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This photo of the Elders family, from left, Brittney, Chelsea, Natalie and Dewayne, was taken just before an April 10 car accident nearly claimed Natalie's life. Given little to no chance of surviving the resulting brain injuries, Natalie awoke from her coma on Easter Sunday. Six weeks later, after a recovery effort termed "almost inhuman" by doctors, she was released to go home with her family. A celebration of the miracle of her life is planned for this Sunday, July 7, at Whittier Church of God. Another celebration is planned for Friday in her hometown of Robbinsville to coincide with Fourth of July fireworks. How many times have you heard someone triumphantly say, "Life is a miracle," only to have as your next thought, "Yeah, so. What's for dinner." It's safe to say we've all been guilty at one time or another of allowing everyday doldrums to blur the beauty of life. All, that is, except the Elders family of Qualla's Shoal Creek community. This past Easter Sunday and every day since has been a miracle for this God-fearing foursome, whose faith was tested by a horrible car accident that nearly took the life of one and changed the lives of all. Natalie Elders has no memory of April 10, the morning she dropped her youngest daughter, Chelsea, 13, off at Smokey Mountain Elementary School. She has no recollection of pulling out onto the highway. She cannot recall being hit by a truck making its way up the road. Nor can she remember the next 20 days of her life spent in a coma. "Without divine intervention, there's no hope for Natalie," were the words of encouragement doctors in Asheville gave her husband, Dewayne. "It's possible, but not probable your mother will ever recover," her oldest daughter, Brittney, 17, took to heart. One looking at a half-empty glass would have only heard "no hope" and "not probable." But not so of the Elders family. With glasses filled to overflowing by God, they heard only "Divine intervention" and "It's possible." "That's what kept me going," daughter Brittney said of her faith, "because with God, all things are possible." Chelsea, the family's emotional rock during this most trying of times, said she "never doubted" God's ability and willingness to heal her mother. Each member of the Elders family will tell you that God answered their prayers. And each will smile tenderly as they tell the story of the first prayer, which was sent to God by their pastor, Ned Pressley of Whittier Church of God. Truth be told, the ride to Harris Regional Hospital with Dewayne at the wheel was enough to cause Brother Pressley to send out two prayers - one for Natalie's safety and one for Dewayne's driving skills, they say. From here the prayer chain was strengthened by thousands of well-wishers in eight states, all praying to God to allow Natalie Elders the opportunity to return to her family. "The Friday before Easter Sunday, the day they crucified Christ, the doctors told us we needed to make a decision about continuing life support," Dewayne said. "They gave us until Monday," he continued, "but we didn't need to make that decision because Natalie woke up Sunday morning." "That was a pretty good day," Chelsea said. "We were rejoicing, especially since we'd been told there was only one in a million chance she'd even wake up," said Dewayne. Natalie's Easter Sunday awakening "was the work of God, even the doctors said that," recalls Brother Pressley, who described his role during this tragic time as doing all in his ability to support the family. "I believe prayer is the reason she's living today." Her mother's recovery turned out to be a small miracle inside a larger one, Brittney said. That recovery effort, the length of which doctors again incorrectly forecast, began with Natalie returning her daughter's wink. "I'd been told that she'd recognize smaller things," said Brittney. "So I winked at her, and she winked back. Then I whistled, and she tried to whistle back. That just about killed me." As a group of family and friends formed a ring around Natalie's ICU bed and sang "Amazing Grace," tears welled up in her eyes. This, remembers Chelsea, was the best sign of all. It proved her mother, who doctors had diagnosed as brain dead, was capable of emotion. Natalie was moved to Thoms Rehabilitation Hospital, where family members were informed she would be staying anywhere from six month to a year. But after a six-week recovery effort doctors termed "almost inhuman" - during which this 15-year NCCAT program associate was taught everything, including how to walk, write, eat, drink and swallow - Natalie went home with her family. The overwhelming show of support for the Elders family continues even today. NCCAT co-workers still provide the family with dinner three nights a week, while community members - whose numbers were so great three months ago that they crowded Chelsea out of a hospital waiting room - still send cards, make visits and deliver love gifts. This outpouring of support will take shape this weekend when two celebrations are held in Natalie's honor. First, the town of Robbinsville, where Natalie is from, will dedicate to her its Fourth of July fireworks display Friday night. Then on Sunday, July 6, Whittier Church of God will observe "Natalie Elders Day." "We plan to celebrate her life and the miracle of her survival," Brother Pressley said. Many of those who had contributed to the miracle of Natalie's survival - from emergency personnel on the scene of the accident April 10 to those who prayed and continue to pray for her and her family's well-being - will be asked to speak this Sunday, Brother Pressley said. Given an opportunity to talk to their church family, both Chelsea and Brittney said they might explain that their mother's accident and the next 62 days of travel to Asheville disrupted spring athletic schedules, but that that was OK. Dewayne, who on Sept. 15, 1984, took Natalie to be his wife in sickness and in health, isn't exactly sure what he'll say, other than how grateful he is for the support he and his family have been shown by numbers of people too large to count. In a letter she completed earlier this week, Natalie put into word some of her feelings: "First of all, a thank you goes to the Cherokee Emergency and Ambulance Service, as well as the Qualla Fire Department and the local responders who attended and helped at the accident scene. I have heard many wonderful stories and can't possibly name everyone involved, but please know I appreciate the hard work you did that morning. "Next, I want to thank the many, many churches that continuously prayed for my recovery, especially Whittier Church of God... Not only did God hear all of the prayers, He answered them, and He performed a miracle. "I would like to thank the NCCAT staff for their unending devotion and care. The people who work there continue to show their support and love, and it is appreciated deeply." Natalie said she'll also thank those who provided her medical care in Asheville and those who continue her rehabilitation effort in Haywood County. This Sunday's "Natalie Elders Day" service, to which everyone is invited, Brother Pressley said, begins at 11 a.m. With a 100 percent recovery well within sight, Natalie has taken her gift of life and embarked on a mission to prevent such a tragedy befalling anyone else. A traffic light, she contends, must be installed at the entrance to Smokey Mountain Elementary School so that what happened to her never happens again. As soon as she's able, she intends to take Congressman Charles Taylor up on the offer he made after the accident to help her in any way possible. "I am a miracle," Natalie said of her life. With these words our interview began. Fewer than 30 minutes later, after being so taken in by this energetic wonder of a woman that at times I felt her strength from across the room, I consider myself among the believers. |
