We Survived This… Now We Thrive – We survived a horrible car accident and now we thrive as learn how we much we truly love and cherish each other.
Something surreal happened to our family over the weekend. It was painful, traumatic and an experience I will never forget. Certain things I never want to forget. Others I do.
So I am sharing today for 2 reasons. 1) It’s important for me to write it all down so I never forget this. EVER. 2) I want to share because it is absolutely amazing.
On Saturday around 10:30 pm we were headed home from a friend’s house. We were talking the whole way home. We had just had a great evening of food, pool time and great conversation with our small group. The 2 kids that were with us had fallen asleep.
We were traveling about 40-45 mph, the speed limit. Out of nowhere this car appeared. It had run a stop sign, also going about 40-45 mph. There was probably only 1 second to react before we made contact. We slammed right into the side of a Chevy Astro minivan.
I remember screaming at the top of lungs. Not just one long scream. Multiple shrilling as loud as I could, screams. Over and over. I hardly remember seeing the car but my husband says I yelled “He’s not stopping.” These mere seconds of time seem like eternity in my brain.
We collided. My husband was the first to react and respond. After it registered in his mind what had happened he looked over at me. He says I was moaning and he couldn’t see my head. The side curtain airbag had come down over my head at the left instead of on my right protecting me from the window. It freaked him out and he said in that moment he had 100 horrible thoughts about what he would see when he pulled that curtain back to look at me.
He panicked and starting yelling, “Melanie, talk to me! Melanie! Please! Talk to me. Melanie. You’ve got to say something.” Meanwhile I was screaming at the top of my lungs. And I mean screaming. And then I’m saying, “Why can’t you hear me? I’m screaming?! Can’t you hear me screaming?” Later he tells me I was only moaning.
We don’t know how long I didn’t respond but that too was probably just seconds. When I came to I finally said, “Please stop. Please stop.” As he was saying, “We have to get out of here.” But my head hurt and I didn’t want to move. He turned his attention to the kids in the back of the car who seemed shaken quite a bit but good.
He told us we have to get out of the car just in case it were to go up in flames. As I exited the car I remember thinking this better not have been a hit and run. And I kept asking, “Where is he? Where is that car?” My husband didn’t have the answer. People immediately were surrounding us, other drivers and neighbors.
One man told us he was an EMT and had us count, squeeze fingers, etc. He asked if anything hurt and I said my head. And Carl’s whispering, “Please tell them you are OK. I don’t want them to take you away. Please tell them you’re OK.
I was OK but my head felt foggy and I wasn’t sure if it was from the air bag gas or because i hit my head. We later found a lump on my head and some sore spots. I must have hit something. All front airbags had deployed and on the passenger side where my son and I were sitting the side curtain airbags also deployed. We still don’t know how my head got on the opposite side and if I hit the window or what.
After the EMT walked away I just grabbed the kids hands as we sat in the grass along the road. And I just started singing the only praise song that came to mind. “Jesus, you are the Savior of my soul. And forever and ever I’ll sing my praises to you.”
Eventually a neighbor came over and suggested we go into her home to get away from everything. There were several ambulances, cop cars, fire trucks and lot of traffic from the races letting out. So the children and I went in her home.
Meanwhile Carl found out the other car was down in the bushes. He was leaving the races with 3 friends and totally blew the stop sign. He never saw it coming. Carl was told that one man was ejected from the vehicle. 2 were taken to hospitals. We haven’t heard any updates about the men.
The driver came over after a little while and immediately claimed fault and apologized. He was 68 and lived out of town. They were here for the races.
We have so many praises from this incident.
- We were all wearing seat belts and my 7 year was in his booster.
- We all walked away without broken bones or blood. Simply amazing. 1 person called in another ambulance just after seeing our vehicle because it didn’t look good. The tow truck driver told us on Sunday that something almost doesn’t match up. That we all just walked into his yard on Sunday to clean out our car. We know it was God and his protection over us.
- Had there been one second difference the van would have smashed into our side instead of we smashing it. That would have crushed it right on our passenger side where our 7 year old was sitting. I can’t even imagine the outcome. That vehicle was much bigger than ours.
- God protected us. We can’t get over his mercy. And we are so thankful. I felt the need to share just to say prayers make a difference. God is real. And he does know what he’s doing.
- Our lives will forever be changed because of this incident. The thoughts of what-ifs haven’t stopped playing in our minds and that makes us more grateful. We don’t care if there are messy kid rooms or toys left in the yard or if I want Panera and he wants McDonalds. Now we just know we are so glad to have each other!
- Most of all we are thankful for forgiveness. We offer to forgiveness and hold no wrong feelings toward this man. It was an accident. And we ourselves are so thankful that God sent Jesus and we are forgiven so we can make our home in heaven some day.
Thanks for being here friends!
Til we meet and eat again,
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Sarah @Whole and Heavenly Oven says
Oh my goodness, thank GOD that you all are okay! That must have been so scary for you and my heart is aching right now just imagining! God was definitely right there protecting your family. Hugs, Melanie! xoxo
Melanie says
THank you Sarah! I appreciate the heartfelt words. We are so thankful! Love my blogging friends!
Samantha @ Five Heart Home says
Melanie! So glad you are all okay! So scary to think of the “what-ifs,” but it sounds like you’ve taken the experience and turned it into something positive. Big hugs!
Melanie says
Thank you Samantha! Everyone’s kind words are really encouraging.Love my blogging friends! Thanks for being here today.
Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor says
Gosh, that is so incredibly scary but I am so glad that everyone is okay! Things like this really do make us look at things differently. Thinking of you!
Melanie says
Yes, they really do Ashley! Thanks for your kind words. Love my blogging friends and am thankful for all of you!
Chris @ Shared Appetite says
Wow what a miracle! SO glad you are all ok!!! It’s amazing how HE protects us!
Melanie says
Definitely a miracle. Thanks. I appreciate the kind words!
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
Oh my word Melanie, sooo scary! Glad you are all ok. Sending big hugs to you and your family. Thanks for sharing. Great reminder to always wear your seatbelt!
Melanie says
I’m so glad too. It could have been so much worse. I’m grateful for all my friends and their support during this time!
Mallory @ Chocolate with Grace says
Oh, praise God for His protection! It’s wonderful to know that He has each breath we take in the palm of His hand! Thanks for sharing your story.
Melanie says
That is exactly true. I’m so thankful that he decided it wasn’t our time yet. Thanks for stopping by Mallory!
Carol G says
OMG, you all were so lucky. I cried as I read your story and so very thankful that you all could walk away.
Melanie says
Thank you Carol! I appreciate your kind words. We are so thankful too!
Christin@SpicySouthernKitchen says
Thank you so much for sharing this and so thankful you and your family are alright. We all need these reminders of how precious life is.
Kelly says
Oh my goodness! I am so sorry to hear that you and your family are okay. That must have been so so scary! This is such a great reminder of how precious life is. Thank you so much for sharing your story, Melanie. *hugs*
Simona says
Oh Melanie,
I just read this and I cried. There is no other explanation that all 4 of you are ok except that God’s hand protected your family.
These pictures remind me of the accident my husband was in only 3 months ago, our car was totaled and he walked away without a scratch and no one else in the other car was hurt either.
God is indeed our help in time of trouble and He sends His angels to watch over us as Psalm 91 says.
I’m so glad you’re all ok.
Hugs,
Simona
Melanie says
That’s awesome Simona! So thankful that God protected you as well. His Love knows no end. Praise God.