Skip to main content

Trending Now: What everyone's reading.

Help Me Stay Housed While Recovering From a Life-Changing Accident

By The Artful Woman
  Help Me Stay Housed While Recovering From a Life-Changing Accident On September 6th, my life changed in an instant when a driver crossed into my lane on Ortega Highway and hit me head-on. My car was thrown into the air and I nearly lost my life. My vehicle was completely totaled. I spent four months in the hospital. The first part was in a trauma unit where I was placed in an induced coma and underwent multiple life-saving surgeries. I was then transferred to an acute care facility where I required critical support, including IVs, a tracheostomy, a feeding tube, and dialysis. My injuries included: Loss of my right leg Six broken ribs and two vertebrae Broken pelvis, right arm, and wrist Multiple fractures in my left leg Kidney and heart failure from trauma Many of my injuries required surgical repair with metal hardware that I am still healing from After returning home, my focus has been recovery. I’ve faced infections, complications, and delayed healing that hav...
Post a Comment

A Miracle Rescue at the Jetties

Image
By The Artful Woman


One day, my niece, nephew, and I were at the beach enjoying the tide pools—a favorite spot of mine in Laguna Beach, CA. My brother-in-law joined us, and I suggested he try sitting between two rock jetties where the waves would wash over him like a natural Jacuzzi. It was a refreshing and relaxing spot I thought he’d enjoy.

He decided to give it a try, but before long, he got swept away by the powerful waves. At first, I wasn’t sure if he was struggling or just playing around. But as the waves kept pulling him deeper and deeper, it became clear he was in real trouble. I yelled to him, “Are you okay? Do you need help?” He nodded frantically, signaling that he couldn’t get back to shore on his own.

The situation was dire. The narrow space between the jetties was lined with jagged rocks, and the waves were relentless. None of us were strong enough to swim out and bring him back, and my brother-in-law was a big man—far too heavy for any of us to manage on our own. Plus, I was with my niece and nephew, who were just kids at the time.

The only solution I could think of was to form a human chain. I had my niece and nephew lock hands, anchoring themselves firmly on the sand while I extended myself as far as I could toward the water. Inch by inch, I leaned further out until my brother-in-law was close enough to grab my hand. With the kids holding onto me and pulling with all their strength, we managed to drag him back to safety.

Honestly, I don’t know how we did it. The waves were so strong, and the situation seemed almost impossible. Looking back, it felt like nothing short of a miracle that we pulled him in without anyone getting hurt. My brother-in-law wasn’t scratched or thrown into the rocks. When we finally got him onto the shore, he collapsed, breathing heavily and completely exhausted.

My niece and nephew, who were maybe 10 or 11 years old at the time, showed incredible bravery and strength for their age. It was a moment I’ll never forget—a harrowing experience that turned out okay against all odds.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Why I’m Still Here

By The Artful Woman
  Why I’m Still Here By Jean Marshall I’ve asked myself the question more times than I can count: Why am I still here? After a stroke that changed my life five years ago, I thought I had already learned resilience. I thought I had already been tested. But then came the accident — a beautiful September morning that shattered my body, altered my future, and once again forced me to start over from the ground up. There are days I still can’t fully understand it. One man’s poor decision, one wrong moment, and everything changed. My bones broke. My leg was lost. My body shut down. My life — the one I’d built with so much effort — came to a stop. But somehow, my heart didn’t. They tell me it took over twenty doctors and nurses to keep me alive that day. I was in an induced coma, held together by machines, prayers, and the hands of strangers. There were moments I thought I was dying — I even said my last prayers. But each time I surrendered, something unseen pulled me back. Something...
Post a Comment
Read more

Help Me Stay Housed While Recovering From a Life-Changing Accident

By The Artful Woman
  Help Me Stay Housed While Recovering From a Life-Changing Accident On September 6th, my life changed in an instant when a driver crossed into my lane on Ortega Highway and hit me head-on. My car was thrown into the air and I nearly lost my life. My vehicle was completely totaled. I spent four months in the hospital. The first part was in a trauma unit where I was placed in an induced coma and underwent multiple life-saving surgeries. I was then transferred to an acute care facility where I required critical support, including IVs, a tracheostomy, a feeding tube, and dialysis. My injuries included: Loss of my right leg Six broken ribs and two vertebrae Broken pelvis, right arm, and wrist Multiple fractures in my left leg Kidney and heart failure from trauma Many of my injuries required surgical repair with metal hardware that I am still healing from After returning home, my focus has been recovery. I’ve faced infections, complications, and delayed healing that hav...
Post a Comment
Read more

From Stuck to Unstuck After Stroke

By The Artful Woman
 After my stroke, my brain struggled to make connections. Simple tasks became frustrating marathons. It was tempting to give up, to stay stuck in that place of indecision and confusion. But I discovered a powerful truth: clarity comes from action. By pushing past the discomfort and frustration, by taking action even when the path seemed unclear, I found solutions emerging. Overwhelming problems started to make sense. The "monumental" tasks became manageable steps. Just like the saying goes, "done is better than perfect." Even without complete clarity, taking action in the direction I wanted to go brought answers and a sense of purpose. Stuckness is a choice. It's the comfort zone of inaction. But even with an injured brain, progress is possible. By pushing past the mental resistance, the "stop and give up" voices, and taking that next step, clarity emerges. Action is the key to progress, not perfection. Seven Months After My Stroke
Post a Comment
Read more

Faith, Self-Belief, and the Path to Abundance

By The Artful Woman
  There was a time in my life when I was so desperate for any kind of job that I undermined my own potential. I accepted less than I deserved because I was desperate and feared that better opportunities wouldn’t come. The economy was tough, and I felt trapped by circumstances, settling for what was available instead of striving for what I was truly capable of. Yet deep down, I knew I wasn’t using all my gifts and talents. Through this struggle, I learned a powerful lesson: faith in God and self-belief are essential. Even when the world around you feels uncertain, having faith in God and trusting that better opportunities will come can prevent you from settling. Believe in yourself. Recognize your potential, and know that your talents are valuable, no matter the external circumstances. Trust that God has a plan for you, even when it doesn’t align with your timeline. His time is not always your time. Sometimes, the waiting period feels endless, but there’s often a lesson within tha...
Post a Comment
Read more