{blessed photography}: Destiny

Sorry it has been so long since I have blogged but classes this spring were CRAZY! But I also wanted to wait because of this little girl and her family's photo shoot. Why? You might ask, well this little girl and her mother have an amazing testimony and we want to share it with you! It may be long, but let me tell you it is one worth reading and I am still blown way with it every time I see Destiny.

This is Destiny

Looking at her she looks like any normal 9 year old but on June 14, 2010 her life and her mother's life would change forever. On June 14, 2010 it was like any other normal day for Donna and her family. Donna spent the day with all three of her daughters, Shyanne (12), Destiny (8), and Isabella (6). After eating dinner Susan Hardy (the girls "Mamaw") came and picked up the girls so Donna could go to work for a little while. Moments after Donna spoke with Shyanne on the phone while they were on their way to their Mamaw's house, Susan Hardy was turning her car onto the road that led to her house when a semi-trailer rig piled high with logs came over a hill with the late afternoon sun glaring at its back and smashed into her car, crushing and dragging it several blocks before coming to a rest.

Susan Hardy and Shyanne were pronounced dead at the scene while Destiny and Isabella had to be cut out of the crushed and burning vehicle to be rushed to Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital. At the hospital Isabella's injuries seemed to be more life-threatening so she was taken immediately to surgery while Destiny was being stabilized by the trauma team. Meanwhile, the emergency center staff was contacting Texas Children's Hospital in Houston to arrange a transfer of the girls as soon as possible. Texas Children's Hospital prepared to transport two injured children but Isabella passed away while in surgery, Destiny was transported to Texas Children's Hospital with Donna and arrived around 2 a.m. on June 15th.

The trauma team was waiting for Destiny when she arrived after evaluating her they found she had a right temple fracture and injuries to the bone around her left eye but no brain or eye damaged showed on the scans. She had fractures on both thigh bones, shin bones, and her right upper arm bone. Her left elbow was fractured and her right elbow was virtually crushed.

Destiny remained in the ICU for 12 days then moved into progressive care for a few days and a surgery impatient room for a few more before she was released to go home to Nacogdoches on July 9. By then her cuts and bruises had healed, her left elbow and right leg were responding well with physical therapy. She still had her right elbow in a cast and the metal device on her left foot and was in a wheelchair for a while. But after a few follow ups over several weeks she was able to go back to school in August with the assistance of a walker. She will have to continue physical therapy over the years and will have a few more surgeries but this amazing girl has recovered faster than expected thanks to lots of prayer!

Weeks before the wreak Donna had contacted me to schedule a photo shoot for her and the girls and I still remember the day I received the news of the wreak and just couldn't believe what had happened. I still remember having Shyanne, Destiny, and Isabella in my Sign Language class I taught at church and receiving a sweet hug before and after church from each girl. And let me tell you I cherish every hug I get from Destiny every time I see her, it always reminds me of the song "Look what the Lord has done."

After the photo shoot with Rual (Donna's Fiance), Donna, and Destiny, I had asked Donna if I could share their amazing testimony and Donna said "Yes, any time there is an opportunity to share it I do."