A high-profile megachurch pastor is counting her blessings after what started as a playful family moment turned into a terrifying brush with paralysis.
Sarah Jakes Roberts, the 37-year-old daughter of famed preacher T. D. Jakes, revealed she fractured her neck in a freak trampoline accident while playing with her daughter, Ella.
The shocking incident unfolded over the weekend when Roberts says she landed awkwardly during a game — causing her neck to “pop” in several places. What seemed like a painful fall quickly escalated into something far more serious.
After rushing between two hospitals and undergoing multiple scans, doctors delivered a chilling diagnosis: a fractured neck, herniated discs, and dangerously compromised areas of her spine that could have left her permanently paralyzed.
“One disc up or one disc lower, and this would’ve been a different testimony,” Roberts shared with her more than 3 million Instagram followers. “Last night was scary.”
The Dallas-based pastor — who co-leads The Potter’s House alongside her husband Touré Roberts — now faces weeks of recovery. She’s been fitted with a neck brace and told to limit movement for four to six weeks to avoid further damage.
“Rest and recovery will give my body a chance to heal,” she wrote. “I’ll be lying low while I navigate this injury with wisdom.”
The close call comes just as her family has already weathered a recent health scare. Her father, T.D. Jakes, suffered a near-fatal heart attack during a sermon in November 2024 — collapsing mid-service in a moment that stunned his massive congregation. He later revealed doctors told him he was just minutes from death.
That incident ultimately led to Roberts and her husband stepping into a more prominent leadership role at the church, which draws tens of thousands of worshippers and was founded by her father in 1996.
Beyond the pulpit, Roberts has built a major following as a speaker and author, including her bestselling book “Woman Evolve,” where she opens up about her journey from teen mom to influential faith leader.
Now, after this latest scare, fans are rallying around her — grateful that what could have ended in tragedy is instead a story of survival.
Still, the incident is a stark reminder that even the most ordinary moments can turn dangerous in seconds.
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