Former MLB manager Mike Matheny has opened up on his terrifying health battle after suffering a brain hemorrhage as he admitted his gratitude that he survived the ordeal.
The 53-year-old was midway through a workout on Jan. 17 when he was suddenly rendered unable to open his eyes, leading his alarmed wife to call an ambulance. After being taken to hospital, it was determined that the ex- St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Royals figure had suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage.
He was informed by doctors that a third of people who have suffered a bleed of this kind on the brain do not even make it to hospital. However, medical professionals informed him that the fact that he was able to lay down after it became clear that something was wrong is likely to have increased his chances of surviving.
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Now, the former four-time Gold Glove Award winner has looked back on the experience at the turn of the year as he admitted that his tribulations made him feel very much aware of his own mortality. Speaking on the “Get in the Game” podcast , he said: "I don’t believe that I’m immune to life because I’m a follower of Jesus Christ.
"But what I am going to tell you is that I’m the recipient of a peace, I’m the recipient of a grace and a goodness and a love that I don’t deserve, that shows its face so much more in these times of things that we don’t want going on.
"I just had that peace that passes all understanding when I walked into that interview knowing that if this is a God thing, nothing’s going to get in His way," he continued, as he spoke of his spiritual approach to life in the aftermath of his ordeal. "I think that peace allowed me to kind of have a freedom to be honest and to be candid."
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This was not the only harrowing experience that Matheny has endured this year either - having been caught up in a tornado in Arkansas while visiting family after he was discharged. His relatives had been building a house in the region, with the property's roof having been torn off during the incident.
Ultimately, it is clear that the MLB manager has been able to look at life with a fresh outlook after a testing eight months, as he spoke in philosophical terms about his approach to adversity. He said: "My commitment was, this is a gift. It is a God thing that I can’t explain, except for the fact that now I have to be obedient, and I need to be faithful."
Matheny added: "I want the pictures of my life and the words that I say and the words of God’s truth, I want there to be synergy there. I want those to match up. I believe that’s probably the best testimony you can share with somebody."
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