Our Terrible Car Accident Yesterday and What I Learned from it

I still can't get the accident out of my head. I am so thankful God was watching over us. It was a pretty bad wreck and we were smashed between two cars. It's amazing we weren't hurt worse.

My sister, myself, and my two boys went by and picked my husband up from work. Lauren (my sister) was driving, I was in the passenger seat, and Ty and the kids were in the back. We had just left his job and were only a few miles away from home.

On the way down the road we notices a wreck, but traffic was still moving at a normal pace. Lauren was about two car lengths behind an SUV, when that driver decided to slam on brakes in the middle of the road to look at the other wreck. I had just enough time to scream and say a quick prayer before we smashed into the back of the SUV going 45 with no time to brake.

I didn't have on my seat belt because it had just broken, but everyone else did (thank God). I threw my hand against the roof of the car to brace myself and the other across the back seat and half on my sister. Tyler heard my scream and wrapped his arm around me from the back seat. The crash was the most horrible sound and the impact was unbelievable. The car was filled instantly with smoke. I thought for sure that the explosion was me going through the windshield, but it was the dash exploding and the air bag deploying. That was a split second before the second horrible crash when the car behind us hit us.

The headlights were thrown from the car, along with the emblem, and random scattered parts and pieces of metal. Red paint chips were everywhere, the hood of the car was cracked about half way across, and the radiator was pushed into the cars motor. That caused the car horn to engage and it was a steady screaming noise until my husband unhooked the wire.

I couldn't move at first. My legs felt like they were on fire and the right leg didn't really want to move. I dislodged it ( and still don't know what it was stuck on). The police from the other wreck ran across to us and had to pry Lauren's door open because it was stuck from the impact. When I opened mine a huge rush of smoke came billowing from both doors. The first thing I did was make sure my boys were ok. Praise God they were. Evan (my 8 year old) busted his lip from being jolted so hard. Bailey (my 12 year old) said he saw it coming when I screamed. He covered his face and leaned over to protect Evan. Tyler held one arm across them, used that hand to pull Lauren back, and used his other arm to hold me against the seat. They said if it wasn't for him holding me I would have gone through the windshield no question. Wow is all I can think.

I really thought it was over, I thought I was going through the glass. I thought the sound of smashing metal and screams was me being thrown from the car and all I worried about was my boys. I thought "God please don't let my boys see something like that happen to me. They will never be ok." In that split second I had to pray before we were sandwiched between the car and SUV I asked God to protect us, and He did.

When I finally moved my leg from the car I had a deep area about 8 inches long and 2 inches wide of raw meat. The skin was completely gone. Some areas were worse than others, but the burns from the air bag cauterized most of the bleeding. My leg had instantly turned purple and black. I had on a toe ring, but that and my shoe were somewhere in the car. My husband grabbed my shoe and we were all safely out of the car.

Everyone was ok, but seriously shaken up. My sister is young and she panicked. We kept trying to calm her down. I am so thankful I was with her. I can't imagine her being there alone. We all watched out for each other, and God for us. That's what our family is about. We love and protect each other no matter what the cost. Each of us in our own way disregarded our own safety for another. I praise God for keeping his steady hand on all of us.

I am so pound of my boys. They truly are a gift from God. They were so brave and so helpful and loving. They were not concerned for themselves, but for me and their aunt Lauren. Bailey held me up when Tyler had to talk with police. He also stayed to hold on to his aunt for fear she would collapse from nerves. Evan cried when he saw my leg and I reassured him everything was fine.

The EMT's looked over everyone before taking me to the hospital, which they said I had to do. They only let Tyler ride with me. I had remained calm until that point when I had to leave my kids with Lauren until their Grandma got to them. I didn't want to let them go. I didn't want to be away from them.

My mom arrived a few minutes later and they all came to the hospital. Thank God I was ok. I am just black, blue, cut, scraped, and a little burnt. Nothing that won't heal. I have to see my pulmonary doctor Monday, because they don't want me to end up with a blood clot. I had a pulmonary embolism several years ago, and am at higher risk that someone who has never had one. I know God has and will continue to watch over us and protect us as He has for all these years. We are all so thankful and so lucky to be alive and well. My sister later found my toe ring under her seat along with the rear view mirror before they towed her car. She said the ring was almost completely flat. It was a really thick sterling silver braided style band. I still don't know how that happened or how it ended up under her seat.

This wreck has taught me so many things. I know no matter what that you ALWAYS need to wear your seat belt. I don't care if you are a minute away from home. We were too! I will never let my kids ride in the front seat unless they are old enough and tall enough. Air bags are no joke! The impact from those alone causes serious damage. Kids are not built to handle that. I know that your life can be taken at any second of any day, so you need to appreciate and love those you are close to. Make sure they know how much you love them, because one day it might be too late. You never expect these things to happen, but we all learned yesterday that in a split second everything can change. I don't know what we would have done if it had been worse. Things like that just make you realize how truly lucky and blessed you are. Never take a single second for granted.