Share Your Story: Attitude of Gratitude

I want to begin by saying MY GOD IS AWESOME! He has blessed me with a loving husband and 3 beautiful & amazing children. I love being a wife and mother. I feel that it's one of the most precious gifts (among others) that I was given. But I must say that this journey has not been easy.

On August 16, 2009 my faith was put to the ultimate test. It was a beautiful summer morning. My oldest son was 7, my daughter was 2 and my youngest son was 9 weeks old was home from the NICU. This was the 1st morning that I woke up without a massive headache. So I decided to enjoy the day with my kids. Then my hubby and I got a sitter and decided to go watch a movie. Well.... this was the quiet before another big storm...

During the movie my headache came back, and then I realized that my right leg felt like it was falling asleep, it felt weak. I kept shifting then told my husband that I didn't feel well. We decided to leave and head home. As hubby was hailing a cab, I began to experience the worse headache of my life. This scared me! I said a silent prayer. My ultimate fear was happening but the doctors and specialist that I saw since giving birth, said that I was too young for this to happen. Even the one a specialist I saw the day before told me I was too young to have a heart condition.

My husband had to carry me up 3 flights of stairs to our apartment (which was not easy being that I just gave birth, I was so heavy). My leg was too weak and my pain was excruciating. He laid me on the bed and ran to get me some pain medication. I remember calling out to him from my bedroom and he couldn't understand me. When I tried to say something to my oldest son he couldn't understand me either. That's when I realized what was happening. I reached for my cell phone to put my thoughts in text.. tears filled my eyes as I realized that I could not lift up the cell with my right hand... I quickly grabbed the cell with my left hand and typed CALL 911 I AM HAVING A STROKE! 

As I was being rushed to the emergency room I remember my husband saying "My wife is only 30". At the emergency room the doctor told my husband that I was having a stroke. This was the first time I had ever seen him cry. I remember thinking.. who is going to care for my family? My kids were so young. I was in the stoke unit for a week then had intense rehabilitation as an inpatient at the hospital.  I was the youngest stroke patient on the floor. I had to learn how to walk and use my right hand again. I kept praying, fighting and focused on getting back to my kids. 

Not being able to do the simple things that we take for granted daily like scratch my cheek, feed or bathe myself, stand up, walk and hug my kids was the worst ever. BUT GOD!!! It took me a year and a half to be strong enough to walk on my own without a cane. Lots of support, self-love, family love, prayer & strength got me through this fight. I appreciate the second chance that God gave me. Sometimes you have to be cut down to your lowest so that God can build you to your strongest. Appreciate every day that you are given. Have gratitude. Time is a precious gifts. Never loose faith. 

Thank you so much Jasmine Bernard-Straker for sharing your story. We appreciate you being open with your testimony and reminding us that God is a God of second chances. May God richly bless you and your family!

For His Glory Only,

XOXO

Danielle J.

Share Your Story: Shanise

On the first edition of “Share Your Story”, we have Shanise describing her testimony of coming out of a terrible car accident.

Here is the story from her prospective:

The morning of my accident I saw a really bad accident unfold before my eyes. The car accident came within inches from hitting my friend and I. We jumped out to give assistance. I remember driving home at 3 a.m. still shaking and talking about it. We were amazed that the passengers survived unscathed. That night when I got home I posted a picture of the accident, and the details of what happened. I was so thankful to not be involved and thankful for everyone in the car being okay. Little did I know that I would be in an accident FAR worse than what I had just seen...

On Sunday May 3, I was headed to Siesta Key Beach, but before I could make it there my tire blew out on I-75 and my SUV flipped 3-7 times. I was cut out of my truck and spent one night in ICU for a partially collapsed lung, bruised liver, and blood clots. They monitored me around the clock and had me on 100% oxygen. Then I was moved to a regular room, although the doctors were puzzled because I was a trauma patient and they had no idea what to do with me. They released me to a rehab hospital 5 days later, and there they found that I had a broken arm. Everyone including medical professionals, insurance adjusters, and those that have seen my truck are amazed that I did not die in the accident, or at least have more serious injuries. I forgot to mention that none of my air bags deployed! My mom cried when she say my truck because she knew that God spared my life and that He has a plan for me. 

I must say this was an extremely hard time for physically and emotionally, but amazingly my emotions were the worse. Sometimes I would cry for absolutely no reason at all. Or there were times that I would cry because I felt lonely!  Then there were times that I would cry because I was upset that my life was just getting back on track, and the accident would set me back financially. But my mom kept praying for me and laying hands on me with her Holy oil. My best friend's mother would come to the rehab hospital with her bible and pray for me! I got to a point where I had to give in and be thankful, and release my anger. Rehab and the healing process were both a trying time for me and I had to start referring to my favorite childhood scripture, Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengthen me.

Through this situation, I learned that I am so much stronger that I thought I was. I always commended people on their strength, while forgetting that I had that same strength. It just took a near death experience to understand that and to believe in myself!  My accident also showed me who wholeheartedly loved and supported. This has allowed me to eliminate the seasonal people who I thought were friends out of my life! I was able to exhale and experience the real Shanise who was no longer a young woman who was unsure of her herself, but now a strong woman who could see a future. I realized I am a FIGHTER and a SURVIVOR. I am reminded that God always has a way of getting our attention when we are hardheaded. He made me sit down and think about my actions, attitude, abilities, and relationship with Him and others. 

The advice that I would give to others in a similar situation is to find things to be thankful for. I remember being emotional because I had two black eyes which made me look Beetlejuice, but I had to be thankful for my sight. Looking like Beetlejuice or Kung Fu Panda, sure did beat being blind any day. After I thought about what I resembled I laughed to myself so hard! I had to make light of everything and made funny little Facebook post to keep my spirits up ... and boy did it work! 

Life is beautiful because so many people who died yesterday had plans for today. You made it to another day, so do not take it for granted!  Take today to experience, learn, and help others! 

Special Thanks to Shanise for taking part of LBV first edition of the “Share Your Story” campaign!

For His Glory Only,
XOXO
Danielle