Lori Gooding
Hi everyone My name is Lori Gooding. I am almost 34 years old on the 19th on January. I am divorced and have 4 wonderful children. David 14, Amber 9, Codie 7 and Kristen 6. I believe that they are the four reasons that I am still hear today. I had an automobile accident, one car, mine on July 18, 1998. Of all days it was on Amber's 8th birthday! The children stayed at a friend of mine the night before this horrible day of my accident. I had planed on popping in on the kids with a surprise birthday party. Well it sure was a surprise! Mom never showed up! I had Amber's cake and several presents to give her in the truck that I had my accident in. My boyfriend drove and I drove as well. Ronnie had got to my friends house before I did. I should have gotten there before him but did not. As a few minutes went by everyone was watching for me to come.. Well minutes turned into more minutes and they began to worry. Ronnie and Mike , my friends husband got into the car and decided to backtrack and see if they could find me. Well they did! on the side of the road and into a tree! The EMS or ambulance had not even got there yet. I understand that they saw a horrible mess. My left eyeball was out of its socket and my head was split open in two different places. Actually my scull was split open in two places. I totaled the truck I was in and so much for that tree! It was my boyfriends truck! A new one at that! I got to the hospital and family members were notified. Soon the ICU unit was full of family and friends. The doctors had already told everyone that I would not make it through the night. With all the prayers and Gods will I survived! very unusual for the kind of head injury I had. I still do not know what happened that day of my accident. I don't remember even where I lived before I had my accident. I did not remember that I had kids. I do know now that I have four strong hearted children. I lost all sight in my right eye and alot vision in my left eye, all peripheral vision. I only had tunnel vision and still do now. I had lost some hearing as well. Most of it came back slowly. I almost doubled my weight in the hospital. I weighed about 100 lbs.. the day of my horrible day and now I weigh about 181 lb.. The doctors finally discovered that I had a thyroid problem. I am now taking synthoid for my thyroid. I have only been taking this medicine for about 2 in a half weeks. I hope that I will lose some weight! with exercise of course. I feel so guilty because of this horrible accident. My children help me out tremendously! I depend on them too. The next year on Amber's birthday, she said, "Mommy, you can't go anywhere today!" She was so scared. I think she took all of this the hardest. Amber even blamed herself for my accident because I was on the way to her surprise party. I talked with her and told her that she did not have anything to do with my accident. and she understands that now. I thank the lord for my miraculous recovery and thank everyone for all of the prayers. I finally decided to write my story after a year in a half. I think that it will do me good, and maybe good to someone else. May God bless you all. If anyone cares to write me please do so
I Thank the Lord again for everyone's answered prayers.
Lori
written on Jan.12, 2000
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