Man thinks he’s watching wife’s last moments after taking off life support till she says, ‘get me out of here’

Young couples, upon entering marriage, often envision a future filled with years to cultivate their lives and evolve together. However, as life frequently demonstrates, it can be remarkably unpredictable, presenting challenges that are entirely unforeseen.

On a Saturday in May 2007, Ryan Finley awoke to what appeared to be an ordinary day. Noticing the time, he realized it was time to rouse his wife, Jill Finley.

“I went to wake Jill up, which is a miracle in itself as I never, ever, do that on Saturday mornings,” he later recounted.

He called out her name, but she did not reply. Growing increasingly concerned, he shook her gently, yet still received no response. Panic began to set in, prompting Ryan to call emergency services while simultaneously administering CPR to his wife.

Upon the arrival of paramedics, they swiftly transported Jill to the hospital, with Ryan closely following in his truck.

At the hospital, medical personnel evaluated Jill’s condition and determined that she had experienced a cardiac arrest. While Jill underwent necessary medical interventions to stabilize her, Ryan waited anxiously outside the emergency room, receiving intermittent updates on her status.

When the doctor finally emerged to provide Ryan with news about his wife, he concluded by urging Ryan to pray. Ryan understood the gravity of the situation, stating, “When a doctor tells you, you need to start praying, I feel it’s about as serious as it’s going to get.”

Shortly thereafter, the doctors informed Ryan that Jill was in a coma. He was unable to comprehend that his vibrant 31-year-old wife was now engaged in a life-and-death struggle.

Throughout the two weeks that Jill remained in a coma, a continuous flow of visitors came to offer their support to both her and Ryan. Among them was one of Jill’s cousins, who arrived with a Bible and spent at least an hour reading to her.
He entrusted the Bible to Ryan, encouraging him to read any passages that resonated with him. Following that day, Ryan began to read passages from the Bible aloud to his wife, nurturing the hope that she would awaken.

After 11 days of Jill being in a coma, Ryan returned home to spend some time alone. He wrestled with the decision of whether to remove Jill from life support, as the doctors had recommended. They believed that her condition would not improve and advised discontinuing life support.

Understanding that this decision could lead to Jill’s imminent passing, he ultimately instructed the doctors to proceed with the removal of life support the following day. On the 14th day of her coma, life support was discontinued.

Approximately five hours after the life support was withdrawn, Jill began to show signs of movement and murmured softly. Unable to bear what he feared were the final moments of his vibrant wife, Ryan stepped into the waiting area until she passed away. He vividly remembers the moment when a nurse approached him, saying, “I think you need to come in; she’s talking.”

Entering the room with the expectation of a final conversation, he was taken aback when Jill spoke. Her first words were, “Get me out of here. I want to go home.”

Ryan was astonished but uncertain if it was merely incoherent mumbling, so he began to ask her questions that only someone fully present could answer. He inquired about the names of their pets and posed a few mental math problems, all of which she answered correctly. She even expressed a desire to visit her favorite Mexican restaurant for dinner.

Later, Jill mentioned that she had no recollection of the coma; she only sensed that she had been away for a period and then returned. When Ryan was asked in an interview what he believed had brought his wife back, he responded without hesitation, stating, “God. Divine intervention. I honestly feel that way.”
Not everything returned to its previous state after Jill awoke. She had to relearn certain motor skills, such as brushing her teeth and tying her shoelaces, starting from the very beginning.

The couple views this as a renewed opportunity for both their lives and their relationship, committing to remain by each other’s side. Jill expresses that Ryan made the correct decision in disconnecting her from life support, as she would not have wished to live in a diminished state.

Ryan continues to grapple with the anxiety and fear stemming from the entire ordeal, stating that he consistently checks to ensure she is present. He remarks, “not a night goes by without me waking up. I usually give her a nudge, and if she nudges me back, I know we are alright.”

Occasionally, life offers a second chance in ways one might never expect. We are delighted to hear that both Ryan and Jill Finley are thriving.

Please share this remarkable story with others to brighten their day.