In October of 2014, I had just enjoyed a beautiful day of completing yard work, house was clean, visited with my son Ryan, and was looking forward to tending my grandson that night. The next day I would be picking up my husband, who had been out of the country on work for the previous 10 days. I decided to go up into the canyon behind my home on my Road King Classic Harley Davidson... the leaves were exquisite and the timing was perfect. I enjoyed the ride up to Snowbird and the many blessings of the previous week were running through my mind. So many times my Heavenly Father had lifted me and provided me with strength and I felt my heart full of gratitude for his love. On the way out of the canyon I had followed the flow of traffic - many cars going up and down the road and many beautiful sights to be seen are sure signs of distraction. When I ride my Harley, first of all I always talk to it. I say... "Ok - are you ready to ride?" Then I tell it that my head has to be in the ride at all times. Wierd - but it's a Harley thing to me. The motorcycle is 1200 lbs and I have to let it know who's in charge. So to quicken this story I would like to make a list of events in order - and stop and talk about a few on the way. Are you ready to ride?
* Following a Prius with enough space between us
* Prius and old crusty people inside are looking at leaves and STOP in the road to look at them.
* I had slowed because I saw their brake lights, but the brake lights didn't indicate stopping in the middle of the road and stopping traffic to see the leaves
* I could see the impact that was going to occur, and I felt the bike lock up to line up my bike with the back of the Prius - so I pushed off of the bike with my left leg just before the bike hit the Prius.
* I remember watching my long braid twirl through the air around and around - and then I felt the impact of the road.
* When I came to, I could see my hand, sideways, and the road was sideways, and there were a lot of people screaming and a lot of lights - bright red lights - lots of people. Fear. Where was my bike. Where is my leg. Where is my arm.
* At this point - I was surrounded by people - total strangers - holding on to me - trying to get information of who they could call. Sounds of firetrucks, of officers yelling to block off the road. Again with the...."who can we call?" My husband was several time zones away... my kids... call my kids. They are marked in my phone as aaaMatt, etc... so they would come up first on my contacts. They asked me my name... I just kept seeing the sideways road. I heard the paramedics saying, get the back board. Where were my feet? I was so tired. I heard familiar voices - the paramedics were friends from my work, they recognized me - it was quiet. They knew me. They knew I was hurt.
* I remember asking if anyone was hurt - and I heard yelling. Later I was told that the old people in the car were angry because I had hit their car and there were other people yelling that they watched the whole thing and that they had slammed on their brakes causing the accident. The old Prius people were asked to leave. They didn't care that I was on the side of the road. The police officer said he would never give me a ticket for what had happened - he was angry at them.
* I recall the first time I could think straight... it was when they took my glove off of my left hand. There was my wedding ring. I was worried about Del. I was broken that I had ruined this beautiful bike. I was sad that I had ruined everything. But that ring reminded me - about a lot of promises we had made.
* I was still on my side - they were trying to get me to move my toes. I could move my fingers. I remembered the numbers they gave me to keep repeating. They said they would have to cut off my Leather Harley Jacket.... wait.... I never wear one - ever... I put it on just before leaving the house to put my things in the pockets. It saved my body. I screamed out - NO - they said they couldn't get it off without damaging me further - I said NO. I said I would do the best I could.
* They took my helmet off... wait... I never wear one - ever. I also put it on before I left because I wanted to hear my music in my earphones.... the break in the helmet indicated the life it saved. I would have been killed instantly. The spirit told me to put the helmet and the jacket on - and it was so subtle that it didn't come back to me until later that this was the Lord's hand in my life.
* Ride to the hospital - in and out - remembering numbers, asking questions, trying to stay awake, worrying about my kids, sick about my bike, angry at the Prius world.
* When I arrived at the hospital - there were all of my kids, and my little grands. The doctor just kept saying - there is no way you could have lived without your gear... they loaded me up with meds, and explained that I had bruised up my right side including my hip. Destroyed my collarbone, shredded my right rotators cuff and tore the left one on the second roll. (they estimated a 25 foot flight through the air)(jumping to save my left leg from being cut off gave me some good air). I had a huge hematoma on my chest - and my bike was well... it was alive, but in really sad shape.
* My sons and sons in law gave me a blessing - and my grandson Jake, held my toe for a minute during the prayer. Oh how I love my children. Oh how I adore that at any moment they are worth to call upon the Lord for help. Oh how I love my RS Presidency and my neighbors that came to the hospital that day. I was surrounded by my loves. Except Del...
* Matt picked him up at the airport... Del said... um... where's mom? "Get in dad, it's a long story"
It's now been 6 months of recovery. It took 4 months to get the collarbone strong enough to withstand surgery on the shoulder. I am amazed at the human body, as it heals, and as you gently allow the process to take place. I was surrounded by amazing human beings that fed us, prayed for us, and held us in their thoughts. The bike - was rebuilt even more beautiful that it's original state by Del - each detail so exquisite. My children helped me through many frustrating days, and my job was supportive. I've realized that being left handed is even more special than I did before as this arm and had have sustained me. Recently I have had recovery from surgery and I'm enduring Physical Therapy. I also spent some time with the eyewitnesses from that day - and realized how very special the human race is - to step up and help in a seconds notice a total stranger on the side of the road. I got to hug the paramedics - kinda awkward because I work with them - for their skills and tenderness and for telling me that I was alive and that's a start. So far in my life - I've been through a propeller of a boat almost losing my left arm well and my life. Now it's a Harley for the right side of my body... I'm a little nervous about the future of my other extremities at this point. I found that in my most frightening moments of twirling and flying through the air - I was gently laid down by arms stronger than I've ever known. Life exists that we may learn the lessons that our soul needs. I want to put my thoughts and feelings about this aside and move on and get stronger. I want it to be a lesson not a block. But I needed to write the words - "Wow - did that just happen?" that the eye witness spoke to me a week later when he said, "I knew when I was to get to your lifeless body on the side of the road it would be a picture I would never be able to erase." I think that my shredded 100th Anniversary Harley Davidson shirt will always be tucked away in my drawer.... right next to the note that reads... wear your helmet, put on your jacket... don't make me tell you again.
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