Christie was taken out in a chair. It was the only position that she could bare because of her injuries I I did not really realize what had happened until I awoke the next day in UAB hospital.  I had undergone major surgery during the night on my back. It was a few days later before I talked to the doctor and was told my paralysis may be permanent.  I also learned that Christie was in the hospital with her own injuries.  Margaret had a concussion and small skull fracture but was released to friends of ours.  John-Michael had a broken leg and was in an almost full-body cast for awhile.  Nathan had serveral broken bones. Arms, legs. He also had a bad head injury.  He had been taken to the pediatric ICU of Childrens' Hospital. This was very heartbreaking -- our 8 year old son was critically injured and the prognosis for his recovery was very grim.  He was on all the machines and IVs. At this point, I have to give a "thank you' to the paramedics and ambulance drivers that took me back and forth between the hospitals to see Nathan.  That means more than you can ever know.

On April 17th, Christie and I were told that Nathan's condition would not improve and that they needed to know what to do regarding life support.  I remember praying and asking God to make this decision, because this was not one that Nathan's mother or I could make.  Of course we wanted him to live -- we couldn't bare the thought of losing Nathan.

On April 18th, Nathan died there in the NICU.  I was broken hearted, yet as I laid there in my hospital bed, God spoke to me and gave me a peace that I did not know was possible. He gave me the following scriptures from Rev. 21:1.  Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and first earth had passed away.  Also, there was no more sea.

2.  Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

3.  And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with me, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people.  God Himself will be with them and be their God."

4.  And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.  There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."

God TRULY sustained us through this time and He carried me, beyond the shadow of a doubt.  Here I was -- my child had died; the doctors said that I would never walk again; everything we owned was gone -- house, cars, etc.; I wondered how I would be able to support my family from a wheelchair.  And not too long after I got out of the hospital my Christie and I seperated.  What would happen now?