I Am A Survivor

I am a walking testimony. I’ve had some pitfalls, I’ve experienced trauma and near death-before I dive in, let me tell you who I am.

I come from a military/Christian upbringing-far from perfect-born overseas where my father was stationed in Guam. I had an amazing childhood, never had any worries and wanted for nothing. I admit I have had rebellious tendencies beginning in my childhood-nothing too devastating or traumatic except for the first time I wound up in a coma for 4 days. I was 18 months old and I watched my sister all the time be a big girl so what do we do as young tots? We mirror what we see, soaking it up like a sponge. I was in my high chair and I wanted to get down on my own. Well when I did get down, the landing was devastating. I fell and hit my head on the tile floor that my mother said we had in our kitchen and I started to have a seizure.

During my hospitalization, I had underwent some CT Scans and MRIs and the first CT scan had showed a very large lump on my brain which is what sent me into a coma. 4 days later after the next CT Scan, the lump miraculously disappeared and nobody could understand it. I was called a “miracle baby” and so this is where my testimony started.

Growing up over the years I sort of became a tomboy, climbing palm trees, riding my bicycle with no hands, chasing dogs type of child. My first experience with rebellion was hanging on the clothes line in our back yard after being told not to and the consequence? Well let’s just say I fell and hurt my arm real bad-morning too severe but I was in so much pain that I hid it from my parents. Did I learn my lesson...well I didn’t swing from the backyard clothes line but I continued to climb trees and ride my bicycle fast. Then the second incident happened.

Out of all the times I’ve rode my bike fast, up and down steep grass hills, and riding around the neighborhood, I didn’t see myself ending up where I did. I happened to be riding past a neighbors house and as I was waving to them, I was headed fast into the next neighbors driveway and “boom”, I crashed into the driver side view mirror! I cut myself on the right side of my chest, was rushed home and to the hospital where I had to receive stitches.

First time living life without fear and worry, first time being stitches up, in and out and back to being a kid. However, I slowed down a bit but I was always running wild, always wanting to play outside and just enjoy being a kid. Looking back, I started to see God’s hand on my life and my testimony of this gift of life continues as I journey on . I will tell you what I’ve been through and what has shaped and built my character, and what has made me strong as a result of being in the midst of storms and going through some hard times. The beauty of hope that I’ve found and have held on to is one of the reasons I’m still here, still breathing, and still walking. I became a “miracle baby” and now I am a “walking miracle”. Stay tuned for the journey continues.