GRACE, UNEXPECTED

My Life After a Serious Brain Injury;
February 4, 1999
by Carla Vanderspek

As I went out the door, my husband yelled, 'see you Carla.  Have a really good day!"  He was doing paperwork for his construction company.  The radio was on in the background.  An accident is reported on Glenmore Trail.  A while later the phone rings.  It was Mary, one of my four employees at Mount Royal College.  I had not arrived yet.  He realizes the accident he just heard about was me!!  He then rushes off to see.

I wrote a story in the hope and prayer that other people, learning about my near fatal brain injury in early 1999 and the various challenges I have faced since then, will gain some inspiration and strength for the challenges they encounter.

Sometimes, my story is one of sadness and frustration.  But it is also a story of joy and humour.  And most often, it's a story of love.  The love God had for me, and I for Him, and the love that my dear family and friends have for me and I for them.

Without the love of God, I would never have survived the horrific car accident that so dramatically changed my life in early 1999.  And without the love of God, family and friends, I would never have overcome my brain injury to the extent that I have.

Within hours after the accident, the doctors predicted I would be a mental vegetable.  I was rated as only a number 3 on the Glasgow coma scale that measures brain injury severity.  Thirteen to fifteen is considered mild, nine to twelve is considered moderate, and eight or less is severe.

Despite such grim prognosis, I slowly regained consciousness after two weeks, and then recovered my memory and mobility to the best it can be.  Today, 13 years after, I have some disabilities, but I am certainly not the mental vegetable they said I was going to be!  That is thanks to the power of prayer and having God as the leader in my life.  If you would like, I can talk to you more about it all.


Ed. Note:  I asked Carla to write her story for this blog because I've been struck by her faithful witness over the time I have known her.  What surprises me most, is that complete strangers will stop her in the store and ask "What's wrong with you?"  I'd be tempted to return a rude answer to such a rude question, but Carla takes those opportunities to witness for God.  From this terrible event in her life, she has found an avenue to tell others about her faith and about God's love and about prayer and about her walk with Jesus.   Thank you, Carla, for sharing.