Fourteen Years Later: My Life, My Struggles, the Pain of It All & My Victory...

By Sarah Jean

This is an inspirational book. With God by your side all things are possible for those who love our Lord Jesus Christ. And if I can do it so can you.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Aug 22, 2022
• ISBN: 9781665568951

Sarah Jean

I’m a unique, unrepeatable, miracle of life who has gone through many trials and tribulations in my life and without God by my side. I would of never been able to endure the things that I gone through.

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© 2022 Sarah Jean. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 08/18/2022

ISBN: 978-1-6655-6896-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6655-6895-1 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

CONTENTS

Prologue

Dedication

Chapter 1The Teen Years

Chapter 2The Accident

Chapter 3The Coma

Chapter 4Rehabilitation

Chapter 5A Flood and A Marriage

Chapter 6Another Surgery

Chapter 7Rainbow Tree

Chapter 8Belleville

Chapter 9The Engagement

Chapter 10A Wedding and A Surprise

Chapter 11A Rocky Marriage and Another Surprise

Chapter 12Let’s Try A Leg Brace

Chapter 13Another Man In My Life

Chapter 14A Valuable Lesson Learned

Chapter 15Another Marriage

Chapter 16Rosey Jean Arrives

Chapter 17Getting On with My Life

Chapter 18Rosey’s First Flood

Chapter 19Salvation

PROLOGUE

Dear Heavenly Father,

L ooking back at the last 14 years of my life, I see how You have been so loving, patient, and forgiving of my sins. Despite my broken body and your knowing the terrible things I have done, You still blessed me with a daughter and gave me a purpose to live.

Yes, life is difficult. It is a struggle to do daily chores that others may take for granted. None-the-less, I know in my heart that You are always near to give me the extra strength I need. And I harbor no ill feelings about my life. My life has taught me love and patience and the most valuable lesson of all - who my true friends are. Thank you Lord for each new day; for your patience, and especially your love and forgiveness of all my sins. I pray that my life will please and honor You, and I pray others will come to You through my life and story. When I get to Heaven, I will have a new body. What a day that will be. The best thing, though, is I will get to see You.

DEDICATION

D edicated to Mom and Dad. Your love, patience and understanding have shown me the true meaning of love. In time, we all grew tired and our patience wore thin, but one thing that never grew thin was our love. You both have sacrificed so much in your lives to make sure your children never had to go without. I pray that I will be as good a parent to my daughter as you have been to me.

CHAPTER

1

THE TEEN YEARS

I am the oldest of three children born to Larry and Paula. I have a sister, Gina, and a brother, Matthew. In 1974, when I was 12 years old we moved from Indiana to Michigan. My Dad had gotten a job as a melting foreman at a foundry in South Haven. While Dad was at work and we were in school, Mom cleaned houses.

When I was in the eighth grade my best friend was Karen Wallis. She invited me home to meet her parents Jean and George and her brother Bobby. They were a Christian family and they took me in as if I were their own child and gave me so much love. We soon grew very close.

My Mother later found full-time work as an employment service instructor working with developmentally impaired adults. As time went by we moved down by the river, a place that has been so special to me over the years.

When I was sixteen, I bought a red Camaro. During the summer months I found a full-working job working in a nursing home from 11-7. When school started back, I had to quit. Since I a car payment, I decided to take a part-time job. I got a job as a waitress at a truck stop from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Working at night and going to school soon became too much for me to handle, and so, at the age of 17, I quit school. My boss, Jackie Roberts, tried to give me as many hours as she could so I could pay off my car.

Jackie’s son, Tom, always came to the truck stop to see his Mom and have a cup of coffee. We always joked around with each other and started doing a lot of things together. We never became more than friends, but we have a very special bond.

When my car was paid for I became bored and impatient. I needed a change. But without the proper schooling, I knew I was not going anywhere with my life. I thought the only thing I could do was to join the Army. I talked to the Army recruiter and he advised me to join the National Guard. Then, if I liked it, I could enlist in the Army.

I received my orders for Basic Training at Fort Dix, New Jersey. The first couple of days were busy and our drill sergeant assigned us each a buddy. My buddy was so big and muscular we called her Grape Ape.

Our buddies were supposed to help us on the obstacle course by holding our legs as we walked the bars using our hands. My buddy got tired and dropped my legs and I dropped straight down on my knees. I was taken to the Infirmary where x-rays revealed I had a broken left knee. The Army wanted to medically discharge me, but I told them I wanted to graduate. So, I was recycled and went through most of my training on crutches.

One weekend we went on bivouac in the middle of winter and me with a cast on my knee. I didn’t have to stay out very long as I was again taken to the Infirmary - this time with 105 degree temperature. I had pneumonia and had to stay in bed a week.

It was nearing graduation and I was depressed because I hadn’t gotten a chance to do much soldiering. To my surprise, I did graduate. Next, it was on to Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana for