Who Is Stingray Jim?

On a  sunny afternoon, on October 18, 2006, James M. Bertakis, founder of Bertakis Development, an owner and operator of Michigan Manufactured Home Communities and Texas Manufactured Home Communities, was enjoying a leisure cruise in a canal near his Florida home, when his life changed forever.  Out of the water flew a 36 inch, 32 pound spotted eagle ray, that slammed into him from the blind side.  It's  "stinger" plunged into Jim's chest,  piercing his lung, then snapping off, leaving two inches of  the venomous, razor sharp and serrated barb inside of him.  The barb then migrated to his heart, and with each beat, his heart "grabbed" the serrated barb and slowly impaled itself until the barb protruded through the opposite side-- like a sword through a basket.   Only two other people in recorded medical history have survived a stingray barb to the heart area -  they were both 35 years old or younger.  At the time of his attack, Jim was 81. 

So begins the amazing story, and the living miracle, of 'Stingray Jim'

Jim knows that his survival is nothing short of miraculous, and he is alive for a reason.  Since the accident, Jim has received so much prayer, support and love from family, friends, and many people he has never met.  He credits God and that love and support for giving him his determination and sheer will not only to survive, but to return to his normal life and "live".  As his “Thank You”,  Jim has decided to use the international attention that he has received to give back to the less fortunate.  As his family, we have helped Jim establish StingrayJim.com, to achieve his two main goals:

• The first is to raise funds for several excellent charities that support children and the elderly that are working with determination so they too can have hope for a normal life.
• The second goal, is that through Jim's ongoing story of faith, determination and survival,  young and old will be inspired and motivated to "live".  

Stingray Jim plans on updating his website constantly so people everywhere can follow his struggles, progress and thoughts. Stingray Jim says:

"If I can do it at age 83, so can you"!