Sixth Year Life Anniversary (July 30, 2019)

As I sit on the threshold of two powerful anniversaries—July 30, the day I was spared from death, and August 22, the day my heart was literally repaired—I’m overcome with a reverence that only those who have brushed the edge of eternity can know. Six years ago, I stood at the precipice, staring into what felt like certain death. But I was not alone. On that sacred day, you were there—holding my hand, lifting my spirit, bearing witness to my battle.

By the grace of God, Dr. Colvin and his team at UAB uncovered a silent, deadly condition that might have otherwise gone unnoticed. And through the hands of Dr. James E. Davies, MD, and the extraordinary thoracic and cardiac surgery team, I was ushered back from the brink. These were not just surgeons—they were instruments of mercy in God’s great orchestra.

But it wasn’t just medicine that saved me. It was your compassion. Your presence. Your prayers. “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16), and I am convinced that your prayers reached heaven’s gates. Your strength became my strength, and through your love, I found the courage to face the unknown.

Since that transformative moment in Tennessee, something holy and unexplainable has stirred within me. I began to wake, night after night, at 3:00 AM—what some call the “hour of mercy.” At first, I didn’t understand. But over time, I’ve come to recognize these awakenings not as interruptions, but as divine invitations. Sometimes to pray. Sometimes to weep. Sometimes to wrestle, like Jacob by the river, saying, “I will not let You go unless You bless me” (Genesis 32:26).

These early morning hours became my sacred battleground—where shadows met light, where wounds met wonder, where I discovered the mysterious and tender voice of God. It was the “dark night of the soul,” that ancient path of spiritual purging where God’s silence becomes a deeper invitation. And in that darkness, I found light. Not a blinding one, but a flicker—enough to take the next step.

And step by step, yard by yard, something beautiful began to bloom.

From that near-death experience, God birthed not just a second chance for me, but a mission for many. What began with no money and only a whisper of vision has become Lettermen of the USA—a $700,000 nonprofit moving forward with the tenacity of a little engine that could.

Together, we’ve built more than programs. We’ve built hope. Through our One Yard at a Time Gala, now entering its seventh year on February 27, 2026, we honor military heroes and athletic figures, bridging communities through shared purpose. Our Red, White and Blue Bingo luncheon (coming August 21, 2025) is both a celebration and a sacred circle of giving, where fun meets philanthropy in service to our veterans.

In the last six years, we’ve reached over 1,400 veterans and their families. We’ve delivered nearly 600 autographed footballs to wounded warriors—a symbol of our bond, our gratitude, our respect. Through Wheels for Heroes, we’ve restored mobility. Through Laptops for Heroes, we’ve empowered Gold Star Children with tools to dream again. On August 30, alongside the Birmingham Barons, we’ll present a laptop to a veteran’s child—because when you uplift a child, you shape a future.

Our new initiative, Shelter Sugar Rose, supports children reeling from disaster, while Utilities for Heroes, Rent for Heroes, and Foods for Heroes ensure basic needs are met with dignity. Each year, our Turkeys for Heroes drive brings warmth and nourishment to families during Thanksgiving, a season of gratitude we understand intimately.

And then there is the vision—the one that keeps me awake not just at 3:00 AM, but every day: Heroes Village. A 40-acre sanctuary for veterans, rising from the soil of sacrifice, built to heal.

A $44 million dream with 120 tiny homes, a chapel, a learning center, and space to laugh, learn, and live again. Isaiah 61 says, “He will give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.” Heroes Village is that promise, made flesh.

We were even able to help bring the first Fisher House to Alabama—a sacred dwelling place where families can rest and be near their loved ones receiving care. Though we said goodbye to our Interiors for Heroes program in December 2024, we closed it with a final act of restoration for hurricane-affected veterans in East Tennessee.

In its place, we’ve launched Shelter for Heroes, placing homeless veterans into hotels for temporary refuge. And soon, though it’s not yet public, Lettermen of the USA will step into the national fight against Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)—a battle that touches both athletes and soldiers. A national organization has chosen to partner with us here in Alabama, and we are humbled by the calling.

None of this would exist without you. Your prayers. Your time. Your faith. Like Aaron and Hur holding up Moses' arms in Exodus 17, you have lifted me.

You’ve fueled this little engine with big dreams, and what once seemed impossible has become inevitable.

As I mark these anniversaries, I realize this isn’t just a celebration of survival—it’s a celebration of purpose. “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:20). That’s what this is: a divine rerouting from death to life, from despair to destiny.

From the depths of my heart, thank you—for walking beside me through the valley, for seeing the light when I couldn’t, and for believing in the work still unfolding. May we continue, together, one yard at a time.

With awe and gratitude,

Darryl Fuhrman

Founder and President

Lettermen of the USA

www.lotUSA.org