It was a beautiful afternoon…a family event celebrating a nephew’s high school graduation. Everyone was happy, relaxed. I, of course, wandered around my sister-in-law’s yard taking a few snaps of her lovely flowers. All was right with the moment, the day and given recent events it helped take the edge off our recent loss.
It was time to leave and my wife and I loaded up and left. A very short distance away, I saw a van hurtling toward us head on at high speed. I veered right and the van kept intersecting toward us. I swerved right further, now knowing we were headed off the roadway. I anticipated impact on my side. We went slightly airborne, I hit bottom and looked in my mirror as I saw the van take out a large tree and then roll.
I swerved around and jetted back toward the van. The driver was pinned in, bleeding from multiple head/face wounds. In a daze, he struggled to extricate himself from the van because he had 4 small children strapped into the rear of the van. Miracle of miracles, despite many cuts, the little ones were gently removed from the van as smoke poured from beneath the van.

At first, I did the normal first responder drill of immobilization and used available fabrics to stem the bleeding and keep the father still. The gentle talking and reassuring that his children were alright helped him slow down until a fireman could sit behind the driver to immobilize the CSpine while I kept the pressure on the cuts.
The firemen handled the smoke, the battery, gas, the jaws of life extrication and then relieved me. The driver was thankful. We called family to come to the scene.
The intersecting of life’s events, of destiny one moment to the next. The last week only reaffirms what we all know at varying times in our lives: never take anyone, anything for granted. Not your loved ones, not your health and safety, not your future. I do hope the driver will be alright. We are thankful the children appeared alright but I can only imagine the recollections the older ones will have of that topsy turvy ride. They were all transported to the hospital.
As always thank you to the citizens that stopped to render aid; to the policemen, firemen and EMT’s who were stellar with the children, the driver, the driver’s family, the witnesses. In the blink of an eye it was almost different.
I’m a paramedic, so I feel your pain. I see all the time how in a moment people’s lives are changed forever. So I always say…even though it’s so cliche: don’t go to bed angry, hug your loved ones, try to make peace, live your life the best you can and be happy! Because you never know when that truck will be around the corner, when that last clot will clog your artery in your heart or brain or some other unexpected event will befall you or a loved one and you will never get another chance to say: I love you.
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To me, there actually is nothing cliche about it anymore. Hasn’t been for some time. Your words are exactly spot on and many of us shuffle through life, nose down, consumed in self and then when the loss or losses come we have regrets, doubts, unfinished business. Yes, ‘I love you’ and hugs to all that matter in your life. Thank you Amy.
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yowsa ! glad you went unhurt, Gary 🙂
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Thank you Marc. Glad you had such successful, affirming adventures too! Fun and you will never forget them.
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How very well said. I treasure every moment for it all can change in the blink of an eye.
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And there you were at just the right moment. I don’t know for sure about the God stuff, but I feel there is a reason why it was you. Bless you.
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If we pause long enough, those considerations enter the mind, especially as I get older. Purpose, destiny, life. Thanks for dropping by; always appreciated.
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Oh my dear lord! Thank goodness that all survived and that you & your wife were there to care for the man and his children. So true that in a “Blink of the eye” all can change……..
As always we are grateful for our family and friends and all that we hold dear in life…..
Much love to you both
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Thank you Ann. Love you too and say hello to Ken.
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Guardian angels watching over you all ….
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Yes indeed. A bit sooner and we would have had no where to go but trees and power poles. Thanks for commenting.
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amazing, how scary. I can’t imagine what I would have done, I see an accident and cry. I hope that I’d have your courage. Thank God, everyone was ok.
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A blessing for the little ones for certain. I am certain you would have been right there with those children, tending to them. Thank you.
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Oh My God! What a day… But I am glad everyone is alright, and I hope the driver to be fine soon. God saved you all dear Gary, love and hugs to you and to you wife, nia
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Thank you Nia..bless you.
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