Three weeks ago, our oldest child awakened us with a 4 a.m. phone call to tell us he was in our local emergency room and was about to be transported to the burn center at Medical College of Virginia in Richmond. That was a scary phone call and one no parent wants to receive. Fortunately, his burn was relatively minor and he is healing just fine.
Last week he made his follow visit to the burn center. As he and his father sat in the waiting room, they were surrounded by patients who had been severely burned. My son later told me that he felt a bit foolish even being there when his burn was so minor.
In the waiting room were two men who had been engulfed in flames after a wood chipper they were welding blew up. The other two men with them were also severely burned and one of them did not survive the ordeal. After extinguishing the flames, one of the men had to place a 911 call. When help arrived, the men had to be transported 2 miles on foot to reach the helicopter that would take them to the burn center. The accident occurred last May and the men are still in considerable pain. They have had numerous surgeries and face more in the future.
Among the other patients was a child whose face had been burned. As a parent, it is horrifying to think about a child being severely burned and perhaps disfigured for life. This experience has made us very grateful that our son’s injury was so minor in comparison. It also reminds us that horrific accidents happen everyday. We never know when we or our loved ones will be involved in an accident that can alter their lives.
Our prayers go out to those who deal daily with the after effects of a severe accident. And we are grateful to God that He daily watches over and protects our loved ones. If such a tragedy should befall us, we are confident that God will be faithful to walk through the difficult times with us.
Susan's Reflections 