Gloucester County Man Credits The Power Of Prayer For His Recovery

By Diana Rocco

SEWELL, N.J. (CBS) -  Steve Walker's doctors are calling him the miracle man. He was just released from the hospital after a near brush with death. His family and fiance never thought they'd see him sitting in his parents' kitchen playing with his four-month-old nephew again.

"I just feel blessed sitting here," Steve said.

Last week Steve suffered a heat stroke on his second day on the job, roofing in 90 degree heat.

"I started feeling weak in my knees. I had to sit down, I couldn't move any more. The last thing I remember is stumbling back to the work truck and then it was just blackness," said 31-year-old Stephen Walker.

Within hours he was unresponsive in the ICU and his organs were failing. His family was told he may not live through the night.

"His temperature was 107 when he came in," said fiance Jenna Fitzgerald.

"He was on a ventilator because he couldn't breath on his own. His organs failed in the worst shape possible. All I could do is pray to God that he would not die," said Steve's mom, Pat Walker.

But by midnight that night his family held hands around his hospital bed and prayed as a priest read his last rights.

"Getting through that night was one of the worst nights of my life," said Steve's dad, Lloyd Walker.

Jenna and Steve's sisters Erica and Angela took to Facebook asking for prayers. Family and Friends started prayer chains and posting messages on his wall.

"It just got swarmed with people saying they're praying for Steve," said Jenna.

With in hours, Steve's prognosis started turning around. Five days later he walked out of the hospital, humbled, thankful and on his way to making a full recovery.

"I truly believe that it's because of all of you that I'm alive right now. I thank you from the bottom of my heart," said Steve.

Steve believes he was given a second chance for a reason. In six weeks he'll be marrying his best friend and soul mate in ceremony at Scotland Run witnessed 130 family members and close friends.

"I say it's a miracle. We'll need lots of tissues at our wedding ceremony. He'll be the star instead of me and I'm okay with that," said the bride-to-be.