Remembering - 10 Years Ago

My husband, heavily sedated after a terrible accident ...

Two days later, five of our six children and I were with him as he began to wake up ...

Our family will never forget the morning of 2-22-02. And ten years later, we are remembering ...

The horrible accident my husband was in - backed over by a trash truck on the street by our home, being life-lighted to the hospital, receiving 14 units of blood the day of the accident, being stabilized enough so that he could endure a 5 1/2 hour surgery, hearing from the doctor that Gary would be doing well if he could stand on his own in a year.

The injuries were serious - the impact of the truck hitting his left leg severely broke his left femur bone and also caused nerve and artery damage in the knee, in addition to an open wound the length of his leg. His right foot was the only part of his body that was actually driven over by the truck, and the doctor had to make the difficult decision during surgery if he should even attempt to put the foot back together again. Later, he suggested possible amputation, but then things turned around as healing began to come.

With our newborn grandson, two months old at the time of the accident ...

Memorable time together with our youngest son, eleven years old at the time ...

Ten years later - we are reminded, and we thank God for His mercy and grace in sparing my husband's life, and for bringing amazing healing. He went from hospital bed, to wheelchair and rehab, and then was able to come home (after about 4 weeks) for more outpatient physical therapy. Then he progressed from wheelchair, to crutches, and then to using a cane in about 6-7 months. In September of 2002 (6 1/2 months after the accident) he was well enough that we took a two-week vacation trip to California with our two sons!

The lasting physical affects are minimal - a rod in his left leg, several toes missing on his right foot, and the need of special shoe cushions for the injured right foot. And maybe a slight limp at times. And the overall affects in our hearts are a deep awareness of God's love and mercy, and of His presence during one of the most difficult times of our lives. We were surrounded by His love through our family and many, many friends who covered us with prayer and support.

Two weeks after the accident, I wrote these words on the website a family member had set up for us to keep in contact with those who were praying ~

"How can I say thanks to God for preserving the life of my precious husband, and for how He has wrapped us in His arms of love during these difficult last two weeks? We have such a great God, who gives us grace and strength for whatever comes our way. Even before anyone even knew to pray, God was working ... giving Gary presence of mind to ask the rescue squad to please go to the door of our house and let me know what happened before they life-flighted him away ... for giving me strength to go down to the street and hold my husband's face in my hands and speak words of comfort to him. The words that God comforted me with from the very beginning were ... Psalm 139:16 'All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.' God knew about this day ... before Gary or I were even born ... and therefore, we could trust Him with it. And He can use all things to work for good for His purposes.

There is no end to the things that we are thankful for ... that Gary was not hurt in a worse way, which is really a miracle ... that the rescue squad is only about 3 blocks from our house and could be there so quickly, as Gary was losing so much blood ... that he had the best orthopedic surgeon in the area to care for him.

And, we want to thank all of you, our precious friends, for being there for us in so many ways. You have been the arms of God around us. Gary and I are at peace and are encouraged. We are accepting this trial; we have not been fighting it. That perspective comes only from God ... thank you for praying for us."

And ten years later, our praise and our thanks continue - for God's love and healing, and for all the love and care we felt from so many.


Linking up at Reflections of His Grace, Brag on God Friday, On Your Heart Tuesdays