Since today is the Feast of our Guardian Angels, I thought I
would re-post a series of stories on a significant experience in which I am sure
my guardian angel was with me. Four years ago I had the unfortunate experience
of being hit by a car. I worked hard to overcome the injury in order to make
the basketball team that year, before having to quit before the end of the
season due to injury. A year later, I decided to write about this experience of
pain and fear and the hope of a fast recovery. These stories remind me that not
only do our guardian angels keep us safe from physical harm, but also from
spiritual and emotional harm. I hope you enjoy reading these postings and I
hope that you have felt the same sense of peace and security from your guardian
angels in your life.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2,
2009
A Day I Will Never Forget
"Hey Justin, wait for me!" I panted as I rode my
bike up one of the biggest hills I had ever been on.
My brother Justin and I were riding to a friend's house. I
saw that Justin was almost a block ahead of me, as I attempted to cross a busy
street. As I began to cross the street there was not a thought in my mind that
this ride would change my life forever.
As I saw the green light in front of me, I began to proceed
towards the crosswalk. I was about a foot off of the curb, when all of a
sudden, "Bam!" A car coming to the corner to a right turn on red,
smashed into my leg! I flew through the air and landed onto the cool concrete
in the middle of the street. My already throbbing leg that was hit now fell
onto my bike which landed on the ground on top of me. Immediately, I started to panic! I was in shock, but then
again who wouldn't be? In terrific pain, I tried frantically to get up and pick
up my bike. A middle aged woman, who had witnessed everything, got out of her
car and told me to stay down. She then told me that she was going to call
"911" and my parents to tell them what happened.
As soon as she said this, I heard by brother's voice,
"John! Are you okay?!" Then the woman began to ask my brother what
our phone number was. As my brother began telling her, she began punching the
number into her cell phone and started telling my mom what had happened. Just
then a young girl who had been driving the car got out and rushed over to see
if I was ok. Having seen that I was badly hurt, she went over to the side of
the road, and with her mother, they cried together.
In a flash, a police car arrived on the scene. The police
officer began making his way across the crosswalk toward the frightened and
bewildered teen driver. Almost out of nowhere I heard a voice frantically call
out my name, "John! Oh No! John I'm here!" It was my mom, just
getting out of the car with my younger siblings. When she got near, she told me
to re-tell the whole incident. With every detail that I could remember, I saw
my mom's facial expressions change. After she had heard my story, my mom
expressed to me, how deeply sorry she was for what had happened. After a short
while, my mom made her way over to the young girl who had been driving the car,
to assure her that everything would be okay, and that we were sure that it was
an accident. My mom also added that we would be praying for her.
At that moment, the blaring siren of an ambulance pierced
the silence, as it seemed to descend upon us. The men inside rushed out to ask
me what happened, where I was hurting, and also to warn me that they were
getting the stretcher ready for me to climb aboard. Being in a great deal of
pain, I could barely slide over to meet the stretcher on my side. When the men
began to put me into the ambulance, they asked my mom if she wanted to
accompany me. Without hesitation, my mom answered yes. Once she got into the
gigantic trunk, we took off for the hospital. It would definitely be a ride I
would never forget.
As we sped down the street, a multitude of thoughts passed
through my mind. I began wondering if I would be able to walk properly again. I
also was wondering what the doctor would say about my injury and how serious it
was. Lastly, I began contemplating how my friends would react when they would
hear about the accident. The drivers of the ambulance said it did not look to
serious, but none of us really knew how this incident would truly change my
life.
The ambulance arrived at the hospital and I was immediately
wheeled into a room. There the doctor looked quickly at my leg and told me that
they were going to do a quick x-ray. I was then wheeled down the hallway and
into the ex-ray room. The two nurses that would be conducting the x-ray were
not very kind and helpful. They did not try to help me onto the big table that
I was supposed to lie on for the x-ray, so it was extremely difficult for me to
make it from the stretcher that I was on. After lying there for some time
during the x-rays, the nurses helped me back onto the stretcher and then
wheeled me back to my room.
My mom was also in the room with me and was calling all of
our family members to gather together for an emergency rosary for me. My mom
and I waited in the room for hours. We both did not know what to expect.
Finally the doctor came back in and told me that it was just
a severely bruised bone and that nothing was broken. What a relief! I have had
so many broken bones in the past! The doctor then proceeded to say that I
should stay home from school tomorrow and that I should be in a wheelchair for
a week so that I wouldn't have to put pressure on it.
After stating this news, the doctor left and a nurse came in
with some pain medicine. Then she asked me if I had enough strength to see if I
could walk a little bit on the leg. As I stood on the floor and tried to walk
on my leg, excruciating pain came! After about five minutes, I was back on the
hospital bed almost out of breath. The nurse then repeated what the doctor had
said and told me that I would be out for a day of school and them I would be
able to go back the following day and use a wheelchair if I needed it. I was
relieved that I did not have to stay overnight in the hospital! I was so glad
to be going home. On top of that, I was glad that the nurse said I didn't have
to go to school!Then I was helped out of the hospital bed and into a
wheelchair to be wheeled out to go home. When I got home my brothers and sister
were worried about me huddled around and asked if I was okay and if I needed
anything. They all were very kind to me.
As night fell, I was finally able to relax and go to sleep.
I began dreaming about the accident. As I dreamed I began to start worrying
about my leg. Would my pain go away? What will the kids at my school say when I
come in a wheelchair? Will I ever be able to do the things that I love? Will I
ever be the same? Finally, exhausted from worry, I drifted off into a deep and
pain-filled sleep. As I slept my doubts faded away. I knew that I was okay and
that my leg would heal soon. It seemed that all my problems and troubles had
disappeared. However, I had no idea that they were just beginning.
The week with my wheelchair went by fast and in no time I was back to normal! Although I eventually would need to wear a boot on my leg for a few more months, I was confident that my guardian angel was with me through it all, leading through the pain and hurt and eventually bringing me to full health! I am so grateful for my guardian angel and I pray that many of you experience the healing and calm that they bring to each and everyone of us.
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