I’ve got a lot on my mind today, thought I’d share it here. Two people I dearly love had really close calls in the last few months: my brother and a dear friend. Nearly kind of accidents.
Back in July my friend joined her husband on a last minute business trip to Nova Scotia. She and her husband and their youngest teenage son. Her husband needed to work mostly, but they tacked on a few fun family activities. Decided to go white water rafting. Thousands of people do it everyday. They’re not extreme sports kind of people. They’d never even been white water rafting before. But they were excited.
So the kid driving the boat from the white water company is young. Maybe early twenties. They head out with the group of eight or ten, have a great time. The driver of the propellor powered boat drives a little rough. Goes a little fast. He’s asking passengers to move up front, then back quickly. Balancing the weight of the boat, the rough water, his speed. All goes fairly well out there. But on the ride back to shore as the boat’s moving along at a good clip, water pours over the bow. So much that it becomes unstable. All the passengers but my friend’s son and the driver go overboard. It’s rough, swirling water. Everyone’s wearing life jackets, they’re surfacing. But her son, the one who didn’t go over, notices his mother (my friend), is missing. Tells the boat driver.
Eventually everyone climbs back aboard. Everyone but my friend. There’s sheer panic. Where is she? And why hasn’t she surfaced?
The boat driver, he keeps counting passengers. At one point he guns the boat, tries to lift the nose up so the water can drain out the side drainage holes. A doctor onboard puts two and two together. Realizes if she’s wearing a life jacket and not surfacing, she must be under that boat. He dives back in.
She remembers falling overboard. It all happened so fast. Barely a moment to catch a breath.
Soaked, freezing, she’s trapped under the boat. Can’t get around it. Her lungs, exploding for oxygen. She strains for the surface. Surprisingly feels angry. Thinks: “I don’t want to die in a foreign country, lose my family.” Thinks of her children, her husband. Desperate, can’t hold that shallow breath any longer. Something (or Someone) tells her to raise up her arm. She does. Her fingers barely break the surface, enough so she realizes she’s not far from air. She lunges up, gets the tiniest imaginable breath before she’s sucked back down. It’s barely enough. Things blacken. She’d be gone if not for the doctor’s strong arms that arrive just in time, free her from the binding life jacket.
The life jacket that’s crazy tangled in the still-churning boat propellor.
She coughs up water, sputters, inhales oxygen. They get her up on the boat. A sea of adoring faces surround her. Expressions of deep love, compassion, concern. Mostly unfamiliar faces she’d met just hours before at the dock. Overwhelmed, she realizes it’s but the grace of God that she’s even alive. That she’ll live to see another sunrise. She’s been recovering for some time now. Five broken ribs, huge bumps, bruises. Back issues. Trauma. There’s more to the story. Much more. Too much to catalog here.
So last Saturday my brother’s painting his house, spraying it. All day long he’s up on a thirty-two foot ladder, taping off and spraying. No stranger to ladders or sprayers, he and my Jon had a painting business together for years in college and beyond. For most of the day he’s working two and a half stories high above the asphalt of his driveway. Towards the end he moves to the back section of the house. At the top of a sixteen foot ladder now, he leans right to finish. And the top of the ladder…it slides left. Continues sliding, drags an arc through the wet paint. Clawing at the wet surface, he rides the ladder ’til he realizes it’s gonna go backwards with him onboard.
And at that moment, about twelve feet up, something (or Someone) tells him to jump. So he does.
Crashes. Miraculously doesn’t injure his neck. Spine. Or head.
His right ankle, it’s broken. His left tibia and part of his knee, crushed. His right wrist, broken. It’ll be a long road to recovery. Months in a wheel chair. He’s got two surgeries behind him now. Plates, pins and screws. A knee reconstruction still to go. In the next few weeks he’ll travel by plane to a world-class orthopedic surgeon we know and love. Just so “happens” he’s a family friend. Yeah. My brother realizes he’s one of the most blessed and luckiest people alive. And if anyone will make a full recovery, he will.
Friends, life is beautiful. And when it’s Nearly snatched out from under you, you realize just how beautiful. That’s the echo I’m hearing from my brother, from my friend in the whitewater accident. Both thankful survivors. Nearly.
I’ve had a lot on my mind, been thinking a great deal. How at any moment I myself am at the mercy of a fluke accident. Not in a morbid sense. More in a grace way. Wondering how many times I’ve almost touched death. Or death has almost touched me. And I probably never even knew it. You see, I believe in Guardian Angels. And I also believe you don’t leave this earth until all your work here is finished. I’m so grateful they both have more work to do down here. (Sniff.)
I don’t like to think about what Nearly happened. Either story might’ve had a very different ending. I’m reminded to treasure life. The preciousness and beauty of it. To hug my kids, my Jon a little tighter. A little longer. To be a kinder friend, daughter, wife, sister and mother. To appreciate and be thankful for the very beautiful gift I’ve been given. This gift called life.
It’s so very precious. And so very fleeting.
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John says
Allie, up early and reading this, through tears, and grateful. Grateful that I CAN read it, grateful for my family, my friends, grateful in a new way, for each and every day! Love you,— hope it’s a great new day for you!
Allie says
Well we’re all grateful too. More than you know. XO
Linda Jenkins says
Allie, so glad you wrote about these things. Until the last Bible Study, I had no idea just how close our friend had come to death. God is truly miraculous and merciful. My prayers go out to our friend and to your brother. And my prayers continue to praise God for His love and care of His precious creations. God is, indeed, great, and I thank your for the reminder that all of life is precious. What a better world would be if we could all just take that extra moment each morning to thank God for the priceless gift He as given to each of us.
Allie says
Thank you Linda, it’s scary things like this that remind us every breath is a gift. XOXO
Nancy Hammett says
Thank you for sharing this post . Glad they. are safe. God is great. Each day is a blessing .
Allie says
Thank you dear Nancy, each day is really a blessing.
Jon says
Beautifully recounted, honey. Thank you. Every breath we take is a gift, and once in a while we are reminded just how precious a gift it is.
Allie says
Thank you love. xo
Tracy says
Allie, what a touching reminder your words give us……. along with Tears and Goosebumps! A reminder to appreciate our precious families, friends, life and God for keeping these two around a bit longer. Both miracles I would say!!! I love you friend!!!
Allie says
Thank you dear Tracy. You and I are no stranger to miracles. XO
Wendi says
Rejoicing with you for God’s amazing grace and feeling so thankful that it was “nearly”. Now to find some Kleenex…
Allie says
I needed a good bit of Kleenex writing this Wendi. XO
Leslie says
Thank you Allie! Tears in my eyes now as I sit by my grandmas bedside. I’m not sure if we will have her to hold much longer. But I’m thankful today to have your brother and my grandma for another sunrise. Love you.
Allie says
What a gift you are to your Grandma B., Leslie. Love you back. XOXO
Denise says
I don’t know what to get first, a tissue for my eyes or a throw to cover my goosebumps. What a beautiful reminder to cherish each day and embrace life. Great post, now off to enjoy this beautiful day God has given us.
Allie says
Thanks dear D. You my friend, have a contagious love of life! XO
Christy Smith says
Wow. I have been white water rafting in fairly rough water but never been on a ladder 16 feet above earth, painting. I know firsthand how easy it is for the first scenario to play out. Not so much in the second, but your story painted a vivid picture as if I had been on that ladder myself. Thanks be to God who saved both their lives and has given them a testimony to share!
Allie says
We sure are grateful around here Christy. I know not every story ends this well. It was not their time to go. XOXO
Karla @SmallTownRambler says
Although I knew the title was “Nearly”, I still read the stories, gasping through the scary parts. I am so glad your friend and brother are okay…those moments had to be terrifying.
Allie says
Thank you so much dear Karla. I’m sure it is going to take some time to get past these traumatic events. So so grateful. XO
nancy mcmahan says
Allie thank you for a beautifully written reminder. Praying both your brother and friend recoup quickly.
Allie says
Thank you so much Nancy. XO
Carina says
Amazing stories – I am so glad both your brother and friend are recovering from their accidents. I love the quotes that you included in this post. Inspiring and encouraging. Thank you for sharing this, Allie, and for reminding us how precious each day is. Ps: I was literally just typing up tomorrow’s post before I took a break to read your blog, and it is actually a brief account of a very scary experience we had today! Take care xoxo
Allie says
Thank you Carina, I loved those quotes too. Makes me want to go out and do something with my life! 🙂 I look forward to your post, though I’m so sorry to hear you had a very scary experience. XOXO
Susie Mandel says
Oh my goodness. I read Johnny’s story on Facebook but to read it again just gave me chills. The first story was horrific! It reminded me of a friend at our church that almost drowned this summer when her family went snorkeling and she almost drowned trying to save her daughter, who was also drowning. I’m so thankful that both Johnny and your friend are alive–that God intervened and did not take them from us yet. Praying for Johnny’s recovery!!
Allie says
I know. Scary stuff. I’m so sorry to hear about your friend, Susie. That is the scariest thing. I often hear that people who are trying to save someone who’s drowning end up getting sucked in themselves. So so scary. I can’t even imagine….thanks for the prayers, I know they are appreciated and needed. xo
Anu-My Ginger Garlic Kitchen says
I love the quotes. Really inspiring, encouraging and heart touching stories, Allie. I am so glad that your brother and friend are recovering. Thank you for sharing this with us my dear!
Allie says
Thank you so much Anu, I love those quotes too. XO
Karen @ On the Banks of Salt Creek says
Great post. So glad both your friend and your brother are going to be ok. God made our bodies incredibly resilient (Our science this last school year was Human Anatomy and Physiology)
I’m a big believer in Providence.
Allie says
Me too on the providence, and thank you Karen. I’m so grateful they will be ok long term. They’ll never be quite the same on the other side of this, but that is how we grow and become the complex multi-faceted individuals that we are…I know the experience was very hard on both of them and my prayers are with them as they recover. XOXO
Erin @ Miss Scrambled Egg says
Allie – Two incredible stories! I’m sending my thoughts and prayers to you, your friend, and your brother.
Allie says
Thank you friend, and thanks for dropping by. How are you holding up with your crazy schedule? Hope you had a great time at the Big E. (!)
Cindi says
Miracles are all around us.
My prayers are with your brother for a speedy recovery. And they are already with our friend.
Thank you for such lovely writing.
Allie says
Thank you Cindi, and you are so right. We’re surrounded by miracles. Sometimes I forget to open my eyes and I miss them. XO
Liz @ I Heart Vegetables says
Oh my goodness! I’m glad your friends are ok but that’s so scary! It really does put things in perspective, doesn’t it?
Allie says
Me too, and it really does Liz. xo
Aunt Pinkie says
I knew about Johnny’s horrific fall and am thrilled at how God is working out all the details of follow-up surgeries, especially the shattered knee one. And read through your Nearly blog with tears about both Johnny’s fall but also you friend’s near death experience! A wonderful,blog!
Kristen says
Thanking God for his protection!