Spinal cord injury survivor shares his life-changing journey
On October 12, 2022, a life-changing misstep – a fall from a roof – completely changed Alan Loving’s life path. At a recent discussion at First Baptist Church Clinton, the man with thirty years of service as a minister explained how his faith, family and friends contributed to his facing and surviving the trauma, tremendous changes, long hospitalizations, and rehabilitation.
Loving’s testimony as a spinal cord injury survivor has inspired numerous audiences during past months, and he recently returned to the Clinton church where he had once served as college and recreation minister. Many members at the Forever Young program had followed his recovery and prayed for him after the fateful fall that occurred as he was clearing a roof of pine straw and leaves in Brandon. A misstep or a trip resulted in his landing on a concrete driveway.
He was hospitalized at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC), where he coded three times. Months later, he transferred from UMMC to Shepherd Center in Atlanta.
Two years of hospitalization, the care at the two facilities, combined with faith, family and friends, set him on a new path for his life, with the realization that his brain and spinal cord no longer communicated.
He is candid as he tells his story, often with humor, and requests that people laugh when he jokes about his condition or his challenges. He explains his background served him well.
He says, “I found direction for my new life path and relied on Proverbs 3:5-6, trusting and leaning. I am in this wheel chair, where God wants me to be. I trust Him. All is well.”
His special chair and his van are great assets, particularly for talking to little kids.
“They love it. The equipped van makes them think ‘space ship.’”
Born in New Orleans in 1970, where his father was in sales, he recalls living in Memphis and then moving to Brandon.
A soccer player, after graduating from Brandon High School, he played at William Carey College, Hinds Community College, and then Mississippi College. He laughs as he admits to giving his studies more attention later at New Orleans Baptist Seminary, where he earned a doctorate degree.
“I loved to play soccer, but that was then.” He now follows soccer through his younger daughter’s games.
His years of service have included serving as youth minister and as pastor in churches in Mississippi and in Alabama, including ten years at Madison First Baptist. He now loves his work as manager of volunteer services at UMMC.
Loving says he is thankful for the many supportive people in his life, expressing his special thanks to the incredible support of his wife Courtney, who is a Madison Middle School teacher. Their two daughters are both juniors, Mary Addison at Mississippi State University, and Anna Claire at Madison Central High School.
“An amazing journey, all those people contributing to my recovery,” he says.
He advises, “We face speed bumps. When trauma comes, whatever it is, don’t waste it. Take it on your journey and use it. Make sure to let God guide you.”
