When Sarah Hetrick of Texas nearly lost her life in a car accident, her caring father paused his own life to give her unwavering support and care.
“He says he didn’t save my life, but without his strength supporting me, I definitely wouldn’t have had the courage to get through the ordeal,” wrote 36-year-old Hetrick in a touching Instagram post.
On May 27, Ms. Hetrick embarked on a summer journey driving from Austin to northern Montana, planning to go hiking and meet old friends. Just after midnight, she was north of Amarillo, only 30 minutes away from the town where she planned to stay that night, when a wrong-way driver crashed into her.
She regained consciousness in the wrecked car, feeling confused and shocked. The marketing professional realized she couldn’t feel her legs.
“I tried to move and climb out, but realized my legs were pinned under the door, and I couldn’t reach my phone,” she told The Epoch Times.
Despite the darkness and incredible fear, Hetrick described feeling the presence of God.
“I felt this peace,” she said, “because I knew God was with me. Even though I didn’t yet know what was wrong with my body and legs, and what would happen.”
Her iPhone detected the crash and dialed 911. It also sent a text alert to her emergency contacts—her mom, sister, and dad—informing them of the crash location.
A passerby who stopped to help asked Ms. Hetrick who she wanted to call, and she gave him her father’s phone number, as she knew it by heart.
At one of the darkest moments of her life, being able to talk to her father, retired physician Stuart Hetrick, was a precious experience. He stayed on the phone with her until paramedics and emergency services arrived. Paramedics reached the scene and extricated Ms. Hetrick from the flattened car.
She was eventually taken to a hospital in Amarillo.
To this day, anyone who sees photos of her wrecked car is amazed that Ms. Hetrick survived.
“My friends had to sit down when they saw the photos— their stomachs clenched,” she said.
Ms. Hetrick underwent a series of emergency surgeries right away. A rod was inserted into her fractured femur, broken in half.
Her father, Dr. Hetrick, who lives in San Diego, didn’t arrive in Amarillo until the next day at 1 p.m.
“He had to wait for a flight, which nearly killed him,” Hetrick said.
However, once he arrived, he poured all his energy into caring for his daughter. He was “probably there about 75% of the time,” leaving only to spend Father’s Day weekend with his 92-year-old father.
Ms. Hetrick’s mother, Jennifer Dawn, and sister, Shawna Powell, also dedicated significant time taking turns to be by her side to prevent her from feeling lonely.
“My family dynamics haven’t always been perfect, but I’m amazed at the sacrifices my family made for me in this crisis,” she said, “Each of them gave up everything they had to care for me, it was the most vulnerable and broken time of my life.”
A week after the accident, she underwent a second surgery, with a rod inserted into her tibia/fibula and a steel plate placed on her ankle.
Dr. Hetrick, who owns a private medical practice, stayed by his daughter’s bedside, answering her questions, easing her worries, and facilitating communication with medical staff.
Additionally, he brought her mail and food, opened packages, organized her room, and retrieved her belongings from the flattened car. He did everything possible to allow his daughter to focus on her recovery.
Simultaneously, Ms. Dawn reached out to some pastors and worship teams at a church in Amarillo, who came to the hospital to sing worship songs with her.
“Being in such a vulnerable state was the most beautiful and powerful experience—the future was uncertain, I was terrified, but still facing everything in pain so I could praise God alongside other believers I just met,” she said, they even came to celebrate her birthday.
Celebrating a 36th birthday in the hospital was quite different from what Ms. Hetrick had planned.
“I thought I would be on a mountain in Montana with friends for my birthday,” she said.
However, her parents prepared two special surprises for her.
Her father sent a cake during a video call with her, her mother, and other family members, singing “Happy Birthday” to her.
After that, “I was wheeled into the lobby in a wheelchair, and over a dozen people sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to me,” she said.
Surviving a severe car crash was a painful experience, but for Ms. Hetrick, receiving support from those who love her was a humbling experience.
“It really fundamentally changed me from the inside out because you know your parents love you,” she said, “but I think what happened in the hospital and the time we’re spending together now has bonded us emotionally even more.”
“I see our emotional bond growing deeper, which is really special to me. We’ve had conflicts in the past, and we’ve had real moments that we had to face together. So, this time together is really healing.”
After being discharged on June 19, the crash survivor traveled to San Diego with her father and stepmother for recovery. Her injured leg is slowly regaining function. With the strong help of those around her, the healing of trauma has been improving in physical therapy and addressing shock.
“I’ve come to understand that every painful experience has a purpose,” she said, “even in dark times, God is with us, and whatever happens, we can trust him. …We are never alone.”