One night a couple months back, Geoff and I were watching tv. It was such a typical night. 8:30, grace was just put to bed, our feet were up, ready for a couple episodes. Then my phone rang. The next few minutes were panicked and sickening. The voice on the other end was terrified and over whelmed.
My friend, and her two babies were in accident on their way home from vacation. The momma and oldest child(5 years) were air lifted to a local hospital here in edmonton, and the youngest (2months) was driven by ambulance to the Jasper hospital. My friend drove off a 40 foot embankment near jasper. In short, ( and many painful hours later) the family was all reunited, including the dad that flew in from Prince George with just the clothes on his back. Momma survived, broken back in 2 places, ruptured spleen, damaged liver, and a fractured neck. Baby ended up with fluid in his head building up that needed to be drained. And the oldest, she walked away with some bumps and bruises and the odd nightmare.
That's all The details I can tell you, it's not mine to say, anyhow. And I know momma will read this and I know just how painful it is to relive. Trust me, I know, my friend!
In Amongst all this, did I tell you we had the privilege of homing most of their families and one or two of their friends? If you have been in a situation like this, you know how good it feels to be able to do something. Anything. Now, I,don't want you to think Geoff and I swooped in and saved the day. We didn't, in fact, we should of done more. But at that point in our life we gave what we had. A clean bed ( minus that cat hair) to sleep in. They stayed with us about 3 weeks, even celebrated their anniversary with us( thanks for that by the way) . We feel head over heels in love with that ENTIRE family. I hope they know that.
They came back and stayed with us already for some quick appointments and even surprised us, along with our friends, on our anniversary (that's another story entirely). These friends of ours quickly became our family. Their family and their friends, ours. We shared some of the hardest moments of the year with them. They saw how Geoff, Grace and I live. We shared so many good visits. Sigh. I wouldn't trade them for anything.
Well, they, too, have struggled. And they will continue to. I know this from my own experience. But I hope some moments they remember the good. I know how impossible that will be some days. Trust me, I know. But the pain will lessen one breath at a time. It will come crashing in On you again when you least expect it. But it will pass. I just know it.
In the mean time, they have such a little army surrounding them. This was such a tragic event. But look in your corner. There will be reminders right there, waiting for you, when you need. The truly Good, Amoungst the bad.
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