Friday, February 15, 2008

Miracles Do Happen

Yesterday I experienced a miracle. I was on my way up to my clinical up in Salt Lake with two other girls. The roads were horrible because of the huge snow storm the night before. As we were driving, a huge semi-truck pulled next to us and started to drift into our lane. The girl driving tried to move over a little, but hit a patch of ice. We were headed toward the median. She tried to correct herself, but ended up overcorrecting to right underneath the semi. That is as much as I remember. Apparently witnesses told the police our car was spinning UNDERNEATH the semi, and just as the rear tires were about to come up over the top of the car, the car shot out from underneath the semi. We ended up spinning a few more times, but miraculously didn't hit the median. The car ended up between the carpool lane and the left lane, facing ongoing traffic. We were all in shock, but managed to get our stuff and get out of the car. The lights on my friend's car didn't work, so it is a miracle no one hit us as we were getting out. We headed over to the middle of the highway next to the median. The two girls who sat in the front seat had scratches all over their faces from the shattering of the winshield (a part of the semi had crushed most of the winshield and there was a big hole). The driver had some cuts on her hands, but other than that, they were fine. I managed to walk away with one little cut on my face, and my glasses flying off and losing a lense. It took a while for the police to get there. Apparently there was a line of accidents, and we had to wait our turn in line. A really nice guy stopped and asked us if we were alright. He had a first aid kit and then he began directing traffic away from the car and where we were standing. The next person to show up was the driver of the semi we had hit. He was very apologetic and began helping with directing traffic and making sure we were okay. The tow truck came next and helped to steer traffic away from the car by blocking the lanes with his car. The girl who was the driver of the car was frantic. She just kept apologizing over and over again. We all called family members to tell them we were safe. Mom had been really worried something like this would happen. She hadn't wanted me to go up to clinical because the roads were so bad. But rarely do they cancel clinical, even for a snow storm. Anyway, Mom took it a lot better than I thought she would. I was surprisingly calm, although whenever I would straighten my legs they would start shaking. I knew it was the adrenaline pumping through me that was keeping me upright and for the msot part pretty calm. The ambulance came and we got in the back so they could check our vital signs and make sure we were okay. I realized at this point how cold it had been standing outside in the snow storm. Our vitals were all within normal limits (I won the blood pressure contest with a 106/67--the lowest;)), and none of us had any serious injuries, so we elected not to go to the hospital. The ambulance took us to a gas station where one of the girl's husband came to get us. We had to wait for the police to come so we could fill out an accident report. After that we were on our way home. As we drove home, I knew within my heart that we very well could not have survived that crash. If that semi had come up on top of us, it could have been fatal. I know there was truly divine intervention.

This accident helped me put my life in perspective. It made me recognize that my priorities have been off. I really need to live life to it's fullest and not waste a moment, because you never know what life will throw at you. I am so grateful for miracles. I know they happen because my family has experienced them first hand. The Lord is truly watching over us. I am so grateful to have a loving Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ who love me so much and protects me. I know He is there and watching over me. I am grateful to be alive.Miracles Happen! I truly have a testimony of that.