One year ago changed our lives, it could’ve ended in such a different way. A news story just a few weeks ago was a stark reminder of how far we had come but how much healing still needs to take place. You see there were no news stories about the driver who hit my husband and left the scene, who left him on the side of Collins to, for all they knew, die.
But God had bigger plans.
The day began like any other, with a conversation about wether he would ride his bicycle to work or if he would drive our car, the idea of me taking him into work probably came up. In an hour on that fateful day i would have wished that I would’ve pushed harder for the latter option. I’m sure the conversation included the changing of the weather to be more tolerable for riding, it wasn’t going to be as hot. I mean this was our routine for a few years coordinating schedules, etc being a one car family. When I went to bed the night before I didn’t realize how much life would change that morning. It was about this time, 4:30, that he left for his ride into work and it was about an hour that I received that phone call. That I obviously didn’t answer because who in the world would be calling me from Fort Worth at 5:30 in the morning, only to wake up a bit and let my brain process why.
I sent him a text to check on him when a few minutes later he calls me back, for a few seconds the relief that came over me was surreal, followed quickly by sheer panic and worry to find an officer on the phone and not my husband. He says not to worry, haha too late i woke up worried, followed by more worried when you said hi I’m officer...there’s been an accident. He tells me my husband will be alright but that I need to come get his bicycle and backpack while they take him to the hospital. They weren’t very far away, only four miles. I was trying to wrap my tired brain around it all and figure out what to do with the boys and getting the stuff and getting to the hospital, when the officer graciously reminded me I could call someone to watch the boys. There are some things I will never forget about that weekend and the biggest part is our tribe, our people who swooped in and carried us for those three or four days. I text our neighbor who runs early and she came so fast and was such a blessing to love on our boys while I went. I remember seeing his bicycle and thinking it really doesn’t look too bad and I’m 90% sure his backpack was fully intact no scratches. I rushed in to drop them off and left almost forgetting to grab him a change of clothes before heading to the hospital. As I was frantically trying to figure out all the things she was such a pillar of peace, calling/texting with friends to pray and just being there and loving us like family.
I can’t remember much from the drive from
Arlington to downtown Fort Worth, navigating to a new place, one way streets and random parking lots is so much more confusing when your in this situation. It felt like it had been an eternity since that phone call and I can’t tell you how much time had passed. I could barely breathe walking I to the trauma ER, everyone I met was so kind, as I was walking up to his room I remember hesitating, wondering what would I see on the other side, I didn’t have much time to process because one of the nurses that was running tests was coming up beside me and said you can come in, I wasn’t brave enough to say that I didn’t know if I was ready.
To see him with all the machines, but in one piece, with deep “contusions” to his face and his left side, was a relief. He hadn’t been there long when I arrived but they had already done several scans, blood work, and I don’t even know what else, they took him for another test or scan and as I waited I took his gear he had on out of the bag and looked it over. The most shocking part was his helmet, the deep crack from the front to the middle. This would be a different story if it wasn’t for that helmet.
I text his boss and a few other people to let them know. I told our Sunday school class, this was one day I was so thankful for that Facebook group because I could put it out there and I knew that as they were waking up they would be praying.
By my husbands insistence I texted a dear friend, who just showed up, that was such a blessing I don’t know what i would have done without him at the hospital and with his help getting him home. When he arrived at the hospital we were finally able to get enough pain meds to my husband to rest and not be in so much pain. When our friend arrived, we talked for a little bit and he went and got us breakfast, shortly after he got back my husband was being discharged because the final tests came back, there were no broken bones, no internal bleeding, no damage to any organs, just some deep cuts, bruises, swelling and a broken nose, which happened to be a clean break.
Only by the grace of God.
Our friend helped us get him to the car and came home with me to help get him in the house. Our neighbor and her family brought our boys Chick-fil-A. We got home just in time for her to be able to go to her afternoon meeting. I remember thinking about how all of these pieces were just orchestrated.
I ran to the store to grab his pain medicine and wound supplies. After that moment we didn’t have to think about another meal from that Thursday until I think Tuesday. The amazing people who stopped by with his favorites, like tacos and warm chocolate chip cookies. All the wonderful food, we were surrounded by love and support. It’s humbling to look back on all the details and see how God worked them all together. Friends who watched the boys or took them to the park, friends who prayed, friends who sent food from across the country.
There are so many things about that day the year that followed that are the hand of God working. It’s reassuring to know He’s got it all even in emergency situations that catch us off guard. As I said there’s still healing to take place, and so much anxiety swimming around these last few weeks. I can’t help but know that God was there. All the doctors and chiropractors have said that if that car had hit him any higher, paralyzed, or lower, two broken legs, it would have all been radically different and if it wasn’t for that helmet, we have two boys that would be without a daddy and I wouldn’t have him here.
Today, this year, we are grateful, for all the small things, all the big things and everything in between. As I sit here, tears falling, remembering that day. There are so many people I’m thankful for and I wouldn’t have made it through those days without you. Thank you for being Jesus to us!
