November 2, 2007, Scottsdale, AZ~I was rushed to the ER with a very high temp and constant vomiting, the pain in my back was enoromous and I knew that it was my lung...a few days prior I had been held captive after being beaten by a boyfriend...He had beaten me severely while he was high on drugs.  I had met him while attending a charity event for the Phoenix Suns.  I had been in the celebrity circle, living that life...I had several friends who were professional athletes, actors, musicians...anyway that is a whole different story in itself...this person had claimed to be in the music business...long story short he was caught up in the mob and a convicted felon...I was afraid for my life after he had beaten me...I knew if I didn't get away he would eventually kill me because I knew some things now about him/his life/his friends.  He told me that if I attempted to leave that there were people watching the house and would kill me.  He said that he would kill my daughter & family...He left one night to attend a friends wake.  I scrammbled for ideas to get out.  I happen to turn around and saw the laptop sitting by the sofa.  I had a myspace account at the time so I logged on thru the neighbors wi-fi connection and onto myspace.  The very first email in my inbox was from a friend who happened to be a Phoenix police officer...and he was online at the time! I emailed and told him what had happened and was happening now, that I needed to get out.  He asked if I could look around for a phone, any cell phone...I found one in the kitchen drawer.  He told me that even if it didn't have service, I could still call 911.  I called.  Less than a week later, I was in the ER.  The internal injuries had caused me to develop a life-threatening pneumonia.  I was alone in Arizona, my family was in Ohio.  A friend rushed me to the hospital.  When I arrived in the ER I made it to the tri-age area and went into a seizure.  My blood gases were at dangerous levels.  I could barely breathe. I can't even begin to tell you how frightened I was.  Because of the my condition and the circumstances of how it happened, as well as the person who did it being dangerous, I was put under careful security, and treated as if I was non-existent to anyone inquiring.  I kept thinking of my family, my children.  There was a point where I was on the phone with my mother and I couldn't speak...the doctor took the phone and ask me if he could speak with her...I said yes.  He told her that if she wanted to see me, she had better get there quick.  I don't remember too much after that...They came as fast as they could.  I came in and out of consciensousness a few times and knew they were there.  One day I opened my eyes after having what seemed like a dream...in my dream, my brother who had passed in 1986 was standing beside my bed with a smile...when I looked up over me, above my bed, there were several balls (some odd shape..) of bright lights, and several balls of dark shadows that seemed to be fighting amongst each other...the next thing that happened was I opened my eyes, the nurse came in, removed me from life-support...I was so scared, afraid that I couldn't breathe on my own, or that my heart would stop...Doctors told me that I had been at deaths door three different times within those few weeks...It was now Nov. 20th, just two days before Thanksgiving. I was taken to a private, well-secured room.  I was terrified, I kept myself awake because I was afraid that if I slept, I might never wake up.  Doctors checked on me frequently.  I was so anxious to just go home to Ohio.  I begged them to let me go...but they were being very cautious...I didn't realize completely at the time just how bad I had been...Usually, in my condition, most wouldn't live.  My mom proceeded to tell me how many churches and people all over the country had been praying for me.  Hospital staff had come in to pray over me...

I came to understand...those lights/shadows were angels...they were fighting for me...God won...He has a purpose for me...I live my life completely for Him now...I work in Research at a Children's Hospital in Columbus, OH.  The hospital where my brother died...He died of complications from the severe pneumonia...

One of the doctors here asked me once, "Why do you have a smile every single time I see you?"  I replied "Life experiences."

Many blessings to those who read my story.

Angela J. Lyons

Columbus, Ohio