d+ “I Cannot Do This Life Without Him”: Inside the Fight for a Lineman Named Denny as a Nation Pauses to Pray

In less than 24 hours, thousands of people across the country will stop what they are doing — in living rooms, churches, break rooms, and hospital hallways — to pray for a man most of them have never met.

His name is Denny.

Until recently, Denny was one of the many linemen Americans rarely think about unless the lights go out. He was the man climbing poles in freezing rain, restoring power after a brutal ice storm so families could feel warm again, cook meals, and sleep with the lights on. It was dangerous work. Necessary work. And for Denny, it was just another day on the job.

Then everything changed.

While working to restore power in hazardous post-storm conditions, Denny suffered a catastrophic electrical injury — a near-electrocution that left his body fighting for survival. What followed was not a single surgery or a brief hospital stay, but a relentless medical ordeal that continues to unfold hour by hour.

In just eight days, Denny has undergone seven major surgeries.

Doctors were forced to perform a partial amputation of his left arm, a decision made not out of choice, but necessity — to save his life. Even now, the fight is far from over. Medical teams say Denny must face yet another critical operation, one that carries life-or-death stakes.

For his wife, Kristi, the past days have felt unreal.

After 31 years of marriage, shared memories, and a life built side by side, she has watched her husband endure pain no family is ever prepared to witness. In the midst of shock and exhaustion, Kristi shared just one sentence that captured the depth of the moment:

“I simply cannot do this life without him.”

It is a line that has traveled far beyond the hospital walls.

A Job That Carries Invisible Risks

Lineman work has always been dangerous, but its risks are often invisible to the public. After storms — especially ice storms — power lines can behave unpredictably. Equipment may appear stable while still carrying lethal current. One miscalculation, one hidden fault, can be catastrophic.

Denny knew the risks. So do his colleagues. Yet when communities lose power, linemen are among the first to answer the call — working long hours in freezing temperatures, often in the dark, racing against time to restore normal life for others.

In Denny’s case, the cost of that duty has been devastating.

Doctors have described his injuries as complex and severe, requiring repeated surgical intervention to manage tissue damage, prevent infection, and stabilize his condition. Each operation has bought time — but none have guaranteed an outcome.

As of now, medical teams continue to monitor him closely, preparing for the next surgery that could determine the course of his recovery, or whether his body can endure another trauma.

From One Family’s Crisis to a National Call for Prayer

What began as a private medical emergency has grown into something larger.

As updates about Denny’s condition spread, messages of support poured in — not just from friends and coworkers, but from strangers who saw themselves, or someone they love, in his story. Many are fellow linemen. Others are families who remember the relief of seeing lights flick back on after a storm, never imagining the human cost behind that moment.

Now, with another critical operation looming, supporters have organized a nationwide call to prayer set for this Saturday.

The call is not only for Denny’s survival, but for strength for Kristi, for wisdom for the doctors, and for protection over linemen everywhere who face these dangers daily.

“This isn’t just about one man anymore,” one supporter wrote. “It’s about every worker who risks their life so the rest of us can live comfortably.”

Waiting, Watching, Hoping

Inside the hospital, time moves differently.

For Kristi and the family, days blur together — measured not in hours, but in vital signs, surgical updates, and moments of waiting outside operating rooms. Each phone call from a doctor brings hope, fear, or both.

Despite everything, those closest to Denny say his spirit remains present — in the love surrounding him, in the resolve of his medical team, and in the growing number of people holding him in their thoughts and prayers.

No one knows exactly what the next surgery will bring. Doctors have been careful with their words, emphasizing both the seriousness of his condition and the determination to keep fighting.

What is clear is that Denny’s story has become a reminder of something easy to forget: the people who keep our world running often do so at extraordinary personal risk.

A Moment That Asks Us to Pause

This Saturday, as thousands pause to pray, many will think about the simple comforts they enjoy — light, heat, safety — and the workers who make those things possible.

They will think of a lineman named Denny, lying in a hospital bed, fighting for his life.

They will think of a wife who said, “I cannot do this life without him.”

And they will hope that the next update brings better news — not just for one family, but as a symbol of gratitude and care for all those who stand between danger and the rest of us.

For now, the story is still unfolding.
And the nation waits — together.