After The Accident: Part 2

I posted last about the accident I had in October of 1994. It took me a while to get the pictures in a form I could post. They are 14 year old Polaroids, so the quality is not the best. But I felt it was necessary to post them, so you can see what I saw, while I explain the emotions I felt.

I first want to tell you about my ER visit and my diagnosis.

The ambulance ride truly seemed to take FOREVER! I remember just sobbing the whole way, scared about what had happened to my body. Nothing hurt, and yet, I could not move. My biggest fear was a broken neck or broken back. I know the paramedics had the same fear because of the extreme caution they used when removing me from the car.

My mom arrived at the hospital while I was getting x-rays done, and I remember being so glad to see her. Hours later, we found out that the x-rays showed nothing was broken! I cannot even describe how it felt to hear that. I was shocked and yet so thankful, all at the same time.

I was released from the hospital, but I could barely walk. I could not turn my head or bend my neck at all. It was very hard to go from a laying position to a sitting position, or from a standing position to a sitting position. It was also extremely difficult to swallow.

I had pain medication from the doctor in the emergency room and was told to follow up with a doctor on Monday. To say I needed the pain meds is a HUGE understatement! Sunday morning when I woke up, the pain was there in full force. I don't think there was a muscle in my body that did not hurt.

I was due to start a new job that Monday, at a Private School. I had to show up early that morning to give them my note from the doctor. Obviously, I would not be going to work that day, or any day soon. Later that morning, I went for my appointment with the doctor I was scheduled to see.

My diagnosis was true whiplash, with problems to my back as well, although I do not recall the medical terms. When most of you think of whiplash, you probably think of people on TV or in the movies with a neck brace on. Most do not have true whiplash. True whiplash causes severe pain in the neck, swelling and loss of range of motion, as well as headaches and muscle spasms.

I had it all, as well as severe back pain. It hurt to sit for any length of time, and laying down was not much better. I was facing physical therapy and a long recovery time.

When I left the doctor's office, we headed to the wrecker's yard, where my car had been taken. The following are pictures of what greeted me.















After seeing the car and the condition it was in, one thought struck me. There was no glass broken. I found it amazing considering the abuse the car had taken. The driver that hit us was determined to have been going around 50 mph, on impact. The driver that hit me head on was going around 40 mph, and yet no broken glass. If you look closely, you can see that the impact put a crease on the roof of the car.

The next thing that amazed me, was the fact that I had not broken any bones. There wasn't a scratch on me, and no blood loss. I was hit twice, and though my body was hurt, and I was in pain, I KNEW God had protected me. It could have been so much worse than it was and I knew it. The thoughts of what if, scared me, because deep down in the depths of my soul. . .

I knew that if I had died, I would not be able to stand righteous before a Holy God.

The realization shook me to my core. It was my road to Damascus.


blessedwith3