Saturday, October 17, 2009

Grateful to Still Be Alive


We were in an accident on our way to the Greek festival at St. Anne's in Corvallis late this afternoon. Thank God we all are still alive. We were driving up Highway 99 past Junction City when somebody drove head-on into our lane. Steve swerved, did a 180, miraculously managed to just slip by the telephone poll, but then we hit gravel and flipped.

We were suspended upside down by our seat belts--thank God for them, otherwise we'd be fertilizer in that field. Joanna got out first, shaken but physically okay. Then Steve managed to break free; but I couldn't figure out how to get my seat belt off. Somebody clicked it and I fell down, but in the process the headrest moved and I got hit in the head with the tire iron which apparently had been thrown on top of it.

Steve's 4-Runner is history. Absolutely totalled. Really, it was a miracle we weren't hurt worse. David Yu rescued us and brought us home, where we rested a bit and sized things up. Steve's shoulder was hurting more and more so I insisted on driving us to Sacred Heart's ER. Fortunately we didn't have to wait long to be admitted.

Steve's left shoulder is badly sprained, and he can't move his left arm more than halfway up. They've told him to ice it, and to expect it to feel worse tomorrow and Monday. I've got a nice goose egg and a blue welt under my arm and across part of my chest from the seat belt, probably both the impact and then being suspended. They've given us both Vicodin; but I don't want to take it unless I absolutely can't function, and Steve says he doubt it will do much for him, as he is pretty resistant to opiates. He intends to preach tomorrow morning.
This year, we all got a present for Steve's birthday: life. Thank God!

3 comments:

Dan said...

Also glad you're still alive.

Jeff Adams said...

Beth,

So glad to hear of God's providential grace. I had a very similar experience a few years ago, but without the seat-belt (and slower than highway 99). Truly life is a gift, and I am thankful to our Lord for your safe return to us. We will pray for your swift and full recovery tomorrow at L'Abri's day of prayer. Grace and Peace.

Jeff Adams

Beth B said...

Thanks, Dan and Jeff.

Jeff, I can't imagine going through that without a seatbelt. We have a gracious Lord!