Graduation turns into mother-son celebration as they hurdle health barriers together to earn degrees

After overcoming numerous physical setbacks and disappointments, Wendy Stout and her son, Davis Stout, of Lanexa, Va., graduated together during Liberty University’s 49th Commencement in May.

“It meant the world to me,” said Wendy, who earned her Ph.D. in Education: Instructional Design and Technology.

“I was so proud of her that I could have forgotten that I was graduating myself that day,” Davis added. “It was super cool, super special to be taking pictures together and being there together.”

Davis earned an Interdisciplinary Studies degree in computational sciences (specializing in engineering) and technical studies.

The Stouts were one of 62 parent-child groups graduating together in the Class of 2022. They attended Commencement ceremonies on campus, celebrating not only their academic achievements but also God’s blessing of healing.

Davis’ health hurdles began in 2020. He had just finished his sophomore year at Liberty. While enjoying a summer evening outdoors with his friends, he attempted to light a fire in a burn barrel, unaware that lighter fluid had already been poured in it.

“It’s so clear, it’s so vivid in my memory,” he said. “It’s literally burned into my memory.”

Because he was talking to his friends when the barrel ignited, the burst of flames went directly into his mouth and down his throat, causing swelling and risk of suffocation.

“It was the most agonizing pain I’ve been through, the most agonizing physical pain that I’ve ever felt,” he said.

He suffered second- and third-degree burns on his right arm and face. His veins glowed purple due to the burn.

“They put a camera down my throat and it showed the same thing,” he said. “It was the same story down in my throat and in my lungs. It had just completely burned the veins and everything and they were worried about my throat closing up.”

“My husband and I couldn’t stay at the hospital with our son because of COVID-19 protocols at the time so all we could do was pray and wait,” Wendy said. “We felt helpless. It was all in God’s hands.”

Stout spent several days in the intensive care burn unit but still managed to take an online class that summer. He was fully recovered by the fall.

Wendy Stout was grateful that was behind them, but one month later, shortly after she had decided to become a Liberty student herself, she was involved in an automobile accident that left her with severe hand, back, and head injuries. She was also diagnosed with hemiplegic migraines, a rare type of headache that causes temporary, partial paralysis that mimics a stroke. She underwent seven months of physical therapy.

It was during her therapy that she received the news she had been accepted to the online Ph.D. program. Despite her health challenges, she started her courses. She had spent much of her career geographic information systems, working for FEMA, NASA VSGC, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the University of Richmond, and wanted an advanced degree so she could teach at the college level.

While her health made her educational pursuit difficult, Stout said the Liberty faculty were outstanding, helping to answer questions and guide her during times when she felt sick or discouraged.

“I had so much support and truly felt supported the whole way through,” she said. “All of my professors were wonderful, especially my chair, Dr. Carol Gillespie.”

“I never had a class where I didn’t feel encouraged,” she added. “Even as an online student, I received very personal feedback and I had conversations with several of my professors about the things that were going on in my life. They were always responsive and helpful and willing to pray for me.”

Her favorite memory from her Liberty journey came last spring when she ventured to Rwanda for an LU Send trip.

“It changed me in ways that I could have never expected,” she said. “It actually really strengthened my faith and my walk with Jesus because I started to understand Christianity and my faith in a more personal way than I ever have before.”

“When you come back and you realize how much God has given us in this country and our individual lives and how little we do for Him, it really did touch me to my core,” she added. “It was a life-changing experience for me to be able to connect with people from a different culture and to see how they practice their Christianity. To be touched by their faith changed me.”

In July, she will go on her second trip with Liberty, this time traveling to Israel as part of an archaeology research team with Dr. Randall Price in coordination with Hebrew University. She will contribute by offering her expertise on topics correlating with geographic information systems while conducting research with professors from Hebrew University and Haifa University.

Both mother and son have already seen their hard work pay off with desired jobs in their fields.

Wendy Stout has been hired as an Instructional Technologist at Rappahannock Community College, a job she landed two weeks after defending her dissertation. In the fall, Stout will begin working as a faculty member at Virginia Tech in the newly created role of Coastal Resilience Extension Specialist. Davis Stout is enjoying his current role as a designer for underground power systems for a local power company.

“It’s really cool stuff,” he said. “It’s right up my alley, and it’s been a blessing.”

He hopes to one day work in the automotive industry.

Through all of their ups and downs, they are grateful for the Lord’s provision and hand of protection.

“I always felt a peace, like God had called me to do this,” Wendy said. “He had a purpose for my journey, and so I never felt like the difficulties were not for a reason.”

Liberty played a big role in helping them meet their educational goals amid the challenges of life.

“While at Liberty, I was surrounded by real Christians and sound doctrine,” Davis said. “I learned the importance of following God and following the Bible and having faith through those hard times. Just being able to see His hand at work is the most amazing thing and the biggest blessing in my life.”