Forever changed

I've been trying for about three weeks to write a "perfect" detailed little post with eloquent words that explains what my family has been going through these past eleven weeks. But, I can't. So, I'm just going to start at the beginning....

On September 20, 2010, our house of curls was forever changed. Doug got up really early and left for Montgomery, AL to film a training video. I took Elie to school, had coffee with some preschool moms, and then ended up at a good friend's home for lunch with the girlies. On the way home, I got a phone call that I will never forget. It was the chaplain from Baptist Hospital in Montgomery telling me that my husband was in a terrible accident at work and I needed to get there as soon as possible. I hung up the phone and immediately started calling Doug's cell phone, over and over, just hoping he would answer, even though I knew he wouldn't. I left him a really long message and typed him text. As I hung up the phone, my mind was racing and I was praying for the Lord to help me stay calm for my precious little girlies sitting in the back seat. I took a deep breath and I spotted a friend of ours (Terrell) running down the sidewalk. I rolled down the window and started yelling at him to get in the car with me. Thinking back, I know it was the Lord rescuing me and taking care of me in a very scary and needy moment. To this day, He continues to take care of our family and you will see His gracious and loving hand weaving throughout our story.

Once we got to Terrell's house, his wonderful wife Jane met us at the door and immediately began to take care of so many details. We thought about who could drive me to Montgomery and my sweet friend Hannah came to mind. Little did we know, the Lord was already preparing her for our upcoming journey. Read her story here.

Hours later (and in record time) Hannah and I found ourselves pulling into the Baptist Hospital parking lot. I'm really not sure how we made it there so quickly, but I do know the Lord got us there safely and without fear or tremendous worry. We got to the ER waiting area where we waited and waited and waited...lost a Swiss Army knife from our key chain to the rude security guy and then finally were given directions to where we needed to be.

Now at this point in the day, I still have NO idea what happened to my husband. I only know he was hurt in a work accident. To be completely honest, I don't even know if he is alive. As you can imagine, I am quite anxious to see my husband and get some answers.

We finally found our way to the surgical waiting area where we met three employees of Doug's company. I honestly thought my husband was dead when I met them because they all had a look of horror and couldn't say anything; they just sat in the chairs staring at us. Hannah and I did learn that Doug was just beginning surgery and that he in fact, was alive, but they really didn't know many details.

These are the horrible details - now of course, writing this eleven weeks later I'm not sure what they told me then and what I found out from Doug throughout this entire process but this is the gist: Doug was run over by a forklift. He was hit from behind and never heard it coming. He was first hit in the back of the head and he fell to the ground. The driver reversed, went forward to try and get off of him, and then ran off screaming. His left leg was severely damaged and the fork lift stayed on top of the leg for at least half an hour. He was conscious throughout the whole trauma and when he arrived at the hospital by ambulance. Again, another picture of the Lord's hand taking care of our family. He was definitely with Doug in those moments of pure horror and need. What an amazing Savior we serve!

Sorry to leave you hanging, but I gotta go to bed. I'll be posting more....soon.

I will leave you with these verses that the Lord used during those first few hard weeks and continues to use now to comfort both Doug and I.

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18