My Cousin's Story: Unpredictable Life & Unimaginable Loss

The unpredictability of life partly makes it is sweet and partly sad. Unfortunately, the lesson that we draw from life comes from the events of this uncertainty. The story of my cousin is one such event. A young bubbly, beautiful lady aged 21 got involved in a fatal accident on the A124 highway sending her to a coma. Though the Center for Disease and Prevention puts the automobile death statistic for 12-20-year-olds at 16,375 including a close relative into the figure is unimaginable. How regrettable it is my cousin is now part of the numbers. Her accident has brought with it lessons and altered my approach to life for the better.

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On that fateful day, I was coming from a movie when I received a call from my mother that I was needed at home. I quickly rushed home where I met parents waiting. The look on their face was confusing, they were grateful that I was alive but mentioned of my cousin having been involved in an accident. For the first time, I felt the world come to a stop. Overcome with questions and grief, I broke down. My father who could not withstand the atmosphere worked and started the care. We all headed to the hospital. At the hospital, the atmosphere was that of death. We signed in and were nurses, told us she had been taken to a high dependency unit and could only see her from through the front door.

The scene was straight out of a medical film. Five hours into her arrival, the doctors had successfully stabilized her and bandaged the injuries. She lay on the bed her legs hanging from a pole. Her arms were also plastered and the head was in a white Indian-styled turban. The care appeared intensive, judging from the thermometer they had placed on her mouth. Though, I could not see the graphing on the anesthetic machine the beeping was sickening. The beautiful lady had her face in scratches as if she had been in a boxing match. The police officer who appeared not to be in a hurry to deliver the accident news, finally did. He said that the car had flipped so many times that Mary had become disoriented before she sustained the concussion and was drifting in and out of consciousness. The witnesses who arrived immediately at the scene reported that she was in so much pain, that she later lost notice. Her friend was in the same car also sustained injuries. It was at this point that her mother enquired why she was not responding. The nurse delivered to her the most shocking part, she was in a coma.

In a revelation by her friend, they had been binge drinking that night at a party. Her friend recalled that she had opted to have a sleepover at a friend, when, Mary convinced her to drive home. What followed that mistake was a fatal accident sending her to a coma. Her parents, could, however, read more than a single overnight mistake. Mary was hard-headed and had been warned several times. Her very behavior was wanting and whenever she was warned she resorted to firing back verbally. Those of us close to her could witness of the carefree and reckless life she had turned to. She had chosen to live on the "fast lane". A string of lovers, night parties but well focused on her dream to be a journalist. Though her parents had separated, they had committed to raising her with love. Dedicating their time and resources to her. The car responsible for the regretful event, a white sedan, was a gift for her 20th birthday. From the accident, I have learned a lot.

I have learned of being grateful for life and making the correct choices. Going partying is not bad at all neither is having a lover. However, moderation is key. I have come to appreciate being in harmony with those around me. Listening to them, taking their advice and making the appropriate decision that does not harm others or myself. I have learned that accidents do happen. I have promised to avoid drunk driving, to always wear a seatbelt and to not drive recklessly. I have learned of the need to have wonderful family and friends. Mary's friend and family have always been supportive of her journey to recovery. Last week when I met her she had been taken out of ICU and is no longer in a coma. Her face bruises are healing and her beauty is returning. She is, however, cross-eyed and we did not see eye to eye. In this condition, it is surprising whether she will look forward to anything.

This experience shows that we ought to be grateful for our present. Leaving every moment and making the correct decision. Turning into a mere statistic of automobile accident survivor come at great cost but is preventable especially among the youth. Listening to patent's advice could easily overturn an oncoming fateful event in a period of juvenile prosperity.