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Perry’s friend rushed him to HCA Florida Ocala Hospital for emergency treatment. Surgeons were stunned by what they discovered.
“When we normally see these injuries, they’re usually devastating injuries,” a doctor told WRBW-TV.
Dr. Dana Taylor, the surgeon who treated Perry, explained to Fox News that the necklace altered the bullet’s path. “When I looked down at his chest and was evaluating him, and I saw the cross and the way that bullet scored it, and it deflected [the bullet] across his chest and into his arm, I knew then that, yes, that cross did definitely change the course of his life.”
In other words—if not for the cross—Perry might not be alive today.
The incident has left Perry not only recovering physically but also spiritually renewed. A man of faith before the shooting, he says what happened has given him even greater certainty that God’s hand was protecting him.
“It’s just kind of a reminder now — to never stop believing… keep believing and God’s definitely real,” Perry told WRBW-TV.
The friend who fired the weapon has since been arrested and charged with culpable negligence causing injury, according to reports.
While Perry recovers, he’s also thinking about the cross that saved his life. The pendant, which he had worn daily since Christmas, is now split down the middle. He hasn’t yet decided whether to repair it or replace it, but either way, he says he’ll never forget what it represents.
For Perry, the necklace isn’t just jewelry—it’s a symbol of survival, faith, and a miracle.
“I think God played a big role in this,” he said. “I think he’s the reason that I’m still here today.”
Stories like this rarely make national headlines, but they highlight something deeper—a reminder that life can change in an instant and that sometimes what looks like a tragedy can turn into a testimony. Perry’s survival is not only a medical marvel but also a powerful message of faith for millions of Americans who believe that miracles still happen.
