Hello! My name is Stacie Spray, and I am 22 years old. On December 6th, 2017 my life drastically changed. I was going to work on my third 12-hour night shift as a Graduate Nurse. I remember that I was listening to my radio so happy about life when all of a sudden, I was hit by a grain truck (a semi) head on. But this whole wreck is what I call a big God moment. The area that I had the wreck is always a dead cell service area, but by the grace of God, multiple phone calls came through to the 9-1-1 dispatcher. My car engine, the semi, and the road were on fire. Both of our vehicles were leaking oil, so in all honesty I should have blown up.... BUT GOD. A person that was driving behind my accident was the first on the scene, and he said he was lucky that he even saw my car for all of the smoke. When he got to my car, it was so damaged that he had to break my window. The only thing that he had with him was an axe and bottles of water. He poured the water on top of the engines fire. And the axe he used to bust my window. How many people would just happen to have an axe in his truck? God was right there with me the whole time. The next person on site was a volunteer firefighter. And what a blessing he was. He was on a different road, but when he saw the glow from the fire, he went to the scene. He gave me oxygen, and helped me to get out of my car when the EMT Paramedics arrived. They had to put me in the back of the ambulance before I could be med-flighted because where I wrecked had a lot of trees and the helicopter could not get to me. When the volunteer firefighter was with me, he put his head in my hair praying to let me make it, and he dropped to his knees after helping to put me in the back of the helicopter saying that with all the injuries that I had sustained that he didn’t think I would make it. I had my femur and ankle bone popping out of my skin, shattered pelvis, broke 4 or more ribs, shattered liver, and on top of that I had several strokes (PE). I was sedated with the most powerful medicine they could give me for many weeks, a tracheostomy, and a ventilator that was breathing for me for about a week. While I was still sedated, I was singing “I saw the light” which is a Christian song. What are the chances that I would sing that song of all the songs I could’ve chosen.

The first thing I remember in the trauma unit was a sweet nurse that turned on a Christmas movie for me. She also washed and lotion my hands. Even though she probably thought what she was doing wasn’t much, but it meant the world to me! After such a traumatic wreck, she made me feel at peace. At bed fourteen of the hospital, I could not make out exactly where I was. At first, I didn’t even remember my boyfriend or my 2 kids. I knew my mother and my sister, and I can remember that I was so glad they came to see me.

Stacie's Story Continued

Eventually, I was on the road to recovery, I found out why I was in the hospital, I remembered my family. My family was there as soon as they found out what had happened. My mom was told by an EMT that when he had left me, I was still alive but that is all he could tell her. They were in such shock. My family said that the hardest part, initially, was not knowing my status. They could not tell the family anything (over the phone), even if I was still alive or not. But God hands were reaching out to my family when they needed comfort the most. People were visiting with my family giving them cross necklaces, beverages, snacks, etc. My family also really liked that when I was in the hospital, the doctors would have meetings and my parents were able to be a part of my care plan. I could not ask for better care at Vanderbilt.

After a month at the hospital, I was released to Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehab. I had to do speech, physical, and occupational therapy. I could not talk because of the strokes. I remember my sister giving me a pen and paper in hopes that I would be able to at least write what I needed since I couldn’t talk. But that was not the case. I cried through my frustrations. Now, it is almost been a year since my wreck. I had to have another surgery, a halo (external fixator) on my ankle, 9 months non-weight bearing. From my sister being told that I could probably be a vegetable forever to now walking has been physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausting. I will not sugar coat that. There have been many times that I have asked God “Why God? I’m a good person. Why did this happen to me?” I have cried, I have wanted to give up. I questioned how I will pay my bills. BUT GOD...He will always see us through. I know sometimes it feels like He leaves us in all the turmoil, but He will never leave nor forsake you. God knows it’s difficult for you. But you must also know that God would never put you in a situation that you can’t handle. May God listen to all of your prayers and bless everyone who is reading this.