Tuesday, October 27, 2009

God is Good

I really don't know how to begin this post. I am honestly at a complete loss as to where I should begin.

I reckon I'll start from where I can remember.

Oh wait. I don't remember anything. At least not until they transferred me from ICU.



Friday, October 16
All us kids were so very excited. It was the opening night for the play we were in. We were performing with Social Circle Theatre. We had been practicing for so long. Our dress rehearsals had been that week. We were thrilled about opening night! We couldn't wait!

Finally the time came for us younguns to take off toward the small town of Social Circle. Mama would meet us over there closer to show time. We loaded up into my red Dodge Durango. We found a good country song on the radio, and we were off!

The show went great and we truly enjoyed ourselves. That's about all I remember.

The following is according to family members>

Josh and I loaded into the Durango. Mama was going to ride with the bitties. There was a church function Joshua wanted to go to, so I agreed to take him. We headed toward Loganville. I approached the stop sign on Bay Creek Church Rd.

School buses are big. They are big and fast. Especially when they have no stop sign and aren't supposed to stop.

My little red Durango slammed into that Winder/Barrow county school bus. The marching band was on its way home from a football game.

It took two hours to pry my body from the wreck. Those EMS worked so hard. I am forever grateful for their determination. Miraculously, a nurse showed up on the scene. She was truly an angel in the whole situation.

Josh got out. No one knows how. He had sustained a concussion. He had several cuts and bruises, but overall he was all right. He was sent to a different hospital.

I was life-flighted to Atlanta Medical Center. I've always wanted to ride in a helicopter. Too bad it was under those circumstances.

I was immediately rushed to ICU. My femur(left) had broken in half. My fibula had been fractured and my left foot was just plumb "tore up". The tendons had to be repaired in surgery that next morning. Mama said my left leg was twice the size of the rest of my body. I had blood on my brain, and fluid in my lungs. They put me on a ventilator. I have positively no recollection of any of this.

Let's skip to last Saturday. They transferred me to the rehab floor. I was still on oxygen and my banged-up leg hurt like nothin' I've ever felt before. I ain't gonna lie. It HURT. I was not a very kind patient to some of the nurses. Considering they had me doped on drugs, I was in pain, I wanted my Mama, and they were poking me with needles, maybe it's justified. Well, after that mornin', I was much kinder, and made friends with every single nurse on the rehab floor. They'll remember that first mornin', though. :)

Today was the day I was looking most forward to. I got to come home!! Needless to say, I was very excited.

There's still a very long road ahead of me, but the Lord will help me.

I cannot begin to express my gratitude to all of the wonderful people who have been encouraging me during this time. I couldn't do it without all my wonderful family and friends. All of the fervent prayers, the lovely cards, the beautiful flowers, the yummy food....all the LOVE!!! I am so humbled by everyone.

Ohhh, everyone on the school bus was safe. There were several cuts and contusions, and a bloody nose, but the Lord was merciful to all those on board.

The Lord has taught me so much these past few weeks. I can't really just write it all out, but let me say.... I am so very thankful for the Providence of God. I am so thankful for His mercy. I am so thankful for His love, His grace, His goodness, His glory, His timing.

God is good!!!!!!

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

We are so blessed sweetheart, that your doing so well. God is truly wonderful. We love you so very much and are so glad you are back home.
All our love,
Nana and DeDad

Amy Maffei said...

I love you Jessica!!! You are an inspiration to me, and so many others! I have been working on a logo for you and have some great information for you so you can look forward to making your awesome salves again once you get through all the recovery and rehabilitation. Something funny that happens to me sometimes is, I will get a "bad feeling" like something bad is happening to someone. I have a connection with God I suppose and I said a prayer on that Friday night at around 10:45 or 11pm after I had a really bad feeling. We were in Florida visiting Tom's family and I felt "that feeling" while trying to go to sleep (dizzy-oogie-worry- a-strong desire-to-pray-deeply feeling I get sometimes and sometimes it's nothing and sometimes someone I love is involved.) It sounds strange but I said a prayer not knowing it was you in trouble. Mom called me the next morning and told me what had happened. I got chills and a pit in my stomach. I know that all sounds crazy! I will continue to pray for your healing! You are such a strong person and I know you touched several lives that night at the scene from what I've heard! You rock your chicken socks off girl!! God is GREAT!! I love you!
Amy

Jenna said...

Dear Jessica~
I'm praying for a safe recovery and that Jesus will heap HIS blessings on you:)
Are you still in alot of pain?

Titus2Mom said...

Jess-
I can't believe this! We wil pray for you!

Titus2Mom said...

Jess- I just want to say again, WE ARE PRAYING FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY HARD.

God is Good, and he will help you.

Cora Beth said...

Oh my... I haven't read your blog in quite a while, so just found out about all this now. I'll be praying for a thorough recovery for you--with as little pain as possible! I praise God that you are as well as you are, as it sounds like the accident could have been even worse!!!

Jess said...

Nana and DeDad: Thank yall SO much for everything you've done! Yall mean the world to me!

Amy: You are so sweet! Thank you so much for all the prayers! I love ya!

Jenna: Thank you so much! All prayers are greatly appreciated. As for the pain, well, yes, very very badly, but I'll recover soon enough!

Green Gardening Girl: Thank you so much!! Yes, God is so very good!

Cora Beth: Thank you so much! Yes, it could have been much worse. In fact, I didn't have a pulse or respiration for a while. God is so merciful!

Avonlea said...

Hey Jess!
Sooo very glad you are home! We have been praying for you and your family a lot!! I have been at a loss as to what else to do though! Sorry you haven't heard from me sooner! I hope to get to see you on Wednesday when I bring dinner if you are feeling up to a visitor!! Love ya, Avie

Anonymous said...

Jessica, I am so sorry! That must have been really scary! I will be lifting you up in my prayers for sure! I love your blog, you are truthfully an inspiration and I love when you have new posts. I would love if you stopped by my blog. I hope you are getting better! God is good! Very good.

Many blessings, praying for you,
Maggie

The Dischers said...

Oh, WOW! That was some accident! Praise the Lord for His mercies - God IS good.

We are praying for you as you recover.

The Discher Family

Bria Cosper said...

Oh Jess I am so sorry!!! Praise the Lord you are recovering! Are you able to walk yet? I will continue to pray for your speedy recovery.

The Miller Family said...

Praise the Lord for His mercy. Accidents have a way of helping us see (even better than usual) how good God truly is.

Katie Miller

The Stricklens' and Dischers' Aunt

Jess said...

Thank ya'll soooo much! All the prayers are very much appreciated!

I am getting better. Slowly, but surely!

God is so good and His mercies endure forever!!

Johann Van De Leeuw said...

Praise the Lord.