It Was The Perfect Day

Some things in life are so short-lived but make the most significant impact. Even when the world seems to be going great, the worst could happen to ruin everything. Better to start at the beginning since this is a true story about an event in my life. Honestly, it was the perfect day.

Arizona- September 7th, 2021

It was traveling early in the morning from the resort. This place was further, but a must-see in Arizona. The ride was several hours from Sedona to Antelope Canyon. Like the other days, my parents, my sister, my brother’s friend, and I had been there traveling around Arizona. Sedona is magnificent with its shops and beautiful rocks. We have seen several places, including Devil’s Bridge, various hikes around Sedona, and a jeep tour into the desert. This was the longest journey so far, but the pictures were beautiful. The long ride was captivating driving further north. It truly is a beautiful state, and the landscape changed. The land looked more barren as we traveled. This was one of the most extended trips; another was expected to visit the Grand Canyon the next day. Spirits were high, and not a rain cloud was in sight.

The excitement was felt as we arrived at the tour of the lower Antelope Canyon. All the planning determined that the lower sightseeing trip was prettier than the upper tour. I anticipated seeing a place as wonderful and different from where I live. The Navajo ran several excursions, and we arrived early. We checked in and waited for our tour earlier in the afternoon. There were plenty of others waiting too. I stopped by the gift shop. One rule was one could not carry one’s water bottle on tour. I did find a water bottle sling. A few of us bought one, and it was practical. It was covid, so masks were required inside the building and the canyon. As we waited for other tours were being called, we met some others. Still a little tired from the morning trek but was ready for the adventure.

Eventually, we were called for the tour with another couple. Tour groups were smaller due to the pandemic. Our Native American guide met us and walked to the opening outside the canyon. We were told the tragic story of the tourists that died when the canyon was explored during a rainstorm. Other groups were coming in before us, but it was our turn. The pictures do not do justice to standing in such a unique place. Color stripes running along the walls painted unbelievable shots. Each curve winding to the next seemed like a never-ending maze. So many stories include how the water runs through the canyon on rainy days to the clearing of the water. The pictures were terrific, and the guide took the best ones with different filters. Most of my photos were taken by the guide. Each turn was another bend and the views. The waiting for the previous groups gave more time for the many pictures in such an astonishing view. I could stay there all day, but tours only last an hour or so. I hated to see it end but so a wonderful time.

We then headed out and made our way back to the resort. Before, we heard that Horseshoe Bend was too far from there. So, a detour was welcome. We pulled into Glen Canyon Dam overlook. It was excellent, and not wearing the mask felt good. The impressive size was incredible, with lovely paths and seeing so much water in Arizona.

The next stop was at Horseshoe Bend. It was an even more unimaginable site. Coming up the cliff, the waterway wrapped around the rock. So many perspectives could be seen. I took a whole set of pictures and even wished to kayak that someday. It was getting later in the day with several terrific sites in just one day.

We still have to return to Sedona for another early morning to go to the Grand Canyon. Things seemed great, and nothing could go wrong. We huddled back into the car. My dad and my brother’s friend were upfront. My mom sat in the middle in the back while my sister and I were on the sides in the back. The darkness was coming from a day of travel. It was worth the long drive, and windy roads back were the fastest route back on 89A. Over the years, my dad drove faster and tested the agility of the rented Jeep Cherokee. My mom was really irritated. My dad wanted to try the struts by going more quickly on the road’s curves. I was drowning out the noise and hoping the ride would be shorter. After the windy roads of West Virginia, I would rather have fewer curves.

He made several curves without an issue till the last one. It was the sharpest turn of them all. My mom was calling out his name. The car could not stay on the road and was hoping that we would stop on the side of the road. Things started to spiral, and I tried to remain calm. All I could do was keep my head straight. In a previous crash, I had some whiplash from twisting my neck. Thinking that the car would just go to the side, and things would slow down. We came near the stone wall on the side. Suddenly the car went to its side and moved along the wall driving. It only moved a few feet before the inevitable stop.

My mom was towards me, but our arms were up in the movement, and she landed on my sister on the bottom. She was in so much pain, and the airbags’ dust flew everywhere; I did not remember them going off. I checked myself for injuries hanging on the seat belt. Grabbing the handle, I pulled my legs up to kick the door. The door never budged despite all my effort. I yelled to my brother’s friend in the front passenger side to see if he could open his door. He is a bodybuilder and around six feet tall. The door could not stand a chance since he had lifted more than I could. He was the first to crawl out of the car. My dad was next since he was on the driver’s side on the ground and was not hurt. My sister came from underneath my mom and climbed out with help from my brother’s friend. He stayed on top of the car pulling everyone out. It was just my mom, and I left in the car, and she was in much pain. I had to reluctantly ask my mom to move for me to unbuckle my seatbelt. She was directly underneath me, and I would land right on her. She painfully stumbled to the front and was pulled out of the car. I struggled the most since seatbelts do not unbuckle while under pressure. A passerby checked in and asked if I was okay. I relayed that I was fine at the moment. I had to pull myself off the seat belt to unbuckle it. Feeling my body fall was not my best moment, but I landed on my feet this time. The dust was still flying everywhere as I finally went to the front end to be pulled out of the car. I crawled across the front of the vehicle and climbed down to the ground.

It was dark, and the cops were already coming to the scene. My brother’s friend had another passerby call the emergency crew early while we were still in the car. Some others stopped while I was in the car and prayed with my family. A younger couple brought out a first aid kit for our minor scrapes. Another couple gave us some water and Bai water, so we could stay hydrated. I saw my mom on the ground with pain in her torso area and gave her some juice to drink while we waited for the paramedics. The firefighters also came from Flagstaff. I took a few pictures of the scene as my dad paced. He was trying to comfort my mom but was lost in his thoughts. Part of the road was shut down as the tow truck driver arrived to pull the car right side up. The ambulance came, and my dad went with my mom to the hospital while we rode with the tow truck to drop the last three of us there later. The cops and the firemen were trying to make matters lighter to lessen the stress. Eventually, the car was pulled upright. My sister was looking for her phone that she had lost during the accident. One of the first responders found it, and she only had a cracked screen. My mom never lost hers due to the phone leash; she kept her phone the entire time. It all happened so fast but seemed like forever. We took the major stuff out of the car that we could see before the vehicle was taken to the lot. There was so much, we had to leave some for another time. The scene was cleaned, and we rode to the hospital with the tow truck driver. I had to go to the bathroom but not with all the men and the lack of privacy at the scene. It was surreal to see the event. We were asked if we would be checked out, but we declined. The four of us walked away with minor scrapes and bruises. I could estimate that the whole accident only lasted less than twenty minutes. I lost track of time on time for the remainder, but it was not too long to have the ambulance take my mom and my dad to the hospital. One fleeting moment could change so many things.

Everyone was shaken by the incident but wanted to ensure my mom was okay. We were dropped off at the hospital near the emergency room. We took the items collected and put them on the chairs outside there. All of us had to go and, with covid restrictions, were yelled at to wear our masks. I was the last to go as one was to keep watch over the bags. Everything became better once that happened, and the next steps needed to be taken. All the stares for just going to the bathroom. I called my dad, who was inside the hospital, but we were prohibited. He eventually came out, but then he was not allowed back in. The police officer did tear up the ticket when he saw my dad’s remorse. My dad was willing to accept it.

My brother’s friend set up an Uber to drive us back to the resort. The weather was beautiful, and the day heat was terrific. Finally, the Uber came with a woman driving a large pickup truck. We huddled in the back and rode a few hours back to Sedona. The shock was still existent from the long night. We were silent for most of the ride. I recall the driver talking about how she usually picks up drunks to drive them home. She also apologized for going so slowly on the way back, including on the same road we crashed. We all just answered it was fine and did not mind the slower ride home. I was still concerned with my mom’s condition. We did stop to get some gas. I went inside to see if I wanted anything. I found a candy bar my mom would like and bought it. My mom’s condition was unknown, and she was in much pain. It seemed to take forever, but we arrived at the resort, where we took our items and returned to our rooms.

I could hardly sleep, and my sinuses were acting up with breathing in all that dust from the airbags. I had to take some Benadryl to breathe and sleep. I did beg God that my mom was not seriously hurt. We were all unsettled, and I blamed myself for not sitting in the middle. I even messaged some people at home to pray, but they did not respond till later. Everyone was beaten but so tired with so few answers. Barely getting any sleep, I woke up later in the day.

The next day

All plans were off, and finding the information for the insurance companies was the goal. My brother’s friend ordered another Uber to the rental place after my dad called them up. We started to search for medical insurance cards. I dug through the purse, but still, there was no sign of my mom’s wallet, but I did place the candy bar in the bag. The hospital was not giving information, but with insistence, more was provided. We planned to go to the lot where the car was towed and clear it out. It was in terrible shape, and most were missed due to the darkness. We talked to the ones in the office, and they looked surprised that we were okay. Even saying you were in the accident. We did inform them that one member was in the hospital. The car was messy, and picking up the remaining items was difficult. Searching in each section of the car, we found forgotten things. My backpack was dumped, and recollecting was a challenge. Still, there was no sign of my mom’s wallet. The trash was left in the car, and I even tried to open the door near where I sat. It was not budging even right side up, and the damage was terrible. It was sobering to remove everything and be out so soon. My dad decided to go back to the accident scene. We drove up the road one more time and found the rock wall. Pulling off to a safe location, we exited the new car. It was surreal to return, and it looked so different than the night before. It was just a roadside, and one could not tell if the event ever happened. We searched the area to see if the wallet fell out like my sister’s phone. My dad called out that he found it in the mud on the side of the road. This was a relief, and the last item had been found. I also noticed that besides the rock wall was a series of drops all around. This could not be seen at night, but we landed in the safest spot on the highway. Even when the comment had been made, it could have been much worse.

We then huddled back in the car and drove toward the resort. Some paperwork needed to be dealt with, and I wanted to hear more about my mom’s condition. I did contact some of my mom’s family about the incident, including my brother. Somehow, I started getting messages from the New York cousins, and they were concerned. I tried to keep it together, and we finally heard what was happening. There was some rib damage, and she would need surgery in the next few days. My sister and dad also called other family members and friends. I decided to text my mom, and she sounded like she was on drugs, but she was in pain.

Everyone wanted to make sure she was okay. My sister at home had to be told to stop calling so frequently. The shock was coming, and figuring out how to handle the situation kicked in. My dad told his sister, who lives near Phoenix, to take me early so I could return home on time and take care of all the responsibilities there. My brother’s friend had a friend down that way and made plans with them. My sister, not having a job, would stay with my dad and keep him calm while waiting for my mom to come home. He was a wreck without my mom anyway. His guilt was tremendous, and he felt genuinely responsible for the whole thing. It was a difficult day, and hearing about the surgery was not improving. My sister did admit she felt guilty that she was not in the middle either. Finally, things began to calm down, but the world seemed to crash. We just hung around the resort and the pool to deal with such a tragedy.

The next few days

Each day is like the last time. We tried to keep up with my mom’s condition and the upcoming surgery. We finally found out they put in a chest tube. She was posting from her room, and I just wanted to go and visit her. She is truly the glue of the family. Covid restrictions were keeping communication at a low with little to no visitors. The surgery would fix her broken ribs and a metal piece to hold one of them in place. We were communicating with the relatives about the new information. We spent part of the last day at the pool trying to relax. Clearing out the food was one of the tasks before leaving the resort. I went through my mom’s stuff to bring back one suitcase so she had less to deal with later. She texted me about the property to keep and the rest to take back. All those items were there, and I tried to get through my emotions. The suitcase was heavy, but I was fine lifting it. At work, all I do is pick up heavy items all day. Then came my bags. I stuffed as much as I could, and it was even more difficult not to see my mom for a while.

Finally, on the day of surgery, we said a prayer request to the many relatives and even back at church. I never felt so scared since there is always a risk of death with every surgery. The hours ticked by, and still no news from the hospital. Finally, it was the day I left to be dropped off in Phoenix. On the day of the surgery, I had everything packed and ready, and we all put our stuff in the van. My brother’s friend and I were going to take a ride way back south to Phoenix. It was the longest drive and much further than any previous one. It was a crowded ride with a van going to the Phoenix Airport. It was quiet, but reflecting was the only thing I was doing lately. I was ready for some rest at my uncle and aunt’s place. I was glad my mom would be doing better and she could finally heal.

My dad and sister stayed at a cheap hotel near the hospital so they could try to visit. Pulling up to the airport, we departed in the high heat of southern Arizona. Getting the baggage into the airport was the most difficult. I wheeled the luggage near one of the doors with my brother’s friend. He asked if I was okay, and I replied I would be okay. I sat and waited to text my aunt where I was. It was interesting watching everyone getting to the place carefree. Finally, I saw her car come in and pulled my bags into the car. It was the high dry heat, but I did not mind since I was used to the humidity at home. This time I was not sweating that much. I had to load the bags and was driven back to their place. It was a better drive, but I still worried about my mom and how long it would take till she came back home. By the end of the day, my sister contacted me, and she came through it fine. The road to recovery was not easy, but it was worth the wait. Everyone was glad the worst hour was over. My dad was allowed to visit after the surgery but was the only one. My sister was supposed to see her the next day but was turned away by a change in Covid restrictions. Still, she needed to be released from the hospital. Sleeping was getting better and even better after the surgery.

Relaxation was what I needed. I slept in and tried to relieve the stress while texting my sister about my mom’s progress. Even one call from my sister, “We went to the Grand Canyon.” I was not happy since I wanted to see it after all. I would have found a way up for that. The heat outside was terrible, but I would have braved it. Yet, I was stuck south, waiting for my plane flight. I was taken to my cousin’s house to see their tortoises one day. It was nice to see another place. I even went to the service; my uncle was the pastor. It was all a good experience, and I took pictures of the desert flowers and then sent them to my mom. She did enjoy them since she was in the hospital. My mom needed the chest tube back in at some point, delaying her initial release from the hospital.

Eventually, the day came for me to fly back home to work. I was also responsible for the keep up with the house till my mom could fly home. I had to lift my bags again into the car and drop us off at the airport. I said goodbye to my uncle and wished to stay to see everything through. I got the luggage checked and then waited for my plane. It has been the longest time I have flown by myself. Sitting in my chair, I took the ride home to be alone. I did have my dad’s keys to get to the car and was allowed to drive his larger vehicle. I landed and gathered the heavy bags once again. I dragged them to the car and went home a little slowly. I am used to my smaller car, not the larger SUV. I did not crash and made it all the way back to Ohio. The last trip for the heavy bags into the house was worth it. I could finally relax on my own and clear my thoughts.

I spent the next day getting everything put away and being home. The house was so lonely when everyone was gone. I still kept up on the news on my mom, who was finally released from the hospital but not to fly home. So, they traveled with my aunt and uncles and stayed on the church grounds until my mom was cleared to fly. I worked and did house chores on my days off while they posted their pictures. She looked better but was still nowhere near healed. I even covered my parent’s bills temporarily till they came home. I kept my prayers that she would return home.

I had some anxiety driving on curves to start, but eventually, I improved. Even seeing a Jeep Cherokee driven by a coworker brought out some reactions. I had to talk myself down and remind myself that I was okay. Finally, it was over, and my mind readjusted to the triggers like my other car accidents. After a while, I could still feel the motion of the accident.

After about a month, the good news came. My mom was coming home and was cleared to travel. I did my best to clean up faster and have the place in the best state possible. I even bought some food she liked and anything she needed. I put up a banner, even stating welcome home. I offered to drive them home from the airport, but they had my sister do it. Finally, I was ready, and she was impressed and glad to be home.

She admitted feeling like she should take the middle seat that day. My sister and I were at the right height for the airbags on the side doors. My sister did not remember the accident and blacked out. The rest of us remembered, but it was still imprinted on us.

Over the next six months, things improved. I drove my mom to some physical therapy appointments on my days off. I did what I could, and we all helped around the house. She slowly became stronger from not lifting her arms at all to mostly up. She finished physical therapy and continued to work on her strength. She went off the oxygen early and then continued to improve. Every week was an improvement. Finally, she was close to her previous state.

Throughout the last two years, she was just as strong and proven that one can conquer everything. Finally, however, things did return to normal, and it seems so far away now. She can even lift her arms all the way over her head.

First, I would like to count the blessings in that situation. First, my mom did not puncture a lung, which would have worsened things. We crashed on the part of the road that was not a drop. We were near a level-one trauma center during the crash. There was a hotel for family members near the hospital. My aunt and uncle’s place were free for a month. The car insurance covered most of the cost of the car. The medical bills covered most of the price by my parent’s insurance. Most of us were not injured; my mom is almost completely healed. Despite the darkness, God came through everything.

God was always there first, and to thank him for his providence. My mom was always strong despite the circumstances. I want to thank the police, firemen, and paramedics from Flagstaff for their quick response. To the tow truck driver who dropped us at the hospital. For the hospital that took care of my mom. To my aunt and uncle for the place to stay while they were in Arizona. To the passersby that helped on the scene.

I also learned that even in the worse circumstances, one could survive. The kindness in humanity is not dead. Life is not guaranteed for the next day. Living in fear is not worth it, but to feel that every day is a blessing. Some days seem perfect but can end so tragically.