NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — It was an accident that nearly price one hospital chaplain his life. He credit his restoration to the ability of prayer, and folks of various faiths coming collectively.
“All I do know is, on the market that day, I turned a little bit bit extra conscious of what his position is in life and my private connection to religion,” stated Dr. Orlando Santandreu, chief OBGYN at LIJ Forest Hills.
READ MORE: Govt Assistant Who Accused Cuomo Of Groping Her At Albany Mansion Recordsdata Felony Grievance
Dr. Santandreu and Father Radu Titonea are celebrating the one-year anniversary of close to tragedy on the water. Father Radu was desirous to discover ways to Jet Ski. In the midst of the pandemic, the water was a sanctuary.
“It was an escape. It was a launch,” Father Radu advised CBS2’s Steve Overmyer on Thursday.
They went out a day after a storm and a 4-foot wave despatched Father Radu off the ski.
“He was going through down within the water and simply floating,” Santandreu stated.

(Photograph: CBS2)
Father Radu hit the Jet Ski so onerous it shattered his face and neck, leaving him unconscious and gravely injured.
“I began backward resuscitation … and I heard a little bit ‘uhhh’ and I used to be like, ‘Oh, thanks,’” Santandreu stated.
READ MORE: New Jersey College students, Lecturers Should Put on Masks In Colleges This Fall; In NYC, There’s Concern Over Social Distancing House
The physician labored on Father Radu for 20 minutes. No boats have been close by and it was getting darkish. Then he noticed a tugboat and flagged it down.
“The blokes stated, ‘What do you want?’ and I am going like, ‘I’m shedding him and I can’t maintain him anymore and I’m afraid he’s going to die,’” Santandreu stated.
Inside minutes, Father Radu was transported to a hospital, however he was removed from out of the woods. For weeks, he remained unconscious, suffered three strokes and was preventing for his life. The one factor left was to hope. What was uncommon was who was praying for him.
“Judaism, Islamics, Buddhists, even the atheists. All people that you simply knew turned one,” Santandreu stated.
“All people got here collectively they usually forgot their variations,” Father Radu stated.
He finally wakened, and 6 months after he was close to demise he returned to work, praying with others.
“I noticed how humanity may very well be — no shade, no faith and one widespread aim and be there for one another,” Santandreu stated.
MORE NEWS: Surprising Video: Lady Gunned Down In Chilly Blood On Brooklyn Road
A shared humanity we will all have fun.
Comments are closed.