The worst day of my life happened to be a cold school day in September 2007. All I remember is getting called out of elementary school early and sitting in the car for what felt like an eternity. The only thing my mom told me was that we were going to see my nana. But the one thing that she forgot to mention was that my nana was lying in a hospital bed. The reason my nana was in a hospital bed in horrible condition was that she was on her way to survey a house for work, a dump truck sped through a red light, and plowed into my nana. Her car went underneath the dump truck and she was in critical condition at the hospital. I remember getting off the elevator and doctors rushing around, which was faster than I have ever seen them move in a hospital. We walked into the room, and I remember looking at the bed and not recognizing the person lying there. She had rods inside of her legs, a neck brace on and all these monitors hooked up to her. I do not think I was able to count how many people from the hospital were in that room. My parents were crying and talking to the doctors, but I remember just standing there looking at my nana. After some time the doctors left to run tests and it was just the family sitting in the hospital room talking to her. I doubt I ever took my back off the opposite wall because I was so scared to go over to her, with the feeling that I might hurt her more. I strictly remember the purple and white polka dot rain boots I wore that day. The rain boots were significant because I remember sitting there with a pen coloring my boots to pass the time. After a while, my mom noticed that I colored my boots which she was upset about, however I think she was more upset because I had not said anything to my nana yet. So, my mom went over to me, gave me a little “pep talk”, (which I do not remember what she said), and the next thing I remember is sitting there talking with my nana for hours. I remember just sitting with her and just talking like no one else was there, and it was like we were sitting just having a good time in her living room like all the times before.

After months of  numerous surgeries and excruciating physical therapy, she was home. But the major difference was that she was now handicapped. She needed so much help just to do the basic things, like walking and bathing for a while. Her house at this point was not handicapped accessible, so it was hard for everyone to help her. I mean that was hard to see her go through so much trouble, especially at home. The biggest struggle for her, personally though I feel, was the mental side of this whole experience. You could tell that she was mentally drained; we all were. Honestly, I believe she got through it for herself and her family. She is the most selfless person I know and I wish that this experience would of happened to me over her because she did not deserve this, she still does not.

Since a couple of years have passed, my nana is doing so much better. She ended up moving to a more accessible house for her, and she even has this modification for her car. She is able to do everything basically like she has in the past, she just cannot walk long distances.

What baffled me the most to this day was that underneath all the damage done to her, she was still the same wonderful lady. The funny, bubbly lady that I looked up to was not laying in  bed, that day, at least it did not look like it. But the thing was, it was still her. I still to this day do not understand how, with everything from that horrible experience that she had been through, that she was still my nana. The selfless, caring, and unbelievably funny lady was still there. She was how I remember her being before the accident.

In a way I am kind of thankful for this whole thing. No, I am not a horrible person. The whole thing about the accident side of it, I wish would have never happened. Out of all the people, my nana was not the one to have to go through all of this. I feel if someone else were to be in her position, that they wouldn’t of been able to pull out of the horrific ordeal so strong and as courageously as she did.  Out of all of the things that my nana deserves, this was not even remotely close. She deserved nothing but the best, then and now.

The parts that I am thankful for are that she and I spent so much time together. As a result of the accident she could not really leave her house that often (before she got her car modified), so every second I had outside of school was spent with her at her house. I am so grateful that I had the chance to get so close to such an awesome lady. We are still so close today. She had probably the biggest impact on who I am today.

With all the time we shared together she taught me so many things that I will cherish forever. She taught me not only to be positive about everything, but that someone always has it worse. She knew that everything could’ve swayed a different way, but the message was clear to me as a child, that someone else is always worse off. This helps me even to this day, because the problems I have, I just take a couple minutes to think how they really could be so much worse.  My nana also taught me how to be thankful, no matter how bad the situation may be; the accident could have went totally different. There could have been so many holidays and birthdays that we could have celebrated without her, but that’s the thing, she is there. The biggest inspiration in my life was still there, and still is today. I will never forget that day, and how so many things could have changed if things were to go differently. I will forever cherish her, and how I got so blessed to grow up with such an inspirational lady!