The Mustang convertible passed the 45MPH sign doing 115. The road made a sharp left curve and the car skidded across the highway, tires squealing, in a vain attempt to hold the road. It crashed into the guardrail, flipped over and collided with a small grove of elm trees. Three of the four occupants were hurled from the wreck, some landing two hundred feet away. The driver was trapped in the car which burst into flames, roasting him alive. By the time the emergency crew got there he was just a glowing ember. Two of the three who were thrown out were killed instantly in the trees. The other, my daughter, was thrown into the field, missing the trees but landing in a pile of rocks. She was still alive, but barely.
I got the call at three o'clock in the morning. "Mr. Stuart, your daughter has been in a serious accident. Come to County Line Hospital immediately!"
"I'll be right there!" I yelled into the phone. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes I pulled on some clothes and sped to the hospital. I burst through the emergency room doors and went to the reception desk.
"I'm Hal Stuart. Where is my daughter?" I cried.
"You'll have to wait Mr. Stuart. She's in surgery right now. Please go to the waiting room. There is a police officer here who will be in to talk to you in a few minutes."
"I wander into the emergency room like a zombie. My little girl, hurt, broken, in surgery. I broke down and cried.
"Mr. Stuart?" A voice inquired.
"Yes, that's me," I replied.
"Where did your daughter go tonight?" It was a young police officer.
"Look, I'm in kind of tough shape right now. Can't this wait until later? I don't even know if she's going to live or die. Please leave me alone."
"I'm sorry sir, but there are some questions I must have answers to. I'll try to be as brief as possible."
"Okay, but I probably don't have any answers to your questions."
"How old is your daughter?"
"She's eighteen. Her birthday was just last week," I sobbed.
"Where did she go tonight?"
"I don't know. She said she was going to a party with some friends. I told her to be home early."
"Who did she go with?"
"I don't know. She has gone to parties before. I never know who is there. Some of her old school chums, I guess."
"Does she drive?"
"No, we were going to get her some driving lessons next week, but she has never driven a car."
"Thank you sir. If you need anything, like maybe a ride home, I'll be here."
"Thanks officer. I appreciate your concern."
Four hours later one of the emergency room nurses told me that my daughter was out of surgery.
"When can I see her?"
"We want you to talk to the doctor first. He'll tell you everything."
She led me down a long hall to the doctor's office.
"Come right in sir," the doctor greeted.
"I'm Hal Stuart," I offered my hand.
He shook it and said, "Your daughter was in a really bad accident. The other three people in the car died at the scene. She was brought in here just in time to save her life, but she has a long, difficult path in front of her. I think she will eventually fully recover, but the first few months are going to be tough."
"What's wrong with her?"
"We were able to repair the damage from the crash, but we're not sure how much of her brain has been affected by it. In other cases like this, it usually takes six months to a year to fully recover. Right now, she can't move her limbs but we think that will pass. She'll need full time attention until she can fend for herself."
I shook my head sadly. "I can't afford to get a full time nurse for her. What am I going to do?"
"Her requirements aren't going to be anything you and her mother can't handle."
"Her mother left fifteen years ago and we haven't heard from her since. I don't know where she is or what she's doing."
"In that case, you'll have to take care of her yourself. How much spare time do you have?"
I had retired five years ago at the age of forty three. "I'm retired so time isn't a problem. The problem is, I don't have the foggiest inkling of how I am to take care of her."
"She'll be here in the hospital for at least a month. I'll get the nurses to teach you what to do. It's mostly a matter of feeding her, seeing to her medication and keeping her clean."
"I'm willing to try anything to help my baby," I vowed.
Six weeks later Barbara was released into my custody. I had paid close attention to what the nurses had to teach me. Most of it was very simple; some of it was more complex. My next door neighbor helped me load her into the house. I had set up the living room for her. I moved a hospital type bed in. I had a wheel chair and a potty chair.
"Daddy what happened?" were her first words to me.
"You were in a terrible car crash honey. You were the only survivor. Do you remember any of it?"
"No daddy. I just remember waking up in the hospital. I couldn't talk or move or anything. I still can't move very much. You are going to have to help me do everything."
"I know dear. I took six weeks worth of lessons from your nurses and I've practiced on you for the last six weeks. We'll be okay. Just do what I tell you and we'll have you back on your feet in no time."
A tear drizzled down her cheek. "If I could I would hug you and kiss you. I realize now that all the things you told me about my unruly behavior were true. If I make it through this, I'll be a good daughter from now on!"
