Coworker Uses ‘Second Chance at Life’ to Spread Joy to Others

The following story was featured in the Spring 2019 issue of the OneSpirit Magazine.

When Tim Horton was nearly 21 years old, he had a life-threatening and life-changing experience. After having his throat cut during a robbery, he went through an intense surgery and was in a coma for days. It took him a year to recover and to learn to walk and breathe again.  

“Through that experience, I almost died and I feel God brought me back for a reason. I have a daughter that I wanted to raise, and he gave me a second chance at life,” says Tim. “I also realized that I wanted to be a part of the medical field and make a difference in other people’s lives.”

Today, Tim is a patient care tech in the operating room, preparing patients for spine surgery. He works to change over the rooms and comfort patients and families in whatever way they need.

He brings his caring attitude and generous spirit to work by making it his personal mission to get 100 or more smiles from people through his interactions with them every day. Tim keeps up with how many smiles he gets and even shares with people their number – making people smile even more.

According to Tim, counting smiles and these acts of friendliness are simple ways to love on people and fulfil his mission of helping others.

“Before the robbery and going through that very difficult situation, I was a Christian, but I wasn’t living the right way and doing the right things,” says Tim. “God helped me realize that I can’t take my life for granted, and every day since, I’ve been focused outward instead of on myself.”