Dallas County Living Well Magazine Winter 2015 | Page 16

Forgiveness
By Michelle Wallace

J

uly 14, 2003 is a day that
changed their lives forever.
Stephanie was returning home
from a family vacation with her
mom, stepdad, and a friend,
when a young girl crossed lanes,
head-on with their car. Moments before Stephanie’s mom asked to switch
places with her from the back to the
front seat. She was killed instantly.
Stephanie was left critically injured,
her stepdad and friend were injured
as well. At home, Stephanie’s sister
Amy received the call. She understood
she would be making funeral arrangements for her mom and the doctors
told her Stephanie might not make it
through the night. Stephanie did survive, it was easier to name the bones
that weren’t broken, than the ones
that were. They learned the girl who
caused the accident was an 18 year
old named Brittany. She was coming
off a three-day meth binge and fell
asleep at the wheel.
Now, Amy, a young wife and mom
would find herself making painful
medical decisions regarding her
sister’s future and life. Doctors explained that one of the breaks in
Stephanie’s pelvis was right at her
spine and if they did the surgery to
repair it she would be paralyzed
from the waist down. If they decided not to perform surgery she
would have to lay flat on her back
for four to six months. They couldn’t
guarantee she would be able to walk
but it was her only chance. In addition, her right arm was paralyzed.
In the worst possible scenario Stephanie developed pneumonia and was

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placed on a vent. She felt hopeless.
“I can’t walk, or use my arm, or even
breathe on my own. Forget about a husband, or kids, or any type of a future,”
Stephanie thought. One night a nurse

left her hand untied;
she reached up and pulled out the tube
to end her life. Alarms sounded as
doctors and nurses ran to her aide. Miraculously Stephanie began breathing
on her own. Everyone was amazed.
Her blood oxygen had been so critical

DALLAS COUNTY Living Well Magazine | WINTER 2015

that doctors had plans to put a trach
in the next day. Now her O2 began
to rise. Later, Stephanie would learn it
was the exact moment her church had
come together to pray. Miracle after
medical miracle began from that day.

Amy quit her job
and brought Stephanie home for
round the clock care. No charges had
been brought against Brittany. Anger
began to grow in Stephanie and Amy
as Brittany’s life went on as if nothing