"From The Ashes"

"Cosette B-4 the Accident"

It is said that from the ashes of our trials can come some of the most wonderful moments of our lives...I believe this to be true. Cosette looked just like a porcelain doll when she was born...with her white, creamy complexion and her stunning, light blue eyes...she captured everybody's heart that met her...and still does! Her Great Grandma Allred mentioned that she was perfect...just like a porcelain doll...and she couldn't believe that Cosette had to go through so much pain and forever bear scars on her body. Cosette STILL looks like a porcelain doll...but now she is Eternally touched by a loving Father in Heaven! David blessed her that while she was still very young...she would be blessed to establish a strong relationship with her Father in Heaven...and through this experience...she has done just that!

We waited almost seven hours to see our sweet baby again...after they wheeled her away for surgery from the Emergency Room. I cannot describe the literal hell it is to wait in a cold hospital waiting room and not know whether you are going to see your child again or not. Even though it was hard to see her like this...I was just grateful to be able to "see" her. Her face was swollen, and she was unconscious...but she was one of the most BEAUTIFUL sites that my eyes have beheld...in my entire life! The only other event in my life that could come close to how special this one was...was when I was across the alter from David in the Mesa temple...and I saw FOREVER in his eyes!






"Cosette Just After Surgery"















To this day I get physically sick and want to throw up whenever I think about the accident or seeing my daughter's throat in the mouth of my neighbor's dog. It makes me want to just fall to the ground and weep like a baby! There are SO many emotions that come with an incident like this. First, there is the overwhelming fear that grips our hearts and paralyzes our minds! Then, there is the drowning sorrow that threatens to take away any "hope" we may have left. Next, there is the fierce anger at the circumstances which have transpired...and the desire to destroy the very thing that almost took your child's life. Finally, there is peace...the kind of peace that fills the soul and drives out any other dark feelings or hopelessness. With that peace comes understanding, acceptance, and finally forgiveness! It was the hardest seeing Cosette like this...completely immobilized and helpless! She couldn't even breathe on her own! She couldn't wake up and acknowledge that we were there...she just laid there for three days and suffered. This experience has taught me that we have NO control over what happens in our lives! We may have the illusion that somehow we can protect our children and keep them out of harm's way...but only the Lord has the power to do that. All we can do is submit to his will and ask EVERY day for his gracious love and protection! The ONLY control we have is whether or not we turn our hearts away from our Lord in times of tribulation...or fall to our knees and plead for his divine peace and understanding! Our family will always cherish the things which we have learned from this experience...and I pray that we may NEVER forget the lessons that have written themselves on our hearts. Most importantly, that we are NOT alone...and that a loving Heavenly Father watches over us and is ALWAYS there with open arms to soothe our troubled hearts and mend our souls!




The body is an amazing thing...the way that it can take so much trauma and pain...and yet begin again to heal itself...is nothing short of a miracle. I remember coming into the Pediatric ICU and seeing Cosette off of the breathing machine...and using an Oxygen mask. I was ecstatic...and even more excited to hold her for the first time!





Holding your child for the first time...after you have thought that you may never be able to hold her again in this life...is BEYOND words! I wasn't able to cuddle with my daughter for at least three days! Those days were filled with anguish and sorrow at seeing our precious little girl in so much pain! She was completely helpless...and it made it worse to not be able to hold her close and comfort her. When she was on the breathing machine...all I could do was stroke her sweet hand and whisper in her ear how much her Daddy and I loved her. I shall NEVER forget the glorious day when they allowed her to be placed in my arms once more...no words can express what it meant to me in that moment...as her mother to hold her close once more! I'm ever grateful for that moment and shall cherish it for as long as I live!

So many people came to our aid and served our sweet family...during this time of great trial and sadness! From the many people (including Bishop Free and Bishop Shreeve) who came to visit Cosette in the hospital...to the members of our ward relief society that didn't even ask...but came in one day and cleaned my whole house while we were at the hospital! We had meals every night...and one of our most special guests was one of our very good friends, Ahtanya Riggs! She has experience a child who was near death and spent a considerable amount of time in the ICU! Here she is reading to Cosette from a book that she brought for her! Cosette still loves to have us read that same book, "Merry Christmas, Curious George" to this day...it is one of her favorites! My heart cannot express the gratitude we feel for everybody who serve our family or for all of the people who kept us in their prayers. My life will NEVER be the same after this out pouring of love and service! We are FOREVER grateful!!



Shortly before her accident...Cosette refused to let us call her by her given name. Instead she would say, "NO, Don't call me Cosette - my name is PRINCESS!" We would just laugh and love every minute of it! She even introduced herself to strangers by "Princess". When we brought her home from the hospital...after seven long days...we made sure that she fit the part of a Princess! My mom and sister Tricia bought her the dress and a Tiara. I bought her some sparkly shoes that had the Disney Princesses inside the sole. She is truly a "princess" - she is a daughter of God - and I know that he loves her as much as we do! I'm so thankful to still have our "Princess" with us!


The name Cosette means, "Victorious People". I believe that her name fits her well...especially after the resilient spirit that she has shown in the face of adversity. There are many reasons that Cosette is still with us...number one is that the Lord is merciful and gracious...number two is that she definitely has a purpose on this Earth...and number three is that she has a determined spirit - which does not allow her to give up easily! She will always carry the scars of her ordeal...but we have told her over and over again... that they are BEAUTIFUL reminders that the Lord loves her dearly and cared enough to preserve her life so that she could fulfill her mission here on Earth!