Gratitude set in. She then thanked Him for all that He had given her, and was so thankful for the state of peace and euphoria that set in. The day at sea world was over, she was on cloud 9. She wanted to pinch herself is this real?
They had just been through three years of heart ache, pain, loss, recovery. She discovered through that time that family is everything. Family is what defines us, and at any given moment you can lose someone that you thought would be there forever. Her heart still swelled at the thought of it all. But they came through it stronger.
That evening they went grocery shopping for the family. It was exciting, but exhaustion set in. Although she was exhausted her heart was full of joy. They then got home, got everyone fed, and then the kids went off to bed.
That night the 6 of them sat at the table, laughing, and feeling so happy. The adults all were celebrating with bubbly. A couple of glasses and spirits soared. She watch the flicker of the light on the pool, started to dance and then it all changed. She dove head first into a 2-4 foot deep end of the pool. Everyone screamed, but they were merely echoes as she entered the water. Early that day she would not go outside and even think of entering the pool – without a heater who would want to be in the freezing cold water. But that evening she felt so alive, and just wanted to be free.
Minutes felt like hours, time stood still as her head nicked the bottom of the pool. A voice came to her, and light surrounded her, You are going to be ok but this is going to be a long road. She came up from the water, and felt like a child, she called for mommy. She could hear her husband yelling at her, she felt so stupid. How could she have been so careless? How could she only think of herself? Guilt set in. Ruined, it’s all ruined.
She walked out of the pool holding her chin in her hand, sat down on the couch and her mom called 9-1-1. No No don’t do it…. She felt ok, sort of except the pain at the back of her head. Blood then trickled down her face. The ambulance came, and they set her down to stabilize her spine on the spine board. Now everything hurt, her body started to shake. Inside worry started to overwhelm her, what would happen when her 3 and 6 year old boys woke up? How could she have done all of this…..
In the ambulance, time stood still again. So many things went through her mind, guilt, anger, and fear. She started to pray. Help me Lord, I am so sorry for doing this. Please let everything be ok.
At the hospital in the emergency room, they cut open her clothes, and her brother, dad and husband looked with worry as everything was happening so fast. She had an x-ray and CT scan, it revealed she had a C1 fracture – burst fracture shattered on the right side. She didn’t understand what that meant, and as the doctor started to explain the seriousness she wondered, am I going to live. Oh my God what have I done? Her hands, feet and head started to feel numb. More fear as she called for a priest. She then asked him to find the scripture where the disciples did the healing of the hands, and had the ability to heal. The priest couldn’t find the scripture. She asked her dad, brother, and husband to join hands as they all prayed for her. It was Matthew 10:10 she was thinking about “He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.”
Her thoughts raced. And she prayed inside God I know I told you I would never want to live in a capacity that made me disabled. But I am just praying that you allow me to stay here and be there for my babies. Please Lord , I am scared of being paralyzed or dying. Help me please. I am so sorry for my foolishness.
Her hands, feet and head stopped tingling moments later. He was there, reassuring her she was going to be ok.
These were a few moments in my story. My injury only a small percentage of people survive and of those that do survive often are quadriplegics. I was and still am His miracle.
The days that followed were very difficult. One of the most difficult moments was the first time my boys saw their mama for the first time. The look in their eyes are etched on my heart. Eyes completely in fear and looking at their mama in an 8lb halo with bolts drilled into her head. I remember my little Marcus, he looked at me and his eyes were so wide in fear, I then said to him a lie but prayed for strength in the right words “Marcus mommy is ok, she isn’t in pain and is going to be ok. You know what is cool you can show me for show and tell and say your mommy is a transformer.” He then smiled but still was scared. IT was hard leaving my family in the most magical place in the world, but I really didn’t want their time to end with so much uncertainty and unhappiness. I then flew back from Florida with my mom, and began the journey of trying to be normal again.
Have you ever been in a situation where you don’t know if your life will be normal again? I was in this situation, and felt like I caused it all. I had to forgive myself, but every step I took it was because of God. For those of you that are unbelievers, I wish you could hold my hand and see everything I saw.
God is loving. His doing is beyond all comprehension. Today, my C1 did not heal based on conventional medicine. When you look at me you would never know that I still have a broken neck stabilized by scar tissue and cartilage.
This was the beginning of what God was going to show me. These past 5 years, many things have happened to me and the ones I love and cherish. But HIS GRACE REIGNS. In each of every story we have come out stronger, with love that is so deep. I have learnt
There are many more learnings, but I am so very thankful for every single one of them. Tomorrow is my 5 year anniversary since I broke my neck. I am reminded of the gift of life. I choose to celebrate this by making someone else’s life a bit better. We welcomed Esther from Uganda, our third sponsor child into our lives today. Finally a girl!!
Life is about the moments that take your breath away, the good the bad and the ugly. So much of this life is not in our control. We have the power of choice in every moment. I choose God to guide me. Thank-you God for saving me and allowing me to be on this wonderful earth with my children and to be able to laugh, live and love. I choose to trust you always have my best interests at heart.
These moments take me back 5 years ago:
https://www.youtube.com/user/nessachesters
SO thankful for this life….All of it.
~Ness
