How fast can life change around an individual? Can you dodge what life throws your way? What I am about to narrate is unpredictable!
On a cool, sunny Saturday afternoon in October 2001, my mom wanted to accommodate her co-worker by taking him to a car lot in search of a new car. She decided to bring my brother and me with her. We left the house around 3:30 that afternoon and began our trip. As we entered Lakeland’s city limits, we approached an upcoming traffic light and decelerated. Not cognizant of his surroundings, a tracker trailer collided with our car! The car was totaled. My brother, who was one at the time, and the co-worker were injured. Once the ambulance arrived, the paramedics cut the seatbelt off the trapped co-worker. They immediately rushed my brother and me to Le Bonheur and the co-worker to the MED. My mother went to Le Bonheur with us. She called our relatives and told them what had happened. The physicians ran a series of test on me to make sure I did not have internal bleeding, fractured costal, or other concerns they were anxious to come across. My brother had a superficial wound superior to his right ophthalmic, which required six stitches. As the physicians allowed me to leave once they were finished with the tests, my relatives were in the lobby waiting to see me. The co-worker, who was at the MED, had internal bleeding which required him to stay overnight. He relatives visited him while he was there. My brother stayed overnight as well. The physicians dismissed my brother and the co-worker the following day.
No one had any idea that was going to happen. Since that horrific day, my mom is always watching other drivers carefully. If the truck driver was cognizant of his surroundings, none of that would have happened. We thank God for watching over us and letting us see another day.