Week 7 - Personal History

What kind of hardships or tragedies did your family experience while you were growing up?

JACKIE:
I think the big hurdle in our family, due to hardships and tragedy, was after Jenny's accident 1998. With Jenny being life flown to the LDS hospital that January morning, we were on edge to wither she would come out of her coma. She had to be on a medical coma for a time so she could heal, but initially, we did not know if she would be okay or be come out alive. I remember Stacy and I praying, after hearing word at college, making the drive to the hospital and seeing Jenny on a bed and moved to the critical patients rooms. We were guided to the church room in the hospital and another room where we were to be counseled by our church leaders (the bishop). I think we were all on edge to what the outcome may be. Everything else just looked so, unimportant. School, friends, jobs, etc seemed so trivial and we tried our best as the days passed by, until Jenny awaked. It was early one morning, Jenny called Mom. I'll never forget her surprise as Mom told us about her call. She did not know it was her! And, that was the day she "Awoke." We then helped her do therapies after and walking exercises in the months following. I am so happy, to have my sister. I just love her. When I had my accident with Silicia, on the way to work, I did not want to be in the hospital. It seemed I asked God to make me okay. And he did. When I had my accident I did not go into a coma, thankfully. However, It was in the hospital I learned about Silicia, my passenger and friend. It still makes me sad she died. I can't quite get over it, but having family nearby has helped me heal, as with the Church.

STACY:
I agree with Jackie that the first biggest hardship was Jenny's accident.  I learned what was really important in life and the thought of losing one of my family members was hard to think about.  We watched how Jenny was in a coma and then she worked hard in the rehab unit.  She progressed and improved and it was amazing to see her progress.  I felt bad for Jeff at the time because while we were all visiting Jenny at LDS hospital in Salt Lake, he was mostly home alone in Sandy.  I believe that this experience made us all a better family unit.  We learned how to pull together and support each other.  Also, mom showed me in the hospital when Jenny was first in intensive care a coat that had a label that said Bish's clothing.  Her grandfather was known as Grandpa Bish.  I will never forget seeing that coat label.  We knew that Bish and other family members were there to watch over us that day to make sure everything would turn out okay. 
Another hardship was Jackie and Silicia's accident.  Silicia passed away that day from the car accident.  This happened June 7, 2003.  Silicia was my best friend since high school.  That was really hard to deal with the death of someone so close and so young, she was 27.  I was very grateful that I had met her at the mall the night before after a blind date she had just been on.  As I was driving back to my apartment in Salt Lake afterwards with another friend Deidre, I remember that we had talked about angels.  I believe she is still with us.