Faith

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Touched By An Angel
©
by

Stephen A. Peterson


Colleen Mangold, 18, was driving her 7 year old sister, Angela, to her ballet class on a cold January, 2005 afternoon in Edmond, Oklahoma.

Colleen and Angela were 15 minutes late. As Colleen drove into the studio’s parking lot, she considered just turning around and going home. She changed her mind when Angela plead with her to let her go in and finish what remained of the ballet class. Colleen did so in spite of having so much to do.

Colleen was a second semester Freshman at the University of Central Oklahoma majoring in Nursing. She was up the night before preparing for a very important nursing examination. She was very tired. The freezing rain, unpredicted, added to her anxiety and tension. “Maybe I made a mistake. Maybe I should go into the studio get Angela and go home. The roads are probably going to get bad.” Rather than disappoint her sister, Colleen remained until her sister’s class was over.

On the drive home, “Colleen!” Angela cried. “Look!” Just in front of Colleen’s car, another car had lost control on a seemingly clear street, hit a sidewalk, and then hit another vehicle parked in a nearby restaurant. Stunned Colleen lightly tapped on her brakes to slow the car down barely traveling 10 miles per hour. A car behind Colleen’s broke suddenly causing the vehicle to spin wildly, hit a utility pole, roll over, and then slam violently into a tree.

Colleen pulled over, skid to a stop and rushed out of her car. Although she wasn’t a nurse yet, she knew she had to do something to help the victim or victims of an accident. But before she moved towards the wrecked car, she momentarily paused to consider what she should do with her sister. She felt she could not take her sister with her. “Kids her age shouldn’t see what might be. But is it safe to leave her by herself? What if another car hits my car? Should I have her stand outside in the cold? She’s really not dressed for this cold weather.”

For a couple of seconds, Colleen hesitated and thought to just leave the scene. “Maybe somebody else saw the accident and will help those involved. No, I’ve got to help. Lord, help me do the right thing,” she prayed. “Sis, please stay in the car. Don’t touch anything. I’ve got to help the person or people in that car. Promise me!”

“Okay. I will,” Angela said.

Colleen, as quickly as she could, ran over to the disabled car. When she got to what was left of a car, she saw three girls who were about her age. One girl, on the passenger side, was dead when she opened the door and checked her pulse. The two girls on the driver’s side Colleen found still to be alive when she took their pulses. The rear passenger Colleen was able to carefully remove from the wreck then place the injured girl between two wool blankets she brought with her from her car. The driver was trapped. Colleen, not wanting to injure her further, comforted her and covered her bloodied body with a wool blanket as she called emergency on her cell phone.

Following her call, Colleen went over to the teen she had taken from the car to check her well-being. She found that the teen had what appeared to be a broken arm and possible head injuries. The unconscious girl, Colleen thought should not be moved any further thinking that she might have serious internal injuries as well.

Within minutes, an ambulance and fire truck arrived to free the trapped girl and get the two injured girls to the nearby Edmond hospital. “Great job!” said an on site doctor. “It looks as though your actions have saved two girls’ life.”

Although Colleen was said to be a hero, she felt very sad especially for the dead girl. “Lord,” Colleen prayed. “Why do you let such bad things happen? Why did that beautiful, young girl have to die like this? Why, Lord? Why?”

Walking towards her car then opening the door, Colleen got in to find her sister excited by something. “How are you?” How would she explain what had happened to her sister.

“Did you see that?” an excited Angela said.

“See what?” Colleen responded.

“The angel, sis, the angel! An angel suddenly appeared and ran towards the car as you were going towards it. The angel opened the door the same time you did and took the hand of a girl then left with her. You had to see it, sis. The angel was right beside you!”

Colleen’s eyes filled with tears.

“It was the side away from the driver’s side. The angel took her hand. They walked away together. The girl had a big smile on her face when the angel took her hand.”

“Are you sure?” asked Colleen.

“YES! YES!” shouted an excited Angela.

“Did you see anybody else go with the angel?”

“Well, no,” responded Angela.

Colleen quietly prayed for the dead victim and the two girls rushed to the hospital as she and Angela slowly drove home.

Days later Colleen met with the surviving teens in their hospital room and the families of all of the girls. During her visits with the victims’ families and surviving teens, Colleen relayed her sister’s vision to them. Angela’s account brought closure and consolation to the teen’s family and surviving friends that their daughter, sister and friend was with God in Heaven. Their beliefs in the reality and existence of God was verified with the knowledge and understanding that they COULD see her forever someday in eternal bliss and happiness!

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