I remember when my mom got the phone call. She gasped and although I didn’t know who she was talking to, I knew she had gotten bad news. Time froze as we found out what had happened. My dad had been in a head on car accident in Park City. One of the counselors in the bishopric came immediately and drove my mom to University of Utah hospital where my dad was life flighted. The Bishop and other ward members stayed with my brother, sisters and me while we waited for further news. My oldest brother was on a mission and my oldest sister was at college. It was a very scary and emotional night. I remember all sleeping in the same room together.
My sister Katie who is the third oldest, was a senior that year. She became mom to my brother, sister and I. We drove to the hospital the next day. My dad was stable but had a lot of broken bones.
We found out he was hit by a drunk driver. The drunk driver barely had any injuries. It was truly a miracle my dad survived. He stopped breathing multiple times on the way to the hospital. He had an head injury and his left leg from the knee down was broken in 11 places.
It’s amazing to recount this story with others and see the hand of the Lord throughout it all. One of the first people to the accident was someone who knew my dad. When my dad got to the hospital my uncle was able to be there and give him a priesthood blessing. Many miracles also I the days, weeks and months afterward.
It was over a year before my dad could work. I think about all he had to overcome and all my mom did to nurse him back to health. They are both great examples to me.
Now it’s been 25 years and I’m so grateful he survived. Every year we have a celebration of life to show our gratitude for his life.
