All about my death...

Death? yeah, I know what that is...

June 23rd, 2003: I was driving to a sisters house when I swerved to miss a dog on the highway. Speeding? yes. Wearing my seat belt? yes, but it didnt matter....4 weeks later I woke up from a coma in ICU. What had happened was this:

There was a dog on the highway. From the looks of it, he was homeless and starving. Knowing better, I swerved to miss it. I sped out of control and flew into oncoming traffic where I was hit by a truck. Pronounced dead at the scene and was gone for about 6 minutes. I was flown by helicopter to a nearby hospital where I flat-lined a second time, this time being completely dead for almost 10 minutes. My family was told "if" I ever woke from my coma, there was a 94% chance I would be brain dead.

Ruptured my spleen and gallbladder, tore my liver in 2 pieces, and collapsed both of my lungs. Broke my hips and pelvic bone, broke both of my feet, and broke the back of my skull.

When I woke from my coma, I couldn't talk due to the great number of tubes protruding from both my mouth and chest. Apparently there was a nurse in ICU who could understand sign language and for 4 days after I woke, I spoke to her using my hands. Please understand, dear reader, that I do not even know how to spell my own name in sign language. I knew things about the doctors and nurses, personal things. Things about their children and their private lives. How? I don't know how, but it just came into my head as they walked by.

I've heard (as I'm sure you have also) stories of people who have had a near death experience and discovered they had developed a gift of some sort. I believe this has happened to me. Before my death(s) I didnt have any abnormal capabilities , and let me tell you.... since then my life has been one hell of a roller coaster ride.

Let me take a moment here to talk about dmb. There was a period of time after I woke from my coma when all I could do was sob. No matter how much morphine I was given, I just wouldnt stop crying. My father said, "I know what to do!" He ran to the nearest Walmart and purchased a portable CD player and DMB's Crash album. He says as soon as he put those headphones on my head and pushed "Play," the crying stopped. I listened to that album on repeat for more than 2 weeks...

Aaaanyways, Back to the story...

I was told by my doctors I would never walk again due to the way my hips and pelvic bone were broken. Any weight put on my legs would re break the bones because they didnt heal correctly. So I spent 4 months (at 19years old) preparing to give up horse back riding, dirt bike riding, hiking, swimming, modeling, 4x4-ing, and many other cherished hobbies. Alas, my stubbornness prevailed. 14 months later I was walking, with a cane mind you, but still....walking on my own 2 feet again!

It's been a very long haul since then... full recovery has not been something I've reached yet, and its been almost 8 years. I walk with a cane on occasion now, but still am dealing with mass amounts of pain. I try not to complain though! I beat all odds and am a miracle, yes, I am very aware of that.

As for the events since then? The voices, the visions and the people I see? Ahhh, thats a story for another time...

So the next time you get in your car to go for a ride... think of me, my friend. Be sure to put on your seat belt, just hit the dog and go the freakin speed limit.