A Father's Plea
Nothing tears your heart out more than hearing your child is in the Hospital, in a coma, with a broken neck and a severe head injury. I cried like a baby. Angie is my only child. It doesn't matter how old she gets, she will always be my little girl. I love my daughter with all my heart and soul and every fiber of my being. If I could trade places with her, I would do so in a heartbeat, without question. Wouldn't any father?
A few days after Angie was brought into the hospital, a young man was brought into the ICU. He had fallen from a building at a construction site and broken the C2 vertebra in his neck. He died later that day. He was 21 years old. In my life, I've known five other people personally, who had less injury to their head and neck than Angie, only one of them survived. He was quadraplegic the rest of his life. I remember my best friend's sister was sitting in the back of a pickup truck, the truck took off, she fell out and landed on her head, the fall broke her neck. She died instantly. She was 12 years old.
This is no scam. It is truly a miracle she survived this accident. I believe nothing happens without a reason. God still has a plan for Angie, he just isn't shairing it with me just yet. There is an Angel sitting on her shoulder I honestly believe that. I've never prayed so hard in all my life, as I have the last few weeks. God must be listening, Angie is still here with us. Thank you Lord!
Believe it or not, Angie is doing amazingly well. She can walk, just not very far. She can bath herself, but still needs help with a lot of simple things. And she doesn't seem as goofy as she was before this accident. :) (she actually makes sense on occasion now?) Maybe this was a wakeup-call for her. I know it was for me! You realize just how precious life is, when something like this happens to someone you love.
Angie is a tough kid, stronger than her Dad is, I can tell you that for sure. She has a big heart, and a beautiful personality. Lucky for her she got her Mom's looks too. :) She never complains even though I know she hurts, and I know this is hard on her. Can you imagine trying to sleep with a halo on your head? She'll survive this, and be a better person for having been through it. I've always said; "What doesn't kill us, just makes us stronger." But we do still need someone to lean on, once in a while.
I've pulled myself out of the muck-n-mire, after battling alcohol most of my life. It hasn't been all that long ago I was homeless and living on the street. The memories of that are still very vivid in my mind. I would love to go visit Angie, but 1700 miles is a long way to travel when you are broke. I can still barely take care of myself, let alone the needs of someone who has been in such a tragic, devistating accident as my daughter. I'm not one to beg for myself, but right now, I'm pleading for your help for Angie's sake.
I put this website together for Angie, in hopes that some of you can see her through my eyes. I haven't much else to offer, and at least I feel I'm doing something for her, as small a gesture as it is. It sure beats wringing one's hands in worry, hoping she would live, and over all the things that she will need in the coming months and years. I've done my share of that, wringing my hands worrying, these last few weeks. Enough for a lifetime. What little I have, I give her freely, with all the love in my heart.
I'm so very grateful that her life was spared and I get another chance to tell her; "I love you Angie".
Hope you can find it in your heart to help too.
Thank you for your prayers, and for reading this. God Bless!
Alan W. Hollingsworth
P.S.
I would like to share something with you that was sent to me by a dear friend and mentor. I do not think she would mind my using it here. That friend and mentor's name is Karen Ann Cappello - www.karencappello.com
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"Anything you do from the soulful self will help lighten the
burdens of the world. Anything. You have no idea what the smallest
word, the tiniest generosity can cause to be set in motion.
Be outrageous in forgiving. Be dramatic in reconciling. Mistakes?
Back up and make them as right as you can, then move on.
Be off the charts in kindness. In whatever you are called to,
strive to be devoted to it in all aspects large and small. Fall
short? Try again. Mastery is in increments, not in leaps.
Be brave, be fierce, be visionary. Mend the parts of the world that
are "within your reach." To live this way is the most dramatic gift
you can ever give to the world. Consider yourselves assigned."
~Clarissa Pinkola Estes
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Thank you Karen :) Once again you've inspired me.
Here are a few comments I have received via email that I would also like to share.
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"Remember the wounds heal but the scars remain and life goes on.
I know I'm here and you will be too. Be a good loving father. Have courage and smile."
"... Life doesn't end after this....and neither do families.
Families are forever. Let that be the lighthouse shining through the fog."
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Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking.
It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.
I Corinthians 13:4-8
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