A Florida man credits his faith and a cross necklace for saving his life after being accidentally shot in the chest at point-blank range.
Most of us wear jewelry that we consider special. Maybe it’s a cross your mom gave you or a ring from your grandmother. It reminds us of someone we love or represents our faith in God.
But what if God used that simple piece of man-made jewelry to save your life? That’s exactly what happened to Aiden Perry when he was hit by a bullet.
The Accident Almost Takes His Life
20-year-old Aiden Perry was visiting his friend’s apartment in The Villages on June 7. His friend was showing off a gun when something terrible happened.
The .40-caliber pistol went off by accident. Perry was standing only eight to ten feet away when the bullet hit him right in the chest.
“I Thought I Was Going to Die”
“I looked down, I see tons of blood,” Perry told reporters. “I thought I was going to die, honestly.”
His friend rushed him straight to HCA Florida Ocala Hospital. The doctors took Perry into surgery right away. What they found left everyone amazed.
The Cross Saves His Life
The bullet had hit the golden cross hanging around Perry’s neck. The cross split in two, but it changed everything. That little piece of jewelry made all the difference between life and death.
Dr. Khafra Garcia Henry treated Perry at the hospital. He explained what happened. “Because of [the necklace’s] metallic component, it actually shielded a lot of the force of the bullet,” the doctor said.
“So the bullet ricocheted off the necklace and entered his chest small. However, it was just in his fat tissues because it slowed down the trajectory of the bullet.”
A Life-Saving Christmas Gift from Dad
The cross necklace was a Christmas gift from Perry’s dad, Aaron. This father never knew his gift would save his son’s life.
“So many emotions,” Aaron Perry said. “I don’t want to say it was just a gift, but it came from the heart.”
Doctors Call It a Miracle
Dr. Garcia Henry called Perry extremely lucky. “A very fortunate young individual because if his chain was not there, the outcome would have been completely different,” the doctor said.
Without that cross, the bullet would have gone straight into Perry’s chest. It could have hit his lungs or his heart. The results would have been deadly.
Instead, the cross changed the bullet’s path. The bullet entered Perry’s chest, came out near his armpit, then went into his arm. It broke the bone in his upper arm. Perry will need time to heal, but he’s alive.
His Faith Grows Even Stronger
Perry was already a believer, but this near-death experience has made his faith even stronger.
Now he knows God was watching over him. “I think God played a big role in this,” Perry said. “I think He’s the reason that I’m still here today.”
Perry uses his testimony to inspire others. “It’s just kind of a reminder now – to never stop believing,” he said. “Keep believing and God’s definitely real.”
Even the doctors at the hospital say this was more than just luck. They call it divine intervention. Medical science can explain some things, but not everything.
“I look at it as a lifesaver,” Perry said about his cross necklace. “I probably wouldn’t be talking to you guys right now.”
The man who accidentally shot Perry was arrested. He faces charges for culpable negligence causing injury.
If God could stop a bullet that’s traveling 950 to 1,200 feet per second, what greater things can He do in your life too? He sees what’s coming toward you before you do.
He already has a way to protect you and help you through whatever you’re facing. Trust Him with all your heart.
WATCH: Cross Necklace Saves Florida Man from Point-Blank Bullet
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