In this narrative episode of This One Time in Kankakee, we travel out to Hopkins Park, Illinois, to meet military veteran Jake Lee. On Mother’s Day weekend in 1991, a mischievous afternoon inside the family van took a near-fatal turn when the transmission accidentally engaged. What followed is a sequence of events so mathematically improbable it defies belief—involving a torrential downpour, a perfectly placed trench of rain-washed sand, and an emergency surgery that uncovered an entirely different, hidden killer.
From evading packs of dogs on childhood bike rides to strutting like Cab Calloway down hospital hallways, Jake shares a profoundly moving, laugh-out-loud funny story about trauma, community, and the chaotic alignment of miracles.
What You’ll Hear in This Episode:
- The Hopkins Park Sandbox: What it was like growing up as the youngest of five in rural Illinois during the early ’90s.
- The Physics of a Miracle: How a torrential rainstorm two days prior created the exact conditions needed to save Jake’s life.
- The Hidden Enemy: The shocking discovery Cook County surgeons made after repairing his torn liver that would have otherwise gone undetected.
- A Legacy of Gratitude: How a childhood accident completely reshaped Jake’s perspective on community, faith, and life.
Want more from the WVLI Podcast Network? Listen to the WVLI News Update with Rob West every weekday morning! Get the days local news from the greater Kankakee County, IL area in 10 minutes or less.
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