Seattle Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall entered this world weighing merely a pound and a half, arriving four months premature with no heartbeat and severe brain hemorrhaging. Medical professionals offered his family a grim prognosis: a mere one percent chance of survival.
The NFL player’s journey from a critically ill newborn to a Super Bowl champion stands as a powerful testament to faith and perseverance. His mother, Stacy Gooden-Crandle, faced one of the most frightening moments any parent could experience, yet she found strength in her unwavering belief during those uncertain hospital days.
A mother’s faith in the face of impossible odds
“I wasn’t born… breathing. I was born dead,” Derick explained bluntly about his entrance into the world. His mother could have easily succumbed to fear and despair, but instead she chose a different path. “Emotional, a lot of uncertainty, scared. But… those weren’t the feelings that I was feeling during Derick’s birth. I just trusted that God would work everything out,” Stacy recalled.
Stacy’s spiritual foundation ran deep, having joined church at sixteen years old. She made faith the cornerstone of her family’s life. “We are people of faith and have been for most of my lifetime. I joined church when I was 16 years old, and I’ve just grown up as a woman of faith. I’ve raised my children in the church and instilled faith in them and just allowed them to flourish in their faith in their walk with Christ,” she shared.
Overcoming severe health challenges through childhood
The premature birth left lasting effects on Derick’s physical development. His severely underdeveloped lungs made even simple childhood play exhausting. After just five minutes of activity, he would need to rest for an entire hour to allow his body to recover. At age four, he began playing football, seeking normalcy in his young life.
As he grew older and wanted to play tackle football, Stacy made a courageous decision despite his ongoing neurological treatment for the brain bleed he suffered at birth. She equipped his coaches with rescue inhalers and placed the rest in divine hands.
The spiritual guidance Derick received growing up provided crucial comfort during his health struggles. “My pastor always told me, you weren’t dying for this, you are blessed to be in this position and God has something greater for you, and I think that helped me be at ease with the situation and the things that me and my family were enduring during the time,” he remembered.
From frustration to Super Bowl glory
Despite reaching the NFL, Derick faced disappointment during his regular season last year when he failed to achieve the number of sacks he desired. Rather than allowing bitterness to take root, he turned to prayer. “I’m like, Lord, whatever you got planned, let it reveal itself,” he said.
His breakthrough moment arrived at Super Bowl LX against the New England Patriots. On professional football’s most prestigious stage, Derick recorded a critical strip sack and two total sacks, helping Seattle secure the championship. His response to the achievement reflected his perspective on divine timing: “I got to that Super Bowl and I got both sacks, and I’m like, man, ain’t no time like God’s time. That’s true, man.”
A living testimony of divine intervention
Derick maintains complete certainty about the source of his success. “I always speak to my faith because obviously I’m a miracle child, and I don’t say I’m doing good, I say I’m blessed, I can’t complain, I’m above ground and I’m blessed,” he declared.
He sees his entire life as evidence of heavenly orchestration. “You can’t tell me that a child with a one percent chance to live and not supposed to be walking, not supposed to be talking, not even supposed to be alive, ends up being a Super Bowl champion one day without the Lord being in their lives. That’s a miracle in itself,” he stated.
The story of Derick Hall and his mother demonstrates how faith can sustain families through seemingly impossible circumstances. Their experience shows that trusting completely during hardship, rather than turning away in fear, can lead to witnessing extraordinary outcomes. As Isaiah 41:10 promises: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
