Читать книгу HOPE BEYOND TRAUMA - Cynthia Smith - Страница 4

We had no idea yet if Tanya was going to survive. The social worker suggested that Tim and Terry should come and visit their sister and say their goodbyes, just in case. We warned them about what to expect, explaining what Tanya looked like surrounded by the monitors, tubes and the respirator. The boys handled it well in spite of the scene. They were understandably shocked and upset by the view of their big sister in such a critical state. However, my focus was mostly on Tanya’s hopeful recovery. I probably did not take enough time to comfort them and help them face their own trauma.

In the days that followed the accident, we heard contrasting versions about the accident and what had happened. It was not clear how the pickup truck had lost control and ended up in the canal.

Honestly, those details did not matter much to me, since nothing could change the tragic reality we were now facing. Maria was gone and her family would be mourning the loss of their precious daughter for the rest of their lives. Another sad fact was that Mr. and Mrs. Lawson had lost their son in an accident on the same stretch of road just two years earlier. Nothing, no investigation or knowing the details, was going to bring Maria back or change the severity of Tanya’s injuries.

Nonetheless, here are the details of the accident as we learned them:

On that fateful day, Tanya, Maria and Jerry had drove down to a local burger place for lunch. Since Jerry’s car had broken down, they accepted a lift back to school from Bob. (Some names have been changed)

Bob and his girlfriend, Sharon welcomed Tanya and her friends into their pickup truck. Maria and Tanya playfully competed to ride in the cab, and Maria won, riding in the front seat next to Sharon. Tanya and Jerry jumped into the back for what was supposed to be a short one-mile ride back to Socorro High School.

Along the way, the pickup reportedly fishtailed off the road, toppled and ended up with the passenger side down in a nearby canal. Bob and Jerry managed to get out unharmed. Sharon, seated in the middle of the cab, suffered a badly fractured leg. Tanya was forcefully ejected from the bed of the truck.

The passenger side of the pickup, with Maria still in it, was underwater in the canal. Despite the rescuers’ prompt intervention, they could not get her out of the cab in time. Maria Lawson had drowned.

Our family met Maria just the weekend before, when Tanya invited her to spend the night at our home. She talked very lovingly about her family and how her parents were very much in love still today. I was not used to a teenager talking about their family with such high regard. I remember being so impressed with her and looking forward to getting to know her.

A few days later Maria, just moments earlier so vibrant and full of life with a future full of hope, was gone. The accident sent a shock wave through the entire community. It had been witnessed by many teachers and students returning from lunch break that day.