I think in all our lives, we have a "waking up" or a moment that all of a sudden we realize the important things in life. That moment came for me on March 17, 2003.
It started as a typical Monday. Patrick and I were rushing to get Olivia to our friend's house who provided daycare for us, so we could make to Pleasant Hill High School by the first period bell. (Patrick was a guidance counselor and I an English teacher at the school). Olivia sat in her car seat in the back seat praddling on about her next birthday, which wasn't until June! She was going to have everyone over for breakfast, her favorite meal of the day and we were going to have waffles and pancakes with strawberries and blueberries. That was the last thing I remember.
As we turned off of I-5 onto Highway 58 we were struck by an oncoming truck. The truck's back axle had come loss and the truck was swerving out of control. We just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Our blue Subaru Outback was totaled, with Patrick and Olivia pinned in the car. I on the other hand, was virtually unharmed. How does that happen?
I awoke in the hospital emergency room with a nurse pulling glass out of my face and hands. I kept asking "Where is Patrick?", "Where is Olivia?", "Are they okay?". The hospital staff was scrambling to keep the news quiet and away from my room. Little did I know, the entire Pleasant Hill community knew of our accident and most of my students had shown up to the hospital waiting room wanting to see me and console me.
Finally, Dr. Budke came into my room and she told me what had happened. She was so calm, so kind, so compassionate. I, on the other hand, was in complete shock. My worst nightmare, most parents' worst nightmare, had just come true.
In the swimming chaos that was going on in my head all I could do was ask: What am I going to do?
