Train and car wreck

Have not written my blog for so long as I am sure you have heard about the train & car wreck my family was in. Now, I finally have time to write it down..

My parents came over to visit me and CT on Tues. They purposely come during this period to celebrate my birthday for me. So anyway, on Friday, we planned to go for a game of golf at Magnolia Grove which is one of the golf courses in Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. So, the golf course is quite nice and is near my apartment. So, we left at about 640am to reach there at 7am for the tee-off.

Mum did not play as she does not want to. So, she just hopped onto the buggee with us as I played with my dad 18-holes of golf at "The Falls" course. It is a beautiful course with lake and waterfalls. I enjoyed playing as it was my first time playing on the green since I do not have my license yet. BUt in US, anybody can play..so, I took the opportunity to play and accompany my dad as I know he is very excited to come to US to play. He even bought a new putter (costing few hundred US bucks)the day before to play. The sun was very hot, so after 11 holes, me and mum were complaining already and were starving. So, we hung in there to complete the game and I recommended to go to "Cici's Pizza" for a pizza buffet which costs only US$4. So, my parents were all looking forward to it.

We parked our buggee back at the parking space and my dad went to get the car. I waited with mum for my dad to get it. Dad took a pretty long time as he was washing his golf shoes and changing into his normal sport shoes.

So, finally, dad came with the car and was driving out of the golf course. There is a railway track all along outside the golf course. Actually, the first day we came, we reccee the place to find out where it is and how much is the rate. I already noticed the railway track and did want to ask dad to always stop first and check before driving off. However, in my head, I know I should not nag as my dad should know best as I always nag and people always say I nag too much and to just let them drive. SO, I kept my mouth shut...

So, when we were driving out of the golf course, we came by the tracks again..dad slowed down and the front part of his car entered the tracks when we saw the train coming...Mum spotted first and screamed in the car! I still remembered how loudly she screamed and how me and dad were panicking. I was trying to put on the reverse gear for dad as only the front part car was out..but I couldnt as when I reached out for the gear, the train smashed our car and the next thing I knew, I saw myself turning topsy turvy and hitting a lot of things before it landed on my side of the car. I was beside my dad who was driving. When the car was flipping, in my head, I was thinking, "I cannot believe that this is happening. We were supposed to have a great lunch. Is this true??"

My side window was smashed on the ground as the car landed on my side. When the car stopped, I shouted for my mum as I already saw my dad who was still beside me. I shouted, "Mum mum, where are you?? where are you??" After that, I suddenly thought I would be the only survivor..and I was slightly frightened and shocked cos I cannot believe that it is happening. I tried to crawl out of the car through a small opening at the back and managed to squeeze through when I saw mum on the grass patch wailing in pain as her leg was hurting. She kept saying, "What happened? Why am I here? How are you? How is daddy?"

So I squeezed back into the car to check on dad and he was dangling down from his seat as the car was turned to the right side. So, the driver side(left side) was on top. So, my dad was hung upside down as his seat belt held on to his legs. I could see him using his hands to reach out for something to pull himself up and he was telling me that he wanted to get up. I told him that I did not dare to touch him in case he has a broken neck or something like that. But he said, "it is ok. I want to get up." I could see he needed to get up as his nose and mouth were coming out blood continously. The whole car smelt of blood. So, I carefully supported his neck and shoulder on my lap and hands. However, the weight was overbearing and I had to slowly let go of his head and neck as the fireman came.

I kept telling dad to just pray to God as only Jesus can help us now. Then I told him to hang in there. I could not believe my once healthy and active dad looking like that. I could hardly recognise him. I was not crying but all I could think was to support my family and encourage my parents. So, I went back to mum and prayed with her. I also went to find all my valuables and grabbed hold of it. I saw all the golf clubs being thrown out everywhere and I managed to catch hold of my camera bag with my wallet inside and my mum's handbag many metres away from the car. So, I took it with me. All of us were without shoes. Somehow, we lost our shoes. After a while, I found one side on a grass patch and I took it and wear it on one foot.

I stayed with mum as the fireman tried to get pass the train to our side as the train was blocking. The train driver walked all the way here and released the latch of a part of train so that it can split up for the fireman, ambulance and police to go past it to rescue my dad.

The ambulance took me and mum to Springhill Memorial Hospital while the firemen were still trying to save dad in the car. Mum was put on a stretcher and I was beside her the whole time in the ambulance. Mum kept asking me the same questions over and over again as she cannot remember what happened. I kept asking her to trust in the Lord and stay calm.

Once we reached the emergency ward, I was being asked a lot of questions by the admin while mum was being tended by the nurses. The person asked me about details of me,mum and dad. They also managed to call CT for me and I talked to him. CT was shocked but calm. So I told him to come here now to be with me. Then, I waited for quite a while before the nurse asked me to change into something for me to go for X ray tests. So I changed and rested on a bed. While resting, they took me to the X ray room to test for my hips and knees as it hurts. Then, they wheeled me back to the original spot and wait for their results.

Then I saw CT and Kok Fong. I cried when I saw him and started telling him what happened. He noticed my head had a bump so he told the doctor to do a CT scan for me in case of anything. So, I went for a CT scan. In between all the scans, I waited for hours for the nurses to bring me to the place for scan. While waiting, all I did was pray to Jesus for healing to take place and told Him to be with my dad and mum.

After the CT scan, the doctor cleared it and said everything is normal. Then, I went next door to see my mum and she kept asking me the same questions. She could not open her eyes as she said it was very umcomfortable. I told her to rest and just pray.

Shortly after, the doctor told me that I can be discharged and gave me prescription to go to a pharmacy to get my medicine. Pam and Jim (CT's colleagues) visited me and Pam comforted me. I felt so loved. She told me that she will help me get medicine for me. So, I changed back into my bloody pants and shirt and went to the waiting room where CT was. CT was with his colleagues, including Bob. Bob is a great guy..he was the one who invited us to his church and has been a blessing to me and CT. He hugged me the first thing he saw me and comforted me. I was very touched.

I told mum that I would come back to visit her and told her not to worry.So I left and got back to my apartment feeling quite sad as I returned home to a quiet place without my parents. So, when I was bathing, I just cried and could not believe that this had happened. CT was with me and comforted me. After changing, I went to see my dad at University of South Alabama hospital. He was sent there by helicopter from the scene of accident.

When I went there, I was sitted at the waiting room to wait for dad as he went for some scan. After that, I saw him being wheeled past me and I saw him with all the tubes..The doctor told me to wait for him to come out. So, I was in the waiting area with all of CT's colleagues. CT's colleagues brought porridge for me and my mum. So, I ate some just to fill my stomach a little. Bob also came to visit my dad and bought a sandwich for us and Pam got us an encouragement card, a nice journal and a bag full of snacks for me and CT.

I finally got to see dad and of course, I teared when I first saw him. He was highly sedated so he could not respond to me. After that, I called my bro which was sat morning about 8am Singapore time and when I broke the news to bro, he started crying... I calmed him down and told him not to worry as God does everything for a purpose. So, I also told him that CT's company will pay for his flight here and asked him to let me know soon.

That very day, I slept quite well as I was very tired..but was aching all over. So, I could not move much. I have many bruises on my body and could not walk properly. But other than that, I feel so blessed to be alive as I thought I would die when the train hit me. Thank you Lord.