The events of August 7, 2015 will always be a part of me and the memories will never fade. This was the day that would change my life forever. Life would have deeper meaning. Each day would become another miracle.
It was a most beautiful Friday morning and I was in one of the most beautiful places on earth, Lassen Volcanic National Park, ready for another Dark Sky Festival held each year to promote dark ski in national parks for star gazing and other astronomy presentations. This Friday was a free day for me and I longed for the open road and a most rewarding bicycle ride from the south end of the park up over Lassen Peak to the north end of the park and back again. It was a trip of about 60 miles over approximately 6000 ft. of elevation gain.
The day started out as expected with an early rise, some breakfast, and then the usual preparation for the annual ride I enjoy. At about 10:00 a.m. I said goodbye and headed out up the road, climbing higher and higher up and over the summit of 8500 ft. a climb of a little over 2500 ft. As I reached the summit I looked up at the peak of Mt. Lassen and exclaimed, “You Are Mine Tomorrow”. I have never climbed the peak in all the years I have been coming here. It has always been closed for some sort of trail maintenance. Now it would be mine after this ride.
The best part of riding your bike up a long climb to a summit is the long downhill from the top. I was excited to start down and head to the north end of the park and the reward of a good lunch. Little did I know this would prove to be the worst part of the ride. Approximately 2-3 miles from the north entrance I stopped along the side of the road for a drink of water. Standing there at the edge of the pavement straddling my bike and facing with the traffic I took my drink and prepared to take off again.
The Nightmare Begins
Ow! What was that? The noise was so freaky. The pain so severe. What had just happened? Who am I? Where was I? Am I alive? Who are these people? The reality of it all came crashing down on me. I had just been hit by a Ford Explorer going approximately 35-40 miles per hour. The road I would now travel would change my life forever.
A Point Near Death
At the point of impact, I did not feel the pain at first. I was not knocked down or off to the side as one would expect. Why? I remember turning to the right to see what the noise was and could see the sunlit road behind me. As I turned back around, the pain coursed my body. On a scale of 1-10 it was a perfect 100. It began to get dark and I felt as if I was about to pass out. I then saw the car that hit be pull over in front of me and stop. I remember the words either spoken or thought, “I have been hit by a car.
What happened next was nothing short of a miracle. As I passed out, I felt as if my body was floating or being carried. It all became black and my mind was caught up as if it were a vision. I saw the Savior in the Garden of Gethsemane kneeling in prayer, suffering for our sins and affliction, and praying to the Father. I felt a portion of his pain. My soul was caught up in great joy and then humbled as I felt the true sorrow for all my sins. I knew that He had paid the price and I was truly forgiven. Never had I felt such joy and was humbled by what had just happened. That joy and peace were comforting.
I did not suffer any further injury one would expect from being tumbled to the ground. It was peaceful and gentile. I was hit, passed out and felt as if I were being carried as it were. Following this period of unconsciousness, I came back into a state of semi-consciousness and felt my body being gently laid down on what I learned was the road adjacent to me on the left. When I came to, I was lying straight on my back with my feet toward the side of the road and my head towards the center line with my arms and hands crossed on my chest. Other than the massive black bruise on my backside from the impact there were no other cuts, scrapes, or injuries to my body you would expect. Why? (See the “Why?” in my other account of this in the version called ‘ From a Heavenly Perspective, The Blessings of Family Home Evening‘.)
The Nightmare
This was no nightmare. This was real. What had happened had happened. As I lay there on my back looking up, realizing I was still alive, I could see faces of people giving me comfort and trying to determine the extent of my injuries. A real outpouring of love, care, and concern. I then saw the man who was the driver of the car. I have never seen such remorse, sorrow, and anguish on anyone as I saw on him. My heart ached for him as he tried to tell me how sorry he was. “I am sorry, I am sorry. It was an accident,” he said.
The Healing
What happened next changed the lives of everyone there and set a different mood for everyone in the Park for the rest of the weekend. “Savior, May I Love My Brother” “I would Learn The Healer’s Art.”
As I looked up and saw this man and what he must have been feeling, I could only think of one thing to say and that was, “It is ok. Don’t worry, I will be fine. It was just an accident as you said and the adversity or negative is done. What we have to look forward to now is the limitless blessings that come from adversity. Everything we endure in life comes with the seed of an equivalent blessing or benefit. I do not want what has happened take away from your enjoyment of this beautiful park. Do not let this ruin your vacation. I will not let it ruin mine. I am now looking forward to those limitless blessings and benefits coming to me.”
A spirit of love and forgiveness permeated the air and there was happiness instead of unhappiness and hatred one for another. The healing had already begun.
Shortly thereafter the rangers arrived on the scene and took over and did all the good things they do. One of which was to call for the ambulance that would take me to the nearest hospital for x-rays and care. It would be at least 45 minutes for them to arrive. During this period waiting I kept going back to the thought that the impact of the car did not knock be down and could not explain why I was laying in the road as I was, rather than in the ditch to the right all bruised and scraped up as one would expect.
In the time before the arrival of the ambulance there was more conversation of the good things of life and how things like this just end up blessing the lives of those involved. I wanted this to be a good thing. I wanted the man and his two boys to go away from this knowing everything would be fine. I asked the man if his two boys were OK. He indicated they were a little shaken about it all. I asked him to bring them to me. When they came over, I told them their father was a good man and that he did nothing wrong. I told them there would be blessings for us all to come from what happened and that I did not want any of this to take away from, but instead add to their vacation. I told them we would be good friends someday and I wanted to keep in touch with them. With the help of others, I was able to stand and we took a picture together. I am so glad the effort was made. I am very happy to have that picture. It was a happy time and I knew it was all going to turn out for the best.
The ambulance came and I was taken to The Mercy Trauma Center in Redding California where it was confirmed that I had a broken left leg and ankle. It would be weeks of trial and recovery. They splinted me and I was able to remain in the park to complete other responsibilities in the park for the Dark Sky Festival. I then drove myself home on Monday for an operation to put my leg back together and 9 long weeks of recovery to walk again.
I sometimes think what I could have done to have avoided this but no matter the amount of thinking it will never take away what has happened. I think more of what I have been praying for and asking my Heavenly Father. As a result of this accident I have seen miracles unfold before me and limitless blessings given. Many of which have been answers to prayers.
I have suffered more pain than I have ever felt before in my life, have overcome, and now rejoice in my Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ. I am looking forward to the next adventure when I will witness His hand, and will again bless me and the lives of countless others.
I pray that,
“Savior may I learn to love my brother.
Savior may I pause to lift another.
Savior may I learn the healer’s art.
Savior, I would follow Thee.”
View photos from this adventure in my Gallery – Lassen Trip – Broken Leg page.