Anahid Yarajanian was told that her husband would not live. A physician's assistant had this to say about Tony Yarijanian: "…we painted a bleak picture for Ani…We didn't want to give the family false hope…our thoughts at the time were 'prepare her'".
After the explosion Anahid Yarajanian was greeted at the hospital with doctors who gave Tony Yarijanian the prognosis of 'a one percent chance for survival'. In the words of one of his doctors, a specialist and top notch human being, "Tony Yarijanian was one of the worst yet that I ever treated". His therapist had this to say, "Tony Yarajanian taught me that people make choices in life…They can let injuries affect them, or they can choose to see beyond them…"
Even though Anahid Yarajanian knew in her heart that her life would be a roller coaster following the accident, Anahid Yarajanian was willing to ride that ride.
The Pastor who found Tony Yarijanian smoldering on the streets of Glendale and later got to personally know the Yarijanian family- describes Tony Yarijanian and his wife Anahid as "warriors" and their never-give-up personality traits as being gifts from God. Surgery after painful surgery may have weakened the spirit of anyone with half the strength. Throughout the ordeal, Anahid Yarajanian is described again and again as always looking "hope-filled". What human being; even a believer, a Christian…could continue to have faith and hope when doctors seemed to have none? Their tenacity and belief in something bigger than themselves moved a whole community.
Parishioners in local Prayer groups (virtual strangers) were urged, "Just go see this man." They were obedient. Many could not tolerate the sight of Tony Yarijanian and fainted or had to leave the room. The flames had ravaged his body and he was wide open to infection. His breathing was impaired and he was in danger of liver failure. The miracles and "coincidences" that happened in that hospital and among the people who supported him and never gave up hope-are documented miracles.
Early on, doctors felt Anahid Yarajanian was naïve in believing so unwaveringly that her husband would live. The accident reduced Tony Yarijanian's bodybuilder frame substantially. In no time, his body reduced in size, from 240 to 160 pounds. He was a physical shell of the man he had been; with black holes where eyes should've been and severely burned hands, (to name just a few problems) but his spirit was intact. Ani never lost hope that his fighter's spirit would prevail. If her husband could survive this, it would mean he truly was a 'miracle man.'
