The human spirit is amazing! And humans who rely on and see the hand of God in their lives see miracles and are able to do things they never could achieve alone.
I loved this miracle success story from my friend Roxanne Carlile who experienced extreme pain, loss, and grief in an instant. I watched some of her intense recovery in person and then from afar, and followed her progress in awe of how her foundational faith and resilience sustained her.
I asked to share this small snippet of her much larger story. I share it because the main aspects of her story relate to everyone. We’re all broken in some way at some point and have the opportunity to choose how to respond. Her response inspires me, still.
Roxanne Carlile: From Broken to a Future That’s Bright
19 months ago I jumped off a [25-foot-high] rock in Hawaii into the ocean and broke my back.
It was our last day on the island, and we were trying to spend our last few hours checking off some bucket list items.
Instead, my kids watched me get hauled off the beach in an ambulance. They weren’t allowed to visit me in the hospital because it was during Covid, and we couldn’t adjust our travel dates with the Army, so Jocephus ended up flying all 6 kids across the ocean without me.
I had a nursing baby, which meant Joe was calling me from the grocery store at midnight asking about what kind of formula to purchase while I navigated learning how to pump while lying flat on my back and not even able to tilt the bed at an angle.
There were a lot of unknowns. How would this impact my ability to move and function? How long would I be in the hospital? How long until I could fly and meet my family? Would I fully recover?
My friends stepped up in a big way and helped get my family to the airport. They let me stay with them when I got out of the hospital and supported me through some of the most intense pain I have experienced. I am still brought to tears when I consider the love I felt from them.
By the grace of God, I feel good today. Physically, I consider myself fully recovered. I still have some fear about hurting myself again and am certainly more cautious.
The past 19 months have held so much success! I made it across the ocean, did lots of physical therapy and exercise to build strength, and started my live jewelry sales even while wearing a back brace. I’ve built a good team with my business and made a whole bunch of amazing new friends.
It feels like a completely different life, and the future is bright.
I don’t know what you’re going through right now, but I bet you’ve gone through something pretty significant in the past couple of years. Keep the faith, friend! The best is yet to come.
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