6 years ago...
* I remember the 1st 3 weeks of college and having my discipleship leader pray this verse over me: "For my grace is sufficient for you, Ang. For my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will boast more gladly about my weaknesses, for when I am weak then I am strong." God had begun to prepare my heart already.......
* I remember the exact motion in the air and bailing out of a double flip and landing flat on my back.
*I remember trying to get up my body wasn't responding and I remember seeing my legs turned out
*I remember looking up at one of the coaches and telling him that I new I was paralyzed.
*I remember telling the paramedics to take off my tramp shoes, but they told me they already were, I just couldn't feel my legs.
*I remember leaving the gym in stretcher and looking up to see the parents all leaning over the balcony to wave goodbye to me.
* I remember the ride in the ambulance with my coach. The lights were turned on and we were moving fast. I talked with the paramedic about life at Taylor (clearly trying to distract my thoughts).
* I remember being taken to ER only to find out that the Dr. on duty was a church friend (God's reminder that he was with me)
* I remember my mom causally walking in with her diet coke (she had no idea the severity yet) and having not cried up to this point I completely lost it like a baby when I saw her.
* I remember them taking a needle and poking me and asking me if I could feel anything. To which I said no.
* I remember starting to have a bit of anxiety in the MRI machine, only to have them take me out and tell me that I had a small piece of medal in my pony tail holder and they had to redo it.
*I remember the neurosurgeon coming in and showing me the xray and seeing the broken bones and the spinal cord that had been partially severed
*I remember the neurosurgeon pulling on my big toe (this is about 2 hours after accident) and I shouted "I can feel that!" I remember her smiling and saying that's good news.
*I remember the other neurosurgeon coming in and saying that I would need surgery to have a bone fusion and screws/rods put in to stabilize my back.
*I remember the first question my mom asked the neurosurgeon "Will she still be able to try out for the National Team in a few months?" (denial still) To which the neurosurgeon looked at her and said, "She will never do gymnastics again. She only has maybe a 30% chance of walking again and that's with assistive devices."
*I remember calling my college hours after it happened, only to find out that the news had spread so fast that they already knew about it and were in the process of praying right there for me.
*I remember my brother taking the Peoria Charter bus home just to get to me.
*I remember having 4 pastors (high school, college, grade school pastor, and hospital) all pray over me.
*I remember my entire college wing come visit me the day after it happened (I had only known them for 3 weeks)
* I remember the hundreds of visitors I had come see me.
*I remember over 30 flower arrangements coming to my hospital room within hours.
*I remember my mom giving up her job to spend months helping me rehab.
*I remember rolling down the long hall and turning the corner and waving bye to mom and dad before surgery.
* I remember the Rehab. Institute of Chicago and all wonderful therapist. I remember going to bed every night looking up at the Hancock building
*I remember trying to use a wheelchair and how hard it was
* I remember the first day my big toe moved and was actually a movement I was controlling and not a spasm.
*I remember.....................
I could go over forever with this list, but 6 years later this is what I remember the most......
*GOD IS, WAS, AND WILL ALWAYS BE A FAITHFUL GOD
I've lived through much and have had ups and downs in 6 years, but at the end of the day I have to believe that I worship and love a God who has complete control of my life and who did not take away my ability to walk, but rather gave me a new sense of who He is and who I need to model my life after.
"Now, unto Him who is able to immeasurably more than I ask or imagine, be the glory for ever and ever."
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Angie,
ReplyDeleteSuch an incredible blog post Angie. I had no idea that was your story. It is tough to imagine going through such a trial, but is encouraging to read about your faith in Christ through all of this adversity. God is certainly more faithful than we can know. Six years ago...wow! It is amazing given the knowledge of how active you are that you have undergone so much pain and healing to your body since this point. What a powerful testimony to your determination and persistence, but also to God's work in you that is seen so clearly. It must be wonderful to reflect upon how the Lord has shaped you through such a challenging and abrupt circumstance of this accident.
Thank you for sharing this story.
- Andy
I remember so much about that morning, day, and weeks to come, too, Angie!! You are such an inspiration for others. Thanks for sharing many of your memories. Praise God for his healing!! I still always think of you when I hear a song on the radio...of course, I can't think of what song it is right now! :-)
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