The Story of a Believer On a bright Spring day in 1983 my life changed forever.
I had no idea that morning as I dressed my talkative precocious 23-month-old daughter, Crystal, in one of her favorite spring outfits the implications our actions could have on our lives. I had been through a lot already considering my young age, but nothing to prepare me for what happened that extraordinary day. Although I had been raised going to church and with a mother that believed in a God above, I was so skeptical. Being very analytical, I had to understand everything. To believe in something I had no proof of was beyond my comprehension and ability. I had made no strong decision on what I was going to teach my lovely child. I had lost my faith in the church after dealing with real life heartache for many years. But at this time, my life was finally taking a turn for the better. I finally had hope that maybe the tough times were fleeting and I could live a happy life.
Being laid off of my job five months before had probably been the best thing that had ever happened to my daughter and me. It gave me a chance to spend some precious time with Crystal. Her father made enough money to support us…but just barely and the depressed job market in our area made it hard to survive on one income. Being with Crystal fulltime during this period was, at the same time, a joy and a trial. She was a gorgeous, smart, and willful toddler. Anyone who has ever raised a very smart child understands what I mean about it being a joy and a trial. Speaking full understandable sentences before she was a 1 ½ years old, this willful wonderful daughter of mine could not be swayed when she decided to do something! So keeping her entertained and learning was at the top of my priorities during my extended period of unemployment.
One of Crystal's favorite activities was swinging. Oh, how that child loved to swing! Having only one car, which my husband drove to work, and living across town from the park, we could only go there during the evenings and weekends. But…we had a 2-point hammock hanging between trees in the small front yard (about the only yard we had in the tiny trailer we lived in) and it served the purpose almost as well. When you sat sideways in it you could swing just like a regular swing. Crystal loved to sit in my lap as we gently swung back and forth in the hammock. Looking down at the little blonde curly-haired hazel-eyed angel in my lap also brought forth in me a feeling I had never experienced. I loved being a mother and I was completely awed by my perfect little daughter!
Thus it was that after a lunch of soup and sandwiches that fateful day, my little daughter and I sat in the hammock between the trees and swung back and forth. How many times had we done this? So many I had lost count. With the inverted blue bowl of the Indiana sky and the bright springtime sun above us we enjoyed our time together.
It happened so fast that to this day I am not quite sure when I realized that we were in trouble. A push of my foot on the ground….and the hammock flipped backwards so fast I had no time to react. As I watched with horror…my darling little girl landed underneath me on the ground as I tried to arch my body to get my weight off her. What I saw in those few seconds haunts my memories to this day.
When we flipped, the hammock was high enough that we turned completely over before we fell out. Crystal landed on her head and as I was trying to fall more to the side rather than directly on top of her, I watched as her head bent backwards and touched the middle of her back as my weight landed full on her! At the same time I heard, or perhaps more FELT, an awful cracking sound. It wasn't loud…but it still was the most horrible thing I have ever heard. I knew at that moment that I had broken my daughter's little neck. I KNEW THIS!
In complete terror I moved over off Crystal and straightened her out. She wasn't moving and her eyes were rolled back in her head. I was hysterically screaming her name by this time. It wasn't a second or two more that her face started to turn blue and I realized she wasn't breathing. Then her arms and legs, which had been quivering, began to convulse. Although I was never trained in a medical field and had never seen anyone with a spinal injury I knew that this meant she had a VERY severe injury at her neck. This all happened so FAST. But to this day I remember every second as clearly as if it was yesterday.
I was so certain by this time that I had I killed my daughter that I did the only thing I could do. I knew that medical care could not save her now. There was no reason to rush in and call anyone. I was on my knees with my hands running over and patting her little broken convulsing body and I started to pray. "Please God, please Jesus, please….don't let me kill my daughter…please, please." I remember saying that I would do anything He wanted, just don't take my little girl, it was too soon. I remember how warm she felt to my hands…warmer than I would have thought…warmth that I was sure was seeping away from her.
I felt Him. To this day, I really can't explain what I felt. All I can say is that I felt HIM. Crystal stopped convulsing….her eyes closed and suddenly she drew in a deep breath! This was probably a little more than a minute after she was hurt. It was hard to tell, time had no meaning for me. But my baby, my precious little girl, took that breath that blushed her bluish skin back to pink, opened her beautiful hazel eyes…and asked me what was wrong!! I grabbed her off the ground after she started to sit up and holding her to me ran my hands up and down her neck and spine. "Crystal, baby, does your neck hurt? Are you okay?" I asked her over and over. I am sure that my little girl thought her mama had lost it (which actually I had, then I gained it back!). Crystal just looked at me and answered with a "No, why are you crying? What's wrong?" But by this time I was crying and laughing for joy and saying over and over "Thank you God, oh, thank you!"
God touched my daughter and me that day for it wasn't only her life He saved. Could you imagine living with the guilt of having hurt one of your children like that? Even though it was an accident, I still would have felt responsible, like I had killed her! I know because that is what I felt when it happened and I thought she was dying. I was baptized four weeks after this incident at the local church. The minister of that church listened to my story and showed such belief that I knew that was the Church I was suppose to start this journey in. That wonderful believing man of God taught me to believe and trust, not only in God, but in myself. I could go on and on about all the changes this miracle wroth in my life, but just let me say that I turned to a different path than the one I had been on.
Crystal is a happy, healthy beautiful 18 year old today enrolled in a college nursing program where she is receiving top grades (like always). I am as proud of this remarkable young woman as I could possibly be and praise God everyday for allowing her to do such good as I know she has done and will do in this world. Of course she was raised knowing this story and that God had sent an Angel to be with her always. She was baptized in a full baptism at the age of 12. Must of made it hard (or easy?) to be a teenager. My daughter has very special things in store for her life or as special as she is God would have wanted her with Him.
So Believe IT, miracles do HAPPEN!
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The New Believer's Gift Shining curls in the sun, Taken from her mum, so dear, God has granted you a gift. Child, with you, the Angels share, As your mother, I must bear For the story here is true. |
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Now I am passing the dove that God gave to me on to you. The significance of the dove is why I wanted to share this miracle with everyone I can reach. It is the story of love and faith, such as Noah and his wife had when they used the dove to search for the land the Lord promised them after the great flood. It is the sharing of the love and faith with everyone around you. The dove carrying the olive branch to an eager soul. Please share this with your friends and believe that miracles do and can happen all around you. Much Love to You, my friends..........FireFlii
7/19/2005 - Update on my miracle girl. Crystal is now 24 years old and about to marry the man she has been with for the last 6 years. She touches everyone's lives that she meets with love and encouragement. God sure knows what He is doing! The pic below is Crystal trying on her wedding dresses!
