The opportunity to visit with an extraordinary man of faith, courage and determination recently presented itself. And his story is one that everyone can benefit from hearing.
Keith Murphy graduated from high school in 1985 then spent four years in the U.S. Army where he met and fell in love with his wife of 35 years. The couple came back to Texas when they got out of the military and began the next chapter of their lives. They had four daughters and then became grandparents of two. Everything was great.
“Then, one day I was out riding my bike when a tragic accident happened,” Murphy said. “A lady was texting and driving, wasn’t paying attention, ran a red light and hit me.”
Murphy’s back, neck, hip, pelvis and femur were broken. In addition, his left leg had to be amputated.
“When I woke up out of a coma eight days later, I was paralyzed. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t do anything…” he said. “After a couple of months, I started to get feeling back in my right hand and then it spread…I had been told that I would not be able to do so many things…But I’m one of those God guys — first, God, then family and country. I was raised that way. My mom and dad took me to church, and I know who Jesus is. He’s been looking out for me my entire life. So, I put my faith in Him.”
Murphy spent over a year recovering. His broken back and neck were the most difficult injuries. He began to get a little better every day.
However, he was told that he’d never walk again.
But huge changes were coming, and Murphy began to defy the odds. He tried out for the U.S. Olympic bobsled team, and he made it.
“I went to the Olympics but didn’t win a medal,” Murphy said. “But I felt I was a winner just because I’m from Oak Cliff and It might have snowed thee times when I was a kid.”
Since then, he has been competing in marathons, triathlons and more. He skydives, skis, surfs and continues to ride his motorcycle.
“There is nothing I do not do. My life is not stopping, except for the time it took me to get hurt, recover and get back to my life,” Murphy said.
He spends some of his time visiting with people who wake after surgery missing a limb.
“I need them to know that their life is not over. I understand that they feel that way at first, but I can assure them that this isn’t the way it’s going to be forever,” he said. “With every situation that you come into, there are two choices. You can take the positive choice, or you can take the negative choice…If you choose to take the negative, you are the only one that’s going to suffer. No one else can be blamed for it. No fingers can be pointed.”
Murphy is grateful to still be here and that God continues to bless him every day.
His advice: Put your faith in God and let Him take care of everything. It’s too much for us. When you have a problem, give it over to God.