March 21, 2009, my son and I were in an accident. Nicholas sustained internal damage and had a foot of his intestines removed. He was released from the hospital on March 31 with a clean bill of health, albeit a long, heartbreaking scar.

I broke my left femur, my right ankle, and my left arm, as well as shattered my left knee. I was release from the hospital on March 31 as well, but I was sent to a nursing and rehabilitation facility. My right foot got infected where the stitches were, which prolonged my stay, but I was released to home care on May 5, 2009. I am still healing. I cannot bend my left knee yet, and the doctors say there is still a chance I might lose my right foot.

But I am infinitely blessed, and I know it.

That day, I was on my way to my job to take Nicky to meet my friends. I came around a curve on a country road, and there was a tractor off to the side of the road. The tractor, for the most part, was off the road, so I was just going to pass him...nothing unusual there. But at the last second, I saw that he had some equipment, flaps if you will, extending from the tractor near the ground, and those were in the road.

I was almost on top of them when I saw them, and I had to swerve to avoid hitting them. But there was a truck coming in the other lane, a large Ford or Dodge...it was pewter gray. We collided head-on.

I remember the entire thing. It was devastating, but you'd be surprised what you stay conscious for.

The heat...it was muted, but it was there, and I knew I was in pain, but it didn't register immediately. I turned around and asked Nicky if he was okay. He had a terrified look on his face, but he nodded yes. At that time, I thought he had sustained no injuries at all.

At that point, I began screaming out the window for someone to help us. The window had been open slightly before the accident. After impact, the windows cracked, but did not shatter completely, so you could not see in or out. A lady came to the window and asked if there was anyone else in the car. I told her my 5 year old son was in the back seat.

I know God saved my boy, but the car seat was his way of doing it. The lady got Nicky out of the car. That's when, according to witnesses, I started screaming and crying for a few minutes and passed out. I must have been in and out because I remember the firemen cutting me out of the car with the jaws of life because, as they said, the engine was in my lap. I remember them pulling me out, and that hurt more than anything. I remember them asking me my name, who to call, telling me my phone's screen was busted, that my son was throwing up, that I was going to be airlifted.

I remember being put into the helicopter.

Then I passed out until after surgery. I now have two metal rods in my left arm, and a metal rod supporting my left femur. I can't walk yet. I am praying that I will again.


But once again, I am blessed and I know it. It's terrifying how fast things can change. In the midst of this, my mother and my brother, who have not spoken in years, are mending their relationship.

My ex-husband and I are on civil terms again.

My parents and my fiance, Robert, were there for me the entire way. Robert even slept in hospital chairs. He and my father built a ramp at the house so I could go home.

I got to keep my job, and I am getting paid short term disability.

I am so blessed.