kk.From the Brink of Death to a Miracle Comeback: Parker Humber’s Incredible Journey of Faith, Survival, and New Lungs
Tuscumbia, Alabama – January 4, 2026
Parker Humber should not be here today.
The 27-year-old newlywed from Tuscumbia, Alabama — a passionate bass fisherman, avid outdoorsman, and die-hard Alabama Crimson Tide fan — came within minutes of death last fall. Yet six weeks after receiving a double lung transplant, Parker is home, healing, and calling his survival nothing short of divine intervention.
“It’s God,” his father, Tracy Humber, told me without hesitation. “It’s all God.”
Parker’s nightmare began shortly after his wedding to his wife Katie on August 21. A workplace accident exposed him to chemicals that triggered severe pneumonia. What started as breathing difficulty quickly escalated into a life-threatening cascade of complications.
Hospitalized first in Statesville, North Carolina, Parker was soon transferred closer to home — first to Helen Keller Hospital in Sheffield, then to North Alabama Medical Center, where a fungal infection and blood clot in his lung deepened the crisis.
By October, Parker was airlifted to Ascension St. Thomas in Nashville and placed on an ECMO machine — a device that bypasses the lungs and heart to keep blood oxygenated. It became his lifeline.
Tracy will never forget the moment doctors lost Parker.
“After a procedure, his blood pressure crashed,” Tracy recalled. “They did CPR. I watched my son dying in front of me — four minutes, five minutes, six minutes. Then they discovered his cardiac sac was filled with blood. A nurse drew it out with a needle. His heart started again. That was God.”
In November, Parker was transferred to Vanderbilt University Medical Center and placed on the transplant list after passing rigorous testing. The call came on November 23 — donor lungs were available.
“It happened the weekend of my other son’s wedding,” Tracy said. “It felt like a blessing on top of a blessing.”
The transplant was successful, but the road to recovery has been grueling: pressure sores, pain in his legs, arms, and shoulders, and the slow process of rebuilding strength after months of immobility.
Yet Parker is home now, celebrating a Christmas miracle with Katie and his family. He’s grateful for every breath — made possible by new lungs and, in his family’s eyes, unwavering faith.
“Parker is winning too,” Tracy said, his voice full of pride. “God is winning, and Parker is winning.”
Parker dreams of simple joys ahead: fishing again, cheering on the Tide, and building a life with Katie. His story is one of resilience, love, and the power of second chances.
As Parker continues to heal, his family asks for continued prayers and positive thoughts.
Parker Humber’s comeback isn’t just medical — it’s a testament to faith, family, and the will to live.
Welcome back, Parker. Roll Tide, and keep fighting. 🙏❤️
