~MY ANGEL WAS WITH ME AGAIN THIS DAY~

~Everything was fine, life couldn't be better on May 11th, 1984 at 6:15 P.M. My wife and I were just about home in our Ford Pinto. it was raining hard. Ahead rounding the curve came a large Plymouth Station Wagon hydroplaning on top of the rain water, sideways in our lane of traffic, HEAD ON at 70+MPH in a 25MPH zone and I was slowed to about 10MPH and breaking to make my turn into the driveway.~

~My God we are too young to die! It was like slow motion. How many times has this happened to me while on patrol when I had to drive up on the sidewalk or the shoulder of the road to get out of the way of a drunk driver? This time it was not going to work, he was comming too fast!~

~I yelled to my wife, "hang on" and drove off the road into the ditch, SIX FEET off the blacktop and came to a complete stop 222 feet from our driveway when we were struck on the driver's front and down the side of our car, taking the gas filler tube and gascap off the gas tank and making my side of the car one piece of torn, twisted metal. We had our seatbelts on but I recall being thrown around in the seatbelt.~

~I could not understand why my left ear felt on fire, my head hurt and I had a terrible headache (it had slammed against the door window) but I could not feel anything from my jaw to my feet!!! My wife was gone, she had run to the house on her injured knee to call for the police and amblance. My 12 year old step-son tried to get his .22 cal. rifle from the gunrack in my bedroom where it and the bullets were kept LOCKED separately. He had heard the crash and came down to look. (KEEP THOSE GUNS LOCKED UP).~
~My wife had said, "the driver is not going to stop, the large car was going from sholder to sholder down the street she said. After four blocks of this it turned around and came back. My fingers and toes started to tingle, it worked it's way up to my jaw, the PAIN, my God the PAIN, how could anything hurt this much? Let me die! Stop the PAIN! it was unbearable in my low back, neck and left elbow (where it hit the armrest)~

~The driver, who we knew, tried to open what had once been my door, yelling, "don't call the police or amblance, I will take him to the hospital". He was staggering, falling drunk, slobbering, slurred voice, bloodshot watering eyes, and a breath that could make you drunk, all typical signs. I called out to him, "don't touch me", he said "I'm sorry, I'm in a hurry I'm going to be late to be installed CHAPLAIN at "The Eagles Club". He also said, "I tried to stop but my car was out in control, I thought I was going to rollover."~

~This once had been a fine young man UNTIL he started drinking, I would find him jobs but he would not apply, he had no income BUT his girlfriend was the barmaid and her mother the manager of "The Club", he was drunk seven days/nights a week.~

~I could hear the sirens coming through the ringing in my ears, the driver went through the passengers door into my backseat TO PULL ME OUT of my car, the police took him out and handcuffed him. As he had NO INSURANCE and he was determined to take me to the hospital and could have paralyzed me in the process. I latter learned he blew a .27 on the breathalyzer a .10 is legally drunk in Washington State (.08 in July of 1998).He was on his way to his ONE day in jail, I would soon be on my way to the hospital, BUT not for one day, a career ruined and a life of PAIN all because this drunk driver thought he was "the best driver in the world" as they all do. I was MADD...~

~The ambulance arrived and they were preparing to stabilize and remove me from the car. NOW picture this: a 6'1", 195 pound man in PAIN, in a little PINTO with only the passengers door to go thru, over the stickshift console, after being placed on a backboard and removed! I begged for a shot for the pain, but it can not be given because of the shock and the NEED for the PAIN so the doctors can tell what is wrong when they examine you.~

~Well I ended up over the years having spinal fusions (13),ALL of my neck and three in my low back and the nerves & ligiments put back togather in my left elbow, I have two more swolen disks in my low back pushing on the nerve roots "that are not ready for surgery" my insurance company says, but they don't feel the PAIN day and night. I told the surgeon he should have put in zippers inplace of stiches!. He is about to retire BUT my insurance company put his daughter through medical school in Europe so she will be doing the next one, funny but I can't laugh.~

~The drunk driver? He got his RIGHT to a FREE lawyer, the local newspaper was running a series on "The Young Drunk Driver", the lawyer came into court with the artical highlighted in red and you would swear they were writing about this man, he said he could not get a impartial jury, they plea bargined down to Reckless Endangerment (not a traffic violation) and he's NOT a drunk driver.~

~Twelve days after he hit me he was arrested for drunk driving (.23) going 57/35 MPH zone, rounding a blind curve on the hiway in the oncoming lane, still NO INSURANCE and guess what? same free lawyer, same plea bargin!~

~Three months later, same free lawyer, same plea bargin.. WE ARE TOUGH ON DRUNK DRIVER'S ???? DON'T THE VICTIM'S HAVE RIGHTS TOO ????~
~Oh and by the way, in my photo that's not fat, that's a BACKBRACE. That was one day a angel was with me, thank God.~

~On Feb. 25th. 1999, I had my THIRD spinal fusion operation on my neck(my whole neck is fused now), the pain had been too much and my left arm and hand just about useless from another ruptured disk pushing on nerves, if you have had one or had the operation you know what I am going through and the pain and immobilization I have had for five months with the brace on while the vertibras fuse together. DAMM the drunk drivers! Now if they could only stop the never ending pain in my low back from the two bulged disks pushing on the nerve roots.~

~On March 19th. 2001 I had a cirvical disk lamindectomy and bone spurs removed that were pushing on the nerves to my arms and hands causing extream pain and them being numb and tingling all the time, the Nuro Surgeon entered through both sides of the rear of my neck. More pain, when will it ever stop, the pain and surgeries? it is so depressing I must not give up or loose my faith...~
~On December 2nd. 2002 I had two lumbar lamendectomies in my low back as the nerves to my right hip, groin,thigh and femer were in so much pain as well as my low back from bone and scar tissue from other fusion surgeries were squeezing off the nerves and I could hardly walk. More pain and suffering. And I still cannot stand for a minute or two or walk very far. The doctor said I will need another lumbar fusion in the future and all from a drunk driver.~
~Prayers poured in from around the world from friends and cyber-friends. This was my rough and painful time again. The Lord has truly blessed me with you, my good friends,our prayers have been answered once more and His Light has shown through for me to continue my causes in these pages. PLEASE take the time to read them and send your friends over, for through us injuries can be prevented and lives saved. Be sure to see my MADD Page~


~The pain in my low back, both hips, femers and legs has gotten worse in 2002-03 my legs go numb I can hardly walk or stand, my legs go numb and my knees give way. I also now have Restless Leg Syndrome where my legs jerk, always moving beyond my control, terible pain and the feeling of worms crawling inside both legs, test and more test are done and my doctor said surgery will not work, I'm sent to a Neurologist who does test that reveal the nerves are dying in my low backand my legs go numb and I cannot walk far, he sends me to a Rheumatologist that does test that show I do not have rheumatisum but I have ex-rays, CAT Scans, and fullbody bone scans and am sent to the Pain Management Clinic for test and am given percriptions for very strong pain medication to make me comfortable day and night, some work for awhile and then I am given stronger ones but they make me so dopey I sleep all the time and can not funtion. I wait for an appointment with another Orthopedic who goes over my records, looks at the ex-rays and examines me and puts me in the hospital where a mylogram with dye and CAT Scan are done. MORE BAD NEWS...results show a mass of scar tissue from prior surgeries pushing on and around the nerves to my low back, hip, groin and legs. Nothing can be done for me as IF surgery could be done the scar tissue would only grow back BUT the surgeon could/would cut a nerve or spinal cord that could not be seen in the scar tissue and I would be paralized or could die.~

~In 2004 The Pain Clinic puts me on another medication that keeps me awake and I can think and funtion again and I am precribed a electric wheelchair so I can get around and not fall and injure myself. Is this the end of it.? In 2005 the pain was breaking through before it was time to take another pill for cronic pain and I am given another pain pill to take at those times, I am beginning to awake from the pain at night as well as doubling the dose of meds for Restless Leg Syndrome.~

~I start using a cane to take pressure off my leg, then a walker I and sit down on when I can walk no more. The Pain Doctor begins giving me injections in my lowback spine they only work for about 2-3 hours and the pain meds are not helping much anymore I soon will have to start using my electric wheelchair but I want to walk and stand!~

~In July 2006, my dipping legs gave way in the Ortopedic's office and I fell from my walker and I had to have surgery for torn cartledge and ligiments in my right knee.~

~About October 2006, the "lighting" starting hitting me in my lumbar spine, the pain is unbarable even through the strong pain and I can not strighten up from the waist without my wife's help, Will it ever end? It is so very depressing. The LORD is surely testing me and I WILL go on.~

~"WHEN I LINGER IN HIS PRESENTS"~

~Sometimes when shadows linger And darkness veils the night, When pain obscures my vision And things aren't going right.~

~When the world around me crumbles And a friend cannot be found, When tomorrow holds no promise And life has got me down.~

~When I am at my lowest And I can bear no more, I cry to God in anguish He greets me at the door.~

~He gently whispers to me My soul has found release, My troubles start to perish My worries seem to cease.~

~The hardships I have known Seem to vanish with the wind, When I seek His loving Spirit And I humbly ask Him in.~

~All the turmoil that surrounds me Seems to fade like shifting sand, When I linger in His presence And He gently takes my hand.~

~Author Unknown~

~The above picture, of a car accident, is one of several that were taken by a professional police photographer. After developing the pictures of this accident scene, the officer found what looked to be some type of a "figure" in one particular picture. Thinking it was a problem with his camera or its film, he preformed tests on both. They checked out PERFECTLY! Take a look .....Oh, I forgot to mention .....the folks in this car .....WALKED AWAY WITHOUT SO MUCH AS A SINGLE SCRATCH. THEY WERE NOT EVEN SHAKEN UP! DO YOU BELIEVE IN ANGELS~ ? ? ? ?

~PAINFUL TRIAL~ Peter alerted us 1 PETER 4:12, he said-- "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you."
Peter assures us again in 1 PETER 5:10-- "And the God of all grace, Who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."
~STEPPING STONES~

~The Lord came to me like a dream one day and asked, "why do you sorrow?" I answered, "Lord my life is so full of pain, I can't face one more tomorrow."~

~The Lord sat down beside me, and gently took my hand. He said, "Let me explain to you and then you'll understand.~

~Each sorrow is a stepping stone you must surmount each day, And every stepping stone you climb is a sorrow that's passed away.~

~The road of life is a mountainside, with crevices in which to be caught, But as you struggle on your way, I the Rock, will lend support.~

~Every stepping stone you climb, makes spirit and heart grow strong. Exercising character and faith, this road seems painful and long.~

~The way is paved with stepping stones, to uplift your heart and soul, Though difficult they aid your way, to a City paved with gold.~

~I know that you are tired, for I too have walked this way, My sorrows did they multiply, but I cleared many stones away.~

~I left my rock to lift you up, I left behind my story. To give you strength to make your climb, to that special place in glory.~

~And never fear, the Rock is here, You'll never climb this mountain alone Surmount life's sorrows, continue on For they are but stepping stones.~

Author Unknown~

~SOMETIMES I MUST WALK IN THE VALLEY~
~I Know I must run this race real slow...... Because I have so far to go.~

  ~There are times when my journey has me down, But I stop and think about my heavenly crown.~

  ~Sometimes I walk in the Valley I have to keep going through all my pain. Cause in the end I have so much to gain.... Sometimes I walk in the Valley,~

  ~Father God, I know I will endure and make it through, because I can always reach out and depend on you. Sometimes I walk in the Valley.~

  ~I know everyday is not going to be easy for me, but in Jesus name, am claiming the Victory! Because Sometimes I MUST WALK in the Valley>~

~Author Unknown~

 

~THE INVISIBLE CROSS~
By Tim Glass © Copyright Glass 1999
I would like to dedicate this to Cathy the woman that open the door for me that closed on my writing after I was hit by a drunk driver. The Doctor's and Therapists who never gave up on me and believed in me. Thank You

I had often seen them, they line our roadsides from the east coast to the west. Symbolic crosses left behind to mark the loss of a loved one, the pain and the suffering. Still it is that invisible cross that is left out of this roadside portrait. What cross you may ask? Why it is the millions of people that have lost their lives and are amongst the living. Can't be you say, think again. Just because someone is able to survive a wreck from a drunk driver does not mean he did not lose the life he or she once knew before the wreck. Tell that to the man who can no longer read, the woman who can not even walk, the student who can no longer write his own name, the child that will never be able to play or the silent man who sits alone and can not speak. For every cross that lines our roadside there are five more invisible crosses beside it. We are there, our lives as we once knew them stopped the day you hoisted that bottle up to your lips then took control of your car without regard of anyone but yourself.

Saterday 03-21-99 West Virginia

~Your website really touched my heart. My family and I were hit head-on by a drunk driver. It was on Friday the 13th of March--1998.~

~Even though it has been 1 year since the wreck, we are still picking up the pieces. There was my 12 yr old son who recieved 10 stitches in his eyelid, my 3 yr old son is forever scarred by the memory of a car crashing into the window beside him. Although the glass shattered on him, he was protected by an angel and was not hurt. I had my 9 month baby with me who was not injured. My husband has a back injury. I have a neck injury. My father-in-law has a shoulder injury and my mother-in-law almost lost her life. She was in CCU for 2 weeks before she was put into a regular room.~

~We were lucky. I wish there were stiffer penalties for drunk drivers. These drunk drivers fled the scene. They didn't even care if they injured or killed someone. The police know who did it. But to this day, the drunk driver has not served 1 day injail.~

Sincerely, Anna Wilson

Sat. May 8,l999 Kentucky

May 15, 1999
Hello Lloyd,

You are truly a walking testimony for the grace of God. I am sorry you have had to endure so much pain in your life. Just think what this means! You my dear new friend have much to accomplish and give to this world or you would have gone home to our Father a long long time ago. I know that in living with constant pain and the weight this world can bring it can make life here seem unbearable at times but when those times are in front of you remember that you are here on a SPECIAL MISSION for God and you are spreading so much to others in His name that when your mission is over you will wonder at all you were able to accomplish. I cannot help but wonder if having your Near Death Experience at an early age if you have not had contact with Your Angel. I've no doubt your Angel is on duty Helping your soul to grow and do our Father's work. I do love to hear from people all around the world, but I must tell you that when someone who is male signs my guest book it always surprised me at the sweet and dear things they say. Why, well I guess that there just isn't enough males out there willing to pour out their feelings and let someone they don't know, know that they care. You are truly a Blessing and a Loving Soul. Keep looking inward dear friend, because that is where you will find any and all answers that you may seek.~

Bless You, Tammy

ABOUT MADD HOLIDAY DRINKING & DRIVING MADD CHAT ROOM

CrossDaily.com
Awesome Christian Sites	Click Here Vote For This Site

~More Below~

VIEW MY OLD GUESTBOOK

LLOYD PETERSON

This site is a member of National Group Rides And Designated Drivers'"Link Around The World"
to help spread the word about the dangers of drunk driving.
You too can show your concern by copying and pasting this link into your web site andJOINING!

< /center>

	This Pages That Make A Difference Site Owned By LLOYD PETERSON. Want to join Pages That Make A Difference?
[Skip Prev] [Prev] [Next] [Skip Next] [Random] [Next 5] [List Sites]

---

~MORE BELOW~

This Survivors Of Drunk Drivers WebRing site is owned by LLOYD PETERSON. Proud to be Alive [Previous] [Random] [Next] [Skip] [Next 5] [List of Sites] Click here for info on how to join Survivors Of Drunk Drivers

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page