Melanie’s Story

Monday night, my daughter brittany shaffer and I were heading to ona. On the way home, I realized I forgot to get something for my husband. So I turned around and headed back to the store. We both had our seatbelts on, like we have always done. About a mile down the road, our back passenger tire blew out. I tried to control the truck but it was out of my control. we went off the road into the grass. I was going about 65 mph. When we hit the grass, the wheels caught and the truck started to roll. It rolled onto my side first and continued to roll. As the truck came back to roll the second time, I was thrown out of my window. The seatbelt turned out to be faulty. Something for everyone to always check. My daughter, Brittany Shaffer, went through the next two rolls on her own. Actually, she wasnt really alone.. The truck struck the power pole and snapped it in half. the truck rolled one more time and landed roof up next to me on the ground. I’m bloody and hurting like hell but my first thought was my daughter in the truck. I didnt know what i would find. i started screaming her name and running to her door when i heard her yell mom back. Power line was popping right at the truck. couldn’t get her door open so i managed to get her through the half open window. No one would stop and help us. Until finally brit got mad enough and yelled at one driver and he came back and called 911 for us. Thankfully, she has bumps and bruises and will be ok. I had to get transferred to lakeland trauma center for a partially collapsed lung,stitches in the face and legs, injured ribs and chest wall. Part of that was caused by the belt i had on that broke and being thrown out. We will all recover from this thankfully. We have a few people to thank for this. God, Josh and Brett. They were all there through this. When Brit was in the truck alone, she saw Josh and Brett looking down on her. She knew she would be fine. She had on the cross she had made for the boys and i always wear my bracelet. God Bless Josh and Brett!! We love you Gina and Debbie!