I’ll see your c7 and raise you a broken neck!
On the morning of May 20, 2012, Sunday morning, while driving along the Sicilian auto-strata towards a mountain tunnel, I told Shaun I was getting flashbacks. Images of a car accident. Although the flashes were quick and blurry, they were visually disturbing enough that I kept sharing the odd feelings and cautioned him to drive carefully. Just before entering the two lane and dimly lit tunnel, I remember raising my hand to my temple, pondering the distorted images that twisted tangles in my stomach, absorbing our involvement in the accident while completely oblivious to it actually occurring…
Moments later, trying to avoid a driver fast approaching, Shaun wheeled for the right lane. But as our car reached a quarter way onto the right lane, he realized he misjudged the distance of the mini van in front of us. He quickly veered back onto the left lane but it was too late. The driver who kept flashing his light beams in a threatening manner, apparently cautioning his tail or else aggressively provoking us out of his way, initially prompted my Husband’s split-second lane change. Well, that speeding car ended up clipping our vehicle. We spun in a zig zag motion fast enough to flip our vehicle in the air and seemingly slow enough for me to witness the strange irony before crashing tire side down. We smashed the front end smack middle against a narrow concrete block that split our 2010 Camry into a letter Y. I thought I was dead.
The fumes from the vehicle kept approaching witnesses in a frenzy as they motioned for us to exit the vehicle in case of fire. Unable to exit through the blocked passenger door, let alone remove myself from our collision, I was carried away from the wreckage. Luckily for me, an off duty Paramedic assisted the scene. Because of shock and unbearable burning, Shaun’s and my eyes intently focused on one another’s until our ambulance arrived. His sea eyes comforted me, tried to calm me from the shaking I mistook as shivers from the cold. Although I was assured of Grim’s safe distance between us, nonetheless his Scythe pained me. Later, air lifted, CT scanned, X-rayed, examined and treated, the worst was finally over.
Aside from my fractured neck, mangled nerves to my hand and left foot, right ankle sprain, abrasions along my clavicle and bruises throughout my body, Shaun’s sore neck and back, we are so thankful our injuries weren’t much worse. Since the accident, I kept replaying the incident in my head, the warning signs, the what-if scenarios and the why us. It doesn’t matter though. We are here. Our car deemed a total loss but we’re not, we survived.
The most unbelievable part is, I knew an accident was going to happen but I couldn’t do anything to prevent it from happening….
In keeping with good spirits, once I regain my grip, I’m going to embrace my neck brace and give it some style! Bedazzle it, fabric it, glue gun something cute on it. Might as well give my neck brace a fashion forward look as its my 24 hour/7 day a week accessory.
Jentendesigns 
God be praised! This is not something I’d love to experience- seeing you share your experiences with good cheer humbles me greatly. May God continue to touch and heal your bodies in Jesus name. Amen!
I have a lot to be grateful for…. Thank you for sharing the spirit.
Wow Jeni! How did you come back on the road again? I admire your husband and your courage in dealing with the situation. I was hit by a car as a child, and the fear of that still affects me.
Im sorry too that you had to go through that ordeal. I am still traumatized. I rarely get in the car maybe once a week or twice if we just head into town. Im still suffering the effects of the accident but am hopeful for a full recovery. The pain meds and muscle relaxers are keeping me in line. 😦
OMG that is scary… I’m glad you guys are OK now! The part of you guys staring at each other to make sure you’re both OK was very romantic 🙂
I have a few friends who’ve had broken necks or backs (I used to run in a very adrenaline-filled world). I can’t imagine that kind of pain, though. I hope that it heels completely and you don’t have any lingering pain. It does put life into perspective to look Death in the eye and walk away, doesn’t it?
Indeed. Then there are those who want to face death in the eye, as long as death isn’t a laser beam to the cornea’s… ( I know your the only one to understand this one, so readers head over to thetesxtpatstarling blog and check out her LASIK post)
Jeni Johnson http://www.jentendesigns.net
I just read this post and it sent shivers up and down my spine. This is my worst nightmare on these crazy Italian autostrade.
So glad you and your husband are okay. This must have been an absolutely terrifying experience.
Thank you so much for acknowledging our experience. Roll over accidents usually end in tragedies and we are so thankful yo be alive.,,,,
Sending Light your way for healing, understanding, and awareness…
Thank you so much for your deeply felt words of positive recovery. The accident didn’t really hit me until this past Friday when I broke down thanking everything in this universe that I was all right…
Jeni Johnson
I’m sure there’s an element of shock in there, and probably the accident will ‘unfold’ in terms of what it means to you as time goes on. What a wonderful gift that you are already able to count your blessing through it all!
OMG Jeni – I have shivers running up and down me as I read this. I am so glad that you and your husband are OK. Life often gives us signs telling us to be aware, to listen to your inner voice. Your premonitons were yelling that day! I hope you both have a speedy recovery. God bless
P.S. Love the glammed up neck braces . . .
Heavenly Father thank you for watching over Shaun & Jen and in spite of their physical pain, sparing their, very precious to many, lives…Jen, thank you so much for the blog…
Thank for your prayers.
Glad to hear you’re okay! I wish you a quick and easy recovery.
Oh, my goodness–our two little tots going through so much! Although protected by a higher spiritual being, this was all meant to be–and all so we can have our dear ones
with us once again–what a blessing! Your courage you both have shown was short of amazing–two little troopers in a strange country–and despite the language barrier,the caring and compassion was there for you–getting air-flighted to the hospital..you know prayers were going up for you by so many, many others..we love you both –so much –and are thankful for your lives being spared. Grama & Grampa
🙂 hugging you!