True and good story

Why Did I Survive?
One second I was partying. The next, I was fighting for my life.
by Austin Atkinson, as told to Christy Heitger-Casbon

The strong smell of cleaning agents and the repetitive sound of beeping monitors filled the air. My eyelids fluttered open as my pupils struggled to adjust to the bright light. I'd just had the most bone-chilling nightmare, and my foggy mind fought to make sense of where I was.

Then I heard a woman's voice softly say "hi." I turned my head and saw that she was wearing a nurse's uniform.

"Am I in the hospital?" I asked with a sore, scratchy throat.

"Yes," she answered. "You've been here for three weeks."

As I stared at my bandaged body, scenes of the accident flashed across my mind. Alcohol. Gasoline. Flames. Smoke. Screaming. It was no nightmare. I had been on fire.

Getting Crazy
The night started out innocently enough. A few friends and I were hanging out playing video games. Then my buddy Pete* showed up with some vodka. Within an hour we were all pretty wasted and our small "party" had gotten out of hand.

Josh cranked the music and then grabbed his lighter so we could all try "breathing fire." We took turns spitting vodka and tried lighting it on fire as it left our mouths. With each attempt we kept moving the lighter closer to our faces. But no one could do it.

For some reason, and I'm not really sure why, Josh thought it would be cool to get in a circle, pour gasoline in the middle and make a "circle of fire." So he ran outside and picked up a can of gasoline. We watched as Josh doused the gravel driveway with fuel.

"You need more over here!" I shouted. I grabbed the container of gas away from Josh, carelessly drenching my shirt and pants.

"Man, you reek!" Pete laughed.

Josh knelt down on the gravel and clicked his lighter several times.

Foop, foopâ€

Interesting enough that I kept reading it! You know its the funniest thing how you don't realize something to the fullest extent of reality until you are in that situation experiencing it.

If they were dumb enough to drink, they should have known to be dumb and play with fire! Especially while your drunk! I had a co-worker who drank and lit HIMSELF on fire PURPOSELY! He would come in all the time with some BAD burns... And of course he would cry about it and want to go home cause it hurts. Guess you should'nt drink and flick a bic! Lol.

This story reminds me how people like to say things like, "You made me mad!", and "Its your fault you made me do it!" I just cant stand that!

Hate to say how most people on here don't want to give any feedback and understand some things. Its okay though, not like you can get banned for it... or can you?

solid story. must have been god that gave him a second shot at his life

couldn't have been the doctors who worked sooo hard

theres an awful lot religous mambo jambo on here for a truck site

Awful lot? Hmm... Not really. The thing is, no one had to fill out an app or something of the likes to get on this site. There is no requisite to being a mini-trucker. Everyone of race, religion and sex, orientiation, etc. is what makes a comm. And especially of us 'truckers! So before you go off expressing sarcasm, be respectful and bite your tongue!

No one asked you to post on this thread. Only you became motivated enough out of some emotion to respond. Its okay though, ignorance can be an excuse!

One day, when you have your "eyes" opened, you will understand. Just don't go around flaming people for their beliefs. Its one thing to be critical and another to be constructive.

no offence phat, but that was a serious lack of respect for some. wow.
not sayin im a huge church boy or live strictly by the bible but man...

but on the other hand nice post hotdawg -bf

Agreed!

A worthwhile thread!


Nice job!



Dev

sorry if you find my opinion disrespectfull or ignorant.

the truth is the doctors saved the kid.

Who gave the doctors the knowledge, or capacity for the knowledge and skills they possess? I say god works through doctors just as He works through you and I, and everyone else whether they accept Him or not, He's still using people for His will


I did similar things as this dude growing up, and I know the dangers of drinking and the stupid things we do when we drink, smoke reefer, or what ever drug pleases you. So yes, I wanna share Christ with all I can so that they don't do the same stupid things I did and make some mistakes I did, and possibly end up a lot worse than I did...just like this dude in the story. Other than that, I think it's just poignant story that should be shared with as many teens/young adults as possible.


While I may not agree with your opinion Phat, honestly it didn't bother me by what you posted lol, it gave me an opportunity to speak more

Oh yeah:



For those of us who truly follow Christ, there is no seperation anywhere in our lives where He isn't a part of. Be it trucks, tv, politics, work, etc. He is constantly a part of me and what I put out for other people to know of me.

Doctors did save the kid.. But if you understood, things work out in a bigger picture. More of the question, why did the kid get brought to that hospital, and why that doctor? God saw that it was fit for him to be there for a specific reason. Its hard to explain how God works through people and all who even are not believers of him.

Indeed, I think the hardest part about being a follow of Christ, is to take after his teachings. Being an example of him and following your hardest to be a good example of our faith is such a hard challenge. So when you act on something and or represent yourself for something, it does have to be in your best intentions for God. We arew only here on earth for him! That is what our purpose in life is!

After leading a life up to 10th grade, I can say afterwards I'm so thankful for being led into a safer lifestyle! I was in one of the poorest parts of our city and gang prevelency was high. I had friends who I found to get into alot of fights, parties, sex, drinking and drugs. I was an affiliate to a gang, was a small-time drug dealer and had no respect for anything.

I got caught one day at school with a number of things to put me in an adult prison for a few years! Although, it was my first offense. From being caught at the right moment, to being searched, and placed in juvey, to court. I can say God was with me the whole way, and I can't thank him more for giving me a 2nd chance to living a better life!

My cellmate so happened to go to church service and had interest in the bible. My judge in court so happened to be nice and in a good mood to speak to me respectfully and help me understand my wrongs. She was the one God picked, because my stipulations for lenient, and I knew I wronged. I made it through, and no record now!

But to my amazement, afterwards, God help me realize my passion in life; Auto body. I believe he also helped put me in the right place for a job, and school! He has blessed me so much since then. I have a truck, a wonderful girlfriend, interest and respect in life, hobbies that I've always wanted to take up, and a chance to have a direction in the right path in life!

Without God, my friend, I believe I would not have made it this far. I probably in my mind would be DEAD by now. But to truly understand how your life has come to be the way, ask yourself if you asked God to direct your life. Because we are told, that if we are given a chance to live the life we want, all we do is screw it up!

Lol, thats my testimony to Christ my friend!