180 Degree Turn

Written by Donna

My life had been pretty routine for years. I was a wife, a mother to two grown sons and a full-time medical professional. I was physically active and very involved in our community and our church. I had lived in Washington State my entire life . Then my husband received an amazing job offer in Arizona. We were moving. 

While I looked at this as a new adventure, there was so much to get done in a short amount of time. Sell a house, buy a house, look at employment possibilities for myself, sort through and pack the house we had lived in for 25+ years. My to-do list seemed endless but items were getting checked off at a reasonable rate.

Three days before we were to move all that changed. My husband Bob and I were at our local recycle center dumping a load of scrap wood and metal. Without even realizing it I was falling 4 feet off the tailgate of the truck onto the concrete pavement below. I landed on my left side and screamed in pain. I could not move. Bob hadn’t seen me fall and was terrified at the sound of my blood curdling cry. Immediately, a recycle center employee ran over to see what happened. When she realized I couldn’t move she called 911. Now I have worked in the medical field for over 40 years with the last 22 years in orthopedics. When I realized I couldn’t move my left leg I started to self diagnose. Blame it on the job! I knew I broke my left hip.

The ambulance arrived in minutes. The EMT’s called the hospital, got an IV started and very carefully lifted me into the ambulance. Amazingly, I don’t remember the ambulance ride at all. After arriving at the emergency room and having X-rays taken, the ER physician confirmed my assumption. My left hip was fractured. Surgery was scheduled for the following morning. What I didn’t realize was the severity of the fracture. This was not going to be an easy recovery.

After surgery I was told I would have to stay in the hospital for at least a week. During that time I worried so much about Bob and his new job. He contacted his new boss and explained the situation. He was very understanding and delayed Bob’s start date. When I was finally discharged and got home more worries mounted. We had sold our house and needed to be out in a matter of days. I was unable to physically help with any of the final details. I wasn’t even allowed to travel when Bob needed to leave. Would I need to go to a rehab facility? If so, for how long? 

My routine life had turned 180° in a matter of seconds. Now I was in terrible pain, could barely walk even with the assistance of a walker and needed somewhere to stay as I began my recovery. Bob would be driving to Arizona soon. Where was God in all this? Why did this happen to me? Will I recover? Why did this happen now? I know we have all asked these questions at some point in our lives. I didn’t have any answers but I never stopped praying. 

I wholeheartedly trust in the power of prayer and believe that God has called me to be a prayer warrior. For many years I have been blessed when people ask me to pray for them, their loved ones, their intentions, etc.

I would be honored to do the same for you. If you have anything on your mind or weighing heavy on your heart please feel free to submit a prayer request on my Prayer Request page found on the main Menu. I promise it will remain in my strictest confidence.

“Pray without ceasing.”       1Thessalonians 5:17

23 thoughts on “180 Degree Turn”

  1. I honestly do not know how you got through all of that- well, yes, I do, you prayed and believed. Powerful. The fact that you completely uprooted from Spokane and you and I had talked about retiring somewhere nice with a swimming pool! I am really happy for you and Bob. Whether a simple text with words of hope, a simple prayer in times of need, it all works. I thank you for the many prayers you have done for me. I pray for you too- for good health and happiness for your new venture there in Arizona. Although I know it was a very difficult time after breaking your hip and trying to get settled, you got through it day by day. Thank you for sharing your story and giving us all support- prayer is powerful and I appreciate you including me 🙂

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    1. Thank you for your kind words. Yes, prayer is powerful. It can give us strength when we are weak, guidance when we are lost and hope when we feel desperate. That is why I want to pray for others; in hopes my prayers will help them.

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  2. I’m so glad you shared this with us. I have had probably one of the most challenging years of my life. Lost my job I had for over 10 years, my boyfriend (whom I share a home with plus my 2 kids) months after me lost his job he had also had for over 10 years. A potential custody battle with one of my kids dads. It’s been so much and I’ve asked God “why” so many times. I’ve learned over the years to try and remain loving towards our lord. I repeat always to my self John 13:7. I look forward to your blog.

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    1. I’m so very sorry to hear about your difficult year. You, your boyfriend and your children will be in my prayers. It’s always hard to understand why painful things happen. But believing that His plan is always the best for us and trusting Him can give us hope. John 13:7 can make us stronger.

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  3. Blessings to you, Donna, on this new journey. Thank you for sharing your gifts of prayer and faith. May you reach those in need and those who simply need affirmation in knowing our God. You have always been a great guiding light for so many.

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    1. Teri, Thank you for your comment. Your words of “being a great guiding light for so many” affirms my belief that this is the right direction for me. I hope you and your friends continue to follow my blog.

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  4. Oh Donna!❤️your faith has lifted me in such hard times in my life all your positive smiles thoughts and prayers touched my heart so closely, I admire your strength courage and love for the big man upstairs and I know I speak for all of us when I say that you are very loved and mean the world to us all! I am so thankful you are in my life and I’ll always remember our crazy laughs together and always ‘remember I told you “😂😂 thank you for your strong guidance and prayers my dear dear friend❤️

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    1. Jessica, your kind words truly touch my heart. I too, am very thankful for all our laughs and fun times. I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends.

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  8. Your story of your faith and prayer is wonderful-knowing how much prayer is needed in our lives is important and inspiring. Thank you for sharing and praying for me and my family.

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  9. What a shocking and traumatic turn of events. If you can make it through something like that, in the middle of a cross-country move, that is definitely a testament to the power of prayer and faith. I was not raised with religion, but somehow found an internal knowing that God takes care of me, and long ago developed a daily prayer practice that has sustained me. At times prayer was the only way I got through the hardest days of my life. Thank you for being willing to pray for us all. Living prayer is powerful beyond understanding. ❤️

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    1. Michele, Your words touch my heart. Thank you. I am so happy you have found daily prayer to be a source of strength in good days as well as hard days. I believe so strongly in the power of prayer and it is my pleasure to pray for all who ask.

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  10. Donna,
    Your faith helped you come through that difficult time. Your new journey has started. I miss you, but know you are always there.
    Maddie

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    1. Maddie, I miss you too and also know our friendship will endure the distance between us. Thank you for your encouragement as my new journey begins.

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  11. I have seen your prayers at work, and I know you are a prayer warrior!! Reading your story it still brings tears to my eyes. I heard something from my pastor the other day that applies. The saying that “God wont give you more than you can handle” is incorrect. He will give you more than you can carry, because He wants you to ask Him for help.

    Prayer for my kids to be closer to God ❤

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