On November 26, 2002, when I was seven years old in first grade, my mom, my grandma, my unborn brother, and I were on our way to my school. The roads were covered with black ice. My grandma was driving, and Mom was in the passenger seat next to her while I was in the middle of the back seat. Dawson, my unborn brother was in my mom’s belly. Mom looked like she was about to pop, which she was, because she was nine months along. She was supposed to go in that morning to get induced, but she didn’t want to miss my parent-teacher conference. For that reason she changed her appointment time to 5 p.m.

We were on Ayersville Avenue traveling a little under the speed limit because the roads were so bad. Abby, a high school girl, was driving home from basketball practice. It was her first year driving in the winter. She didn’t do anything wrong, but she lost control of her heavy white car. The last part I remember was hearing my mom say, “Alissa, Honey, sit back and close your eyes.”

I woke up to my mom yelling out unconsciously, “Alissa. Alissa. Alissa. Baby.” I told her I was okay, and I asked her if she was okay. There was no answer. I asked my grandma, “Granny, are you okay?” again no answer. This point I was more scared than ever before because I couldn’t move my neck, and there was blood everywhere.

A man from outside the car called for me to come to him. I told him, “I can’t move, and my mom and Granny aren’t answering me.” We were pinned between Abby’s car and a telephone pole. The paramedics had to use the Jaws of Life to get us out. Mom first--then me--and last Grandma. They put Mom in a helicopter, and Grandma and I went in ambulances. My paramedic gave me a teddy bear to hold on to. I had a plastic facemask on, and I kept trying to take it off. He wouldn’t let me. Then I asked him where Mom and Granny where. He said, “They’re with other people trying to help them. Just close your eyes, Sweetie. You’ll be okay.” I did. I woke up next to my grandma in the hospital. She was sleeping still.

The nurse came in and asked, “Water or apple juice?”

I said, “Juice.” She brought me back a juice box of apple juice. I was so thirsty I chugged it. It was the best juice I’ve had. She came back a little later and said I could leave with my step mom. I walked out, and she held me, crying. I asked her, “What’s wrong?”

She answered, “I’m just happy you are okay.”

I said back to her, “Why wouldn’t I be? There were angles watching me the whole time, and don’t worry; Granny and Mom will be okay too,” she smiled.

We went home, and I went straight to bed. The next day I stayed home because it was Thanksgiving break. The next week I went back to school. I still had heard no word on Mom, but Grandma was okay and home. She just had a concussion and a broken wrist. People kept asking if I was okay, and I would say yes. Then one day after school my Aunt Patty came over and told me that Abby, the driver of the car, was okay. I was happy about that because she seemed nice. Then she showed me pictures of Dawson, my baby brother. I thought he was the cutest baby ever, but he was a stillborn, which meant he was born dead. She said, “He died in your mom’s belly, but Mommy is okay; and she’ll be home soon.” I ran to my dad’s room, and I cried for a while until my step mom came upstairs and calmed me down.

It was the middle of December before I was allowed to see my mom. I only saw her once at the hospital and only for an hour. She was so happy to see me she started crying. After I left, I went home with Dawson’s dad. I went and wrote Santa a letter saying, “Dear Santa, I’ve been very good this year, and all I want for Christmas is for Mom to come home before Christmas.”

It was the week of Christmas! Mom still wasn’t home yet. The days went by slowly, but finally it was Christmas Eve. I was sitting in my room watching TV, wishing my mom was home. Then I heard the door. I sprang from my bed; mom was home! I was so happy that we both started crying. I couldn’t sleep that night. I didn’t even care if I had any presents. I was just happy my mom was home. She wasn’t completely okay: she had a shattered hip and lost quite a bit of blood. I didn’t notice her injuries because I didn’t care. My mom came home!