The Komeback Khronicles

A Life-Saving Distraction

Although I am no longer friends with the person who sent me the text that saved my life, I will remain forever grateful for that moment. It was a simple distraction—but it saved my life.

That text caused me to look down at my phone. Imagine being in standstill traffic, just listening to music, waiting for traffic to move, and then, all of a sudden, you see in your rearview mirror an SUV coming at you at high speed. My body would’ve tensed up so badly, causing my injury to be much worse.

The Craziest Part of the Story

And the craziest part of the story?

My mom and grandmother told me they were watching the news, which was showing rush-hour traffic (as always). Then, like an hour or two later (maybe shorter, maybe longer), a state trooper knocked on the door to notify my family of what had happened.

I was unconscious, so it took them some time to identify me. I’m not sure how they did—but I’m thankful they were able to.

Regaining My Independence

My final step in regaining my independence was walking again. I believe God had a hand in my recovery. The doctors told me it would take up to a year, but I was able to walk again in less than two months.

Leaving rehab without the ability to walk was heartbreaking. Luckily, my outpatient facility was truly the best, and I was walking on my own in less than two months following my accident.

Facing the Wreckage

The first thing I wanted to do when I started walking again was to go to my car. I felt a strong urge to see the wreckage myself—to confront the reality of what had happened.

Everyone, including family and friends who had seen the vehicle, was in shock. They kept saying how blessed I was to be alive. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: God was with me!

When my mother and I arrived at the junkyard, they had to pull my car from the back of the yard to the front. As they moved the vehicle, some guys remarked, “There’s no way anyone survived that.”

Just seeing my car almost brought me to tears. It was a harrowing sight that forced me to confront the fragility of life, making me wonder how—if—anyone could have survived such a wreck. My car looked like it was crushed. The trunk was in the backseat, and the roof was caved in. The amount of damage was unbelievable.

The Flood of Emotions

And that’s when the doubts and frustration began.

Why did this have to happen? And why me?

Seeing the wreckage brought back a flood of emotions: frustration, disbelief, anger—everything. I had so many questions, most of which went unanswered.

• What happened to the guy that hit me? He was able to walk away.
• Who else was affected by the wreck? Just me (not counting the additional traffic delay it caused for others).

Finding Strength in Faith, Family, and Myself

It took me so long to accept what happened and find peace with it. Had it not been for my faith, my family, and the strength I didn’t know I had, I wouldn’t have moved forward. Each served a purpose:

• My faith gave me hope.
• My family stood by me with encouragement.
• The strength I didn’t know I had carried me through it all.

Had I not gone through this, I wouldn’t have found the strength and courage that had always been inside me, tucked away.

If you’re going through something that feels impossible to overcome, remember that strength and courage may already be within you, waiting to be discovered. Sometimes, we have to be broken to be made whole again.

If this part of my story resonates with you, I encourage you to take a moment to reflect on the challenges you’ve faced. How have they shaped you? What strength have you uncovered in yourself? Comment below. If you know someone who needs encouragement, share this with them. You never know whose life your words or actions might touch.