This incident took place in late 2009 or early 2010 in South Sioux City, Nebraska. I believe that an angel or the spirit of my deceased step-dad intervened.
Here is what happened: My mother, who was in her late seventies at the time, was living in the same apartment building as me, three doors down the hall. She was unsteady a lot and I was taking care of her needs, going to her apartment whenever she needed me.
This particular day she had fallen in the kitchen. She called me to tell me she needed help, so I immediately walked to her place at a very fast clip. When I entered her apartment, I discovered her sitting on the kitchen floor facing the cabinets with her feet splayed. She could not get up.
I walked over to her and turned to face her with my feet on either side of her legs. I bent down to put my arms under her armpits to lift her up, but I didn't think I would be able to do it with my bad back.
I tried for a split second to lift her to gauge her weight (she was 135 lbs at the time) and I decided I need to change my center of gravity. I planted my feet more securely on either side of her, placed my arms under her more securely and said, "Ok, here I go," and I started to lift her.
The thing was, I didn't lift her. Someone or something else did. She came up steadily and really fast, and I was not exerting any pressure under her arms. I was basically just coming up with her. During the two or three seconds it took to stand her up, my mind was reeling with all kinds of thoughts, like, Wha? What's going on? This isn't happening! I'm not doing it! She's coming up in spite of me! Wha?
Then she was on her feet facing me and she looked at me and said, "Boy you"re strong!" I replied, "Let's get you on the couch, Mom." So I helped her to the couch and sat her down, then I sat in a chair opposite her.
I looked at her and said, "Mom, I didn't lift you up! Someone else did. I think an angel lifted you up. My back did not tighten or strain, my legs did not strain or tighten; I just came up WITH you!" And she looked at me and said, "I believe you! I think it was Vince." Vince was her recently deceased husband. Neither one of us will ever forget that event. I was sure thankful for the help.
