives to tell about her brush with death

BY MARK SCHLACHTENHAUFEN

THE EDMOND SUN



Jill Best will celebrate an anniversary on Sunday.

It isn’t connected to the Edmond woman’s marriage. It’s about her brush with death. And Best believes she was saved to be a witness to God’s divine intervention in her life.

A year ago, on a beautiful day, Best was in far north Oklahoma City headed to Curves, located about two to three blocks to the west, for her Saturday morning workout.

Best walked across North Bryant Avenue and was two steps from being completely across the street when she was hit by a car going 40 mph. After impact, she was catapulted about 10-15 feet, where she was lying unconscious, according to an Oklahoma City Police Department report.

Police said it was their opinion that the early morning sun, Best’s light-colored clothing and the car’s position on a sight hill combined to possibly blind the driver.

Medically trained eyewitnesses ensured that Best was lying correctly so she could breath properly. Then they prayed over her.

Best was taken to the OU Medical Center as “Jane Doe.” She was identified through a Curves ID bracelet she was wearing through her relationships with Curves and Edmond’s SpiritBank, her husband David was told about the accident.



Medical miracle

When David arrived at OU Medical Center, the owner of Curves and a bank employee were there. David was not allowed to see his wife for a long time because doctors were trying to stabilize her. Jill said for a while her survival was in doubt.

“The chaplain kept coming out to visit with him,” Jill said. “David thought that wasn’t a very good sign. When he finally was allowed to see me, very broken and hurt, he prayed over me. God spoke to him and told him that I would live.”

Other issues remained. Doctors told David that Jill would have brain damage.

David said, “No she won’t.”

Dr. A.J. Bisson, a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist in the Mercy Health System of Oklahoma, was one of Jill’s many care-providers. He said her injuries included traumatic brain injury, cervical spine fractures, thoracic fractures, pelvic fractures and a wrist fracture.

Jill was in a coma for six weeks, which she believes was a blessing from God because she has no memory of the first eight serious surgeries. Unfortunately, she recalled, her family members have memories of that time because they were there for every minute.

Jill was in three hospitals for four months.

“I had the best doctors available,” she said.

On that Saturday morning, all of the best of the best from the OU Medical Center were there for a meeting, Jill said. Support also came from her Edmond Christian Church family and friends from where she used to live — Elk City and McAlester.

“There were constantly people standing in prayer circles lifting me up in prayer,” she said.

Darren Wade, pastor at Edmond Christian Church, said Jill has not only a testimony for the congregation but to so many in the community who know her. Her faith in Christ is an inspiration, he said.

“Here’s a woman who probably by all rights should not have survived and yet, by the grace of God, she did,” Wade said. “Not only did she survive, but after months and months of surgeries and rehab she is now able to walk again, something that many thought would never be possible.”

Bisson said a great deal of credit goes to the rehabilitation staff and nursing staff who worked with Jill. He said she also had a great attitude.

“She’s a miracle,” Bisson said. “I would have never dreamed she is doing as well as she is. She never quit and her family never quit.”

On Sunday, Jill will revisit the location where her life changed dramatically. Her children and grandchildren will pick up angel feathers.



Back to work

Recently, after her 10th surgery, when she began wearing a walking cast, Jill said, “Good, now I can go back to work.” Her coworkers were amazed.

She told them that even though she had been away from work for 10.5 months she still had a job — part of a guarantee made by bank ownership — and she was determined to return to work.

“SpiritBank had told me whenever I could come back to just do it,” Jill said. “I asked the doctors to please write me up a release because I was going back. I went back to work one month ago and it has been awesome being back with my Spirit family besides being reunited with all my customers that I care so much about.”

Friday, SpiritBank sponsored a reception celebrating Jill’s life and return to work. Marcia Fisher, the bank’s branch administrator, said she is amazed at how little has changed.

Fisher said Jill recognizes people, asks how their children are doing, asks if some are in school, asks about their pets, about everything. Fisher has worked at the bank for two years and said she doesn’t have nearly the same level of customer information.

“Jill just brings joy to the job,” Fisher said. “Everybody loves Jill and everybody knows Jill. She is a wonderful, dedicated employee. SpiritBank couldn’t ask for a better employee.”

Jill said the bank, her family, her friends and her church have been extremely supportive throughout her recovery. She has had questions — and answers — about what happened.

The driver of the vehicle that struck her did not have car insurance and Jill’s medical bills are more than $1 million.

“I know God will provide for me because He has told me so,” Jill said. “I thank God every day for allowing me to live so that I can watch my grandchildren grow up.”

Wade said he remembers Jill often saying, “I don’t know why I had to go through all this, but one thing’s for sure — I am going to be a walking, talking testimony of God’s grace.”

“She truly is a walking, talking testimony of God’s grace to us all,” Wade said.



marks@edmondsun.com | 341-2121, ext. 108