There is no doubt it was a miracle that all twelve of the young soccer players and their coach were rescued from the Tham Luang cave in Thailand.

And the efforts of those around the world is also a phenomenon, solidifying  to me, what can happen if we choose to work together for the greater good.

It has been fascinating to listen to the stories from these rescuers and to see visually what all physically they accomplished to retrieve the team.

I am sure in the following days more stories will continue to emerge, but the one I am most anxious to hear about is how Ekkapol Ake Chantawong, the team’s 25-year-old coach, managed to keep these 12

boys alive for nine days before they were found.

For me, it is unfathomable that anyone could survive the dank darkness of a cave for nine days, much less children as young as 11 years old. I can only image the sobs and the growling stomachs that echoed through the cavern walls as minute after minute, hour after hour, day after day, went by all while the water continued to rise.

But, somehow, these young people all survived.

How?

Some are crediting “Ake” who surely now regrets his decision of taking the boys in the cave.

But although the choice went awry, while trapped, he must have found a way to instill in his team a sense of hope.

Because without it, I do not think they could have made it out alive.

Some news accounts have said the Ake was a former Buddhist Monk, and while in the cave, he taught the boys how to meditate.

This seems plausible after a CNN website reported that Thamma Kantawong, who is only one of two living relatives of Ake, said although her cousin is no longer a monk, he still maintains close ties with the town’s numerous temples, and friends say he regularly spends his time praying.

The news outlets also reported that this Godly man did not eat for the first few days while in the cave, and instead shared his food among his team.

Thankfully, all are safe now and recovering in the hospital. The next hurdle being reported is the residual effects the team may face.

Many are saying there is the possibility the boys may suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder after surviving such an ordeal.

This may be true, but I wonder if this experience could have also instilled some positive attributes, like courage, the ability to look out for your fellow man, learning how to console those in times of need and trusting in a higher power, in other words, “Post-traumatic Growth.”

It was a miracle the Wild Boars soccer team was found and rescued serving as a testament that through faith something good COULD happen.

Terri Cowart Frazier is a staff writer for The Vicksburg Post. You may reach her at terri.frazier@vicksburgpost.com.