My Brushes with Death

I often wonder why I’ve been spared on numerous occasions. What does it mean, where do I go from here?

My first near death experience was in 1980. I went in the hospital to have my tonsils taken out. Now, back in those days, the doctor actually cut the tonsils out and stitched you back up. I was in a room with another boy who was getting released and I wanted to go home too, so I started screaming and ripped my stitches open in my throat. I started to bleed heavily out of my mouth and nose. I couldn’t breathe because of how much blood was coming out. In that moment, I got extremely calm and relaxed, like someone or something was calming me. I remember being at peace and then nothing after that. They ended up giving me a blood transfusion because of the amount of blood I lost. That is something I will never forget.

The next time was in 1985. My family was on a vacation down south. My dad and I went fishing on a pond near where we were staying. I had a stick and was hitting the water when I lost my footing and fell into the water going all the way to the bottom, which ended up being 25 feet deep. My dad had no clue what happened and didn’t know where I went. Someone had seen what happened and came running up to him and told him I was in the pond. My dad dove in and I don’t know how he found me, but he pulled me up. He did CPR on me and I was saved again. I remember water filling my mouth and nose, again a calmness came over me. To this day I’m terrified of water, or at least deep water.

The third time was in 2015. I needed work done on my nose and was preparing to have surgery. The doctor put me under and I woke up thinking it was done already. My mom and girlfriend were by my side and upset. Apparently, I had stopped breathing and turned blue on the operating table. The doctor told me he had done this for 25 years and never had this happen before. This instance, I don’t remember anything, but going under and being woken up.

The last time happened last week. I was hit broadside by a distracted driver who ran a red light. I remember seeing him coming at me and everything going in slow motion. I don’t want to say my life flashed before my eyes, but I did say, “please don’t take me from my kids” then at impact it went dark. I woke up several minutes later in pain, my head spinning and not knowing what happened. Somehow, I survived with only a severe concussion, strained neck and back, plus some other injuries.

Why does this happen to me and what does it mean? It makes me want to do more and give back, make sure my life has a purpose. I’m so thankful to have survived these events but also question why me? These are my brushes with death that I can’t fully explain.