33. Brad Brown drove the sick and scared through the flames of the Paradise Camp Fire

Brad Brown and his wife Melea moved their two kids to Paradise, CA in 2012 after a hospital chaplain position opened up for Brad bringing with it the promise of cutting-edge medicine that could help Melea treat her colon cancer. After a miraculous six-year battle (she was given a 1 month prognosis), Melea passed, leaving Brad to care for their kids along with an outpouring of support and love from his Paradise community. Only months later, the Camp Fire wildfire, the deadliest in California history, ripped through town, moving the length of a football field a second. When the hospital ran out of ambulances, Brad started loading patients into his minivan and quickly became stuck in gridlock surrounded by flames. After a harrowing escape and an emotional reunion with his kids, Brad chose to stay in Paradise where 91% of homes burned to the ground, in order to provide comfort to the community who stood by him in his darkest hours. In this episode, Brad shares his lessons on finding meaning and purpose amid tragedy and the key things that can help a community heal from trauma. 

Episode benefitting Maranatha

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