texas

Dr. Brantly's Church Family Relieved Their Friend is Healthy

Group gathered to watch Dr. Brantly speak from Atlanta

Dr. Kent Brantly, the medical missionary who contracted Ebola while working in Liberia, appeared alongside his wife before assembled media at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta on Thursday.

Watching alongside the rest of the country were eight church elders at Southside Church of Christ, where the Brantly family attended services when they lived in Fort Worth.

The assembled group didn’t know Brantly was going to be released on Thursday until just hours before, but as they watched their friend and fellow parishioner appear standing in front of the medical professionals who helped save him they became quite emotional.

“I was fighting back tears, it was tears of joy,” said Kent Smith, a church elder who spoke for the group. “Again, I am just so inspired by him and how he’s handled the whole situation and how his wife has handled the whole situation, that it’s hard not to be emotional.”

During Brantly’s short press conference, the group watching back in North Texas wiped away tears and echoed his comments of prayers, both for his recovery and those still fighting the disease.

“I think he’s the kind of example of a selfless and humble servant that Jesus calls us all to be,” Smith said. “I think we will all do well to follow his example, as he follow’s Christ’s example.”

Brantly said from Atlanta that he was called to help the people of Liberia. Prior to leaving for West Africa, Brantly worked as a resident at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth.

On Thursday, JPS Hospital Network issued a statement calling the news a major milestone:

This is a day of great joy at JPS Health Network. Dr. Kent Brantly’s recovery represents what we work to achieve every day – providing care that allows patients to reunite with their loved ones. We extend our sincere thanks to the care team at Emory University Hospital for helping our former JPS Family Medicine resident reach this amazing milestone.

 The JPS Foundation has established a fund to assist the Brantly family in replacing the personal and household items that were left in Liberia and had to be destroyed.

Anyone who would like to contribute can do so at www.givetojps.org. A drop-down window allows donations to be earmarked for Dr. Brantly.

Contributions designated for the Brantly Fund also can be mailed to:
JPS Foundation
1223 S. Main St.
Fort Worth, TX 76104

When Dr. Brantly was done speaking and began to hug and thank each individual medical worker assembled behind him, his church family assembled in the church office. And like they have done for weeks, they gathered to pray.

“So of course, we give all credit and thanks to God for choosing to answer our prayers,” Smith said.

The sign outside the church on Hemphill Street has asked for those prayers these last few weeks. Smith said the sign will likely stay the way it is now for a while, but he believes they’ll follow Dr. Brantly’s wishes and have it say “prayers for West Africa,” as they keep those still suffering in their thoughts.

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