21 News Exclusive: Rev. Lewis Macklin shares his journey to recovery after health scare

"God is not unrighteous to forget our labor of love, that you have ministered to the saints," says Rev. Lewis Macklin, quoting Hebrews 6:10. The passage means a little more to him these days.
Having spent the last 30-plus years praying for others, this year it seems the entire Valley has been praying for him.
"I had a temperature, I had a fever...but I ignored it," Macklin said.
But a lung infection isn't something you can ignore.
Since he got sick in Februrary, one could say Macklin's life has mirrored that of Job in Scripture.
"My lungs were failing, my heart was failing and my kidneys," he said. "It got to the point where I was a human pincushion and I'd just lay there and say 'do whatever, I don't care'."
He missed holidays, including Easter, which is close to his heart.
"Easter is important to me, and the resurrection and all that it means...the fact is that, as my friend said, what better example of resurrection than you getting out of this bed and going back home?" Macklin said.
After being so close to death that he made his own funeral arrangements, he finally turned the corner.
"It's hopeful," he says of his prognosis, "but I also realize because of the nature of what I'm dealing with, there may be more procedures and more hospitalizations in my future."
But for now, Macklin is set on making the most of his second chance.
And he knows he's not doing it alone.
"Just thinking about the love and concern people had, genuine concern of what could they do and how could they help me be comfortable was just an awesome thing."
So, too, has been his recovery.
A recovery that will surely allow him to continue the work in Hebrews 6:10...ministering to the saints.
"I'm learning how to do a lot of things that I took for granted," said Macklin. "We have a generation of young people that's just looking for opportunities and I'm saying going to get out of the way and allow them to do what they can do. They don't have to do it Lew Macklin's way, they don't have to do it any way other than what they feel is right."