Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Grati-Tuesday

Today it is easy to be grateful.   One of those "Big Deals" has just happened for which it is impossible NOT to give thanks.

Just a couple of weeks ago, my brother, Richard, became engaged to a young gal named Lindsey.  This weekend, the two of them traveled north to attend her mother's wedding (her father died about 2 years ago), and they decided to spend a couple extra days in the area, enjoying New York.

Yesterday morning as Rich and Lindsey were hiking near the Niagra River, she ventured out onto some boulders to feel the water.  As she stood up to hike back to the trail, she slipped and fell into the rapids below, and was carried away.  



Richard stood helplessly 30 feet above her, calling out for her to relax and not fight the current, while   Lindsey was submerged repeatedly and for some fairly extended times.  Richard knew that if he entered the water, he too would be swept away and he would be of no help to her.  Within a matter of seconds (10-20), a tour boat, designed to negotiate the rapids, came into view and Rich frantically flagged them down and finally made them understand that Lindsey was in the water. 

They eventually spotted her and, after what seemed like an eternity to him, they pulled her from the water into their boat and headed away.  Rich didn't know if Lindsey was dead or alive.  He had a 3 mile (45 minute) trek just to get back to his truck!  The park ranger had heard Rich's cries for help and met him near the accident site, requiring him to stay until the police showed up.  When they arrived, they told Richard that Lindsey was unconscious, but had been resuscitated and was currently alive.  

They took him to the nearest hospital, and subsequently drove him to the Buffalo Trauma Center to which she had been airlifted.  

The long and short of it is this: Lindsey is OK.  She spent the first several hours on a ventilator which the doctors removed late last night.  She breathed well on her own throughout the night into this morning.  This afternoon, Lindsey was released from the ICU.  She is still in the hospital, but appears to be fine, with no serious injuries and no brain damage, in spite of oxygen deprivation and the stoppage of her heart.  The doctors largely attribute her survival and quick recovery to her active lifestyle...she runs 3 miles per day.  


Their story has been reported on Good Morning America, New York news and St. Louis news today because, apparently, though many have been pulled from those rapids before, not a single one of them has lived to tell about it.  Not one. 


Obviously, Richard and Lindsey are still in shock, but are thankful that the Lord very mercifully spared her life.  Please join our family in giving thanks.


St. Louis Woman Falls Into Niagara Falls - KTVI

2 comments:

Cindy said...

Read and heard and interview with Lindsey earlier this evening. Very touched by her comments on how she was praying and making peace with God.

Knowing now of the connection to yo, makes the story even more precious. What an amazing story!

Anonymous said...

Oh my! So glad she is doing well...that sounds so terrible! Praise the Lord she has no lasting damage!