At the meetings in Phoenix that Catherine attended, she met Michael Tidwell who publishes a tri-annual magazine for young people. He asked her to write her testimony for publication in the next issue. It has been such a blessing to her family and friends that have read it, we wanted to share it on the web even though it will later appear in the publication called Eagle View. Since that won't come out until the Spring, she may even add to it by then.

On Friday the thirteenth of February 1998, Amber Hawkes and myself were down in Tucson, attending some youth meetings. At about 9:30 we found ourselves making a U-turn at an intersection. A vehicle coming down the freeway off-ramp into the intersection, broadsided us at approximately 60 MPH.

"Catherine! Catherine! Don't leave me! Jesus help us!" Amber cried out desperately. A passer-by that had witnessed the accident reached in the window and took hold of my arm, feeling for a pulse. "There's a pulse!" the man called out, and just as he did so, Amber lost consciousness. We were both rushed in emergency vehicles to separate hospitals, Amber to Tucson Medical Center and I was taken to University Medical Center.

I was comatose with a diagnosis of severe brain stem sheering. A nurse immediately asked my father if I was an organ donor. "She's going to be needing every one of her organs!" my father stated emphatically. I spent a week in UMC, where two surgical procedures were done, one to place a feeding tube and the other was a tracheotomy to accommodate breathing.

On February 20, one week later, I was flown home to Flagstaff Medical Center, where the medical community all agreed that I would die, or be in a vegetable state for the rest of my life! They obviously underestimated the power of God in the equation.

I remained in a comatose state until April 15, 2 full months, and since then I have been keeping my eyes on the promise… "By His stripes ye are healed." I Peter 2:24. It does not say, "By His stripes ye are healed, except…".

While I was sleeping, everyone joined together in prayer, holding on for complete recovery and since I have awakened, I have joined my faith with theirs.

God has really made this trial a blessing. Even though I had grown up in a Christian home, attending church faithfully, I hadn't committed my life to the Lord. Now He has become my personal friend. I have learned so much in the last few months. I am falling in love with His Word, I know He cares for me, and He answers my prayers. I am so thankful to be alive and serving Him!

I have been working very hard in therapy for the last 6 months, and I know I must continue to work hard, keeping my eyes on His promise. One of the things I say as an encouragement and a reminder of what He's done and is doing in my life is… "Lord, I'm better today than I was yesterday. Yesterday you helped me; today you did the same. How long will this continue? Forever! Praise His name!"

I am so thankful for all of the prayers, love, and support from the people I do know and from others that I have never met. May God bless you all and please continue to remember me in your prayers. If I don't get the pleasure of meeting you on this side, I look forward to seeing you over there.