Not Everyone Dies..
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by James Rick
Jacqueline Saburido was taking a break from college and industrial engineering classes when she came to the United States from Venezuela to study English.
This is she and her Father, 1998.
This is she on Vacation in Venezuela.
Birthday party as a child.
At a party with friends the same night…
The car in which Jacqueline traveled. She was hit by another car that was driven by a 17-year old male student on his way home after having several beers with friends. This was in December 1999.
After the accident Jacqueline has needed over 50 operations and is still receiving more.
Jacqueline’s two friends were killed. She was trapped in the car and rescuers couldn’t get her out. The engine caught fire. She screamed in agony for 45 seconds, then silence.
When rescuers finally got her out she was badly burned and partially blind. Doctor’s had to amputate her fingers.
Jacqueline getting treatment.
Three months after accident.
At first Jacquie needed eye drops to keep her vision. But doctor’s have successfully transplanted a new eyelid.
The driver received two counts of manslaughter while intoxicated. With one simple decision he’ll be in prison until he’s 28.
He’s aware of the damage caused. He still cannot forgive himself for driving drunk on that night
Not everyone who gets hit with a car dies. This picture was taken 4 years after the accident and the doctors are still working on Jacqueline, whose body was covered with 60% severe burnings.
My immediate impression upon seeing the before and after is shock. And a sudden deep compassion for Jacqueline. It’s obvious there wasn’t much Jacqueline could do to prevent this from happening. She and her friends were driving down the road, trusting the other drivers to be responsible – something that nearly billions of people around the world do every day.
The accident left her with vision intact. Can you imagine how you would feel if the next time you looked in the mirror this was your face? Imagine knowing that two of your friends just died and you are now horrendously disfigured, and you did nothing to directly to cause it. What thoughts would run through your head?
I know I’d be very angry. I’d think about all the sudden limitations I’d have; no fingers, a severely burned body a face that would cause others to view me with pity. I’d think how unfair it was that me of all people would have to suffer like this. I’d wonder why I didn’t just die at the scene like my other two friends – perhaps their fate was more preferable to this. I’d suddenly view myself very differently. The first time I looked in the mirror my self image would erode a great deal. All of this would make me very angry. I’d probably be even angrier knowing the driver was still alive and out of prison in 14 years living a normal life.
After some time of stewing in anger, my awareness causes me to look for the highest value perception in any circumstance. So I think about the utility of my anger – it doesn’t change anything. It only makes my situation worse. I might contemplate suicide – but that seems like such a wasteful option; even though I had lost a great deal, why would I purposely give away the rest? I still had a brain capable of thinking. I still had a voice capable of speaking. I still had time to make some kind of impact. And perhaps there something of value to gain from this accident – I wouldn’t really know unless I searched for it. I’d also realize that what happened to the driver at this point was none of my concern, I could only hope that he learned something from it so he would never do it again. But wishing him a bad life would do nothing to improve my condition and to paraphrase Ghandi: hatred is the poison we carry around harming nobody but ourselves.
No I would have to let go of all the negative emotion. Take a deep breath and view whatever I had left was still a tool to aid me in the life experience. After much physical and emotional pain, I feel I’d arrive at the question: what could I learn from the experience and how could I use all of my available resources to their full potential?
Incredibly, this is what young Jacqueline (now 24) has done. Jacqueline’s story has been heard around the world (by an estimated 300 million people) she has appeared on Oprah and her campaign is viewed as one of the most successful “Don’t Drink & Drive” campaigns ever. In her videos she appears very thankful to be alive and grateful to all of those who have helped her.
THE SEARCH FOR THE TRUE YOU
The most intimate piece of your identity is the body and especially your face. Though you may never experience a sudden and dramatic change like Jacqueline, you will inevitably experience aging. If one day you were twenty and the next day you woke to be one hundred and twenty – you’d have to make some serious adjustments! However, unless you encounter a major accident like Jacqueline, you will inevitably encounter some or all of these symptoms of aging: wrinkles, balding, performance decline. Any of these all have an impact on your psyche. The attempts to preserve and enhance the self at all costs are rampant and is evident in the booming multi-billion dollar industries that both perpetuate them (through advertising) and feed them (through vanity products or services). In conclusion, perhaps the tragedy of Jacqueline is a powerful reminder to look beyond what you can see, to find who you truly are.
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For more information on Jacqueline Saburido visit: http://www.helpjacqui.com/home.htm
18 Responses to “Not Everyone Dies..”
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April 22nd, 2008 at 12:41 am
WOW! Thank you for your incredible insight..
This speaks volumes…
” This is a powerful reminder to look beyond what you can see, to find who you truly are.”
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:47 am
This was a horror story. Very sad situation..
May 7th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
I almost like crying when I saw the pictures. Then came the story which triggers me to write something and share this to my blog. I don’t know how can I explain this feeling but it’s really really unfair! Of all the people, why would she suffer from such a horrible nightmare. And its just so amazing that she was able to recovered from the time she experienced it. I hope you could be able to allow me to repost the pictures that you have here in my blog. Ill let you know if Im going to post it on my blog. Thanks Rick!
http://hiraya.co.nr
May 8th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Catherine & Clifford for taking the time to comment.
Fjordz,
I want to respond to your ‘its really really’ unfair statement. Let me ask you – to whom would it be fair for this to happen? There are many things in life that are just beyond reason. There is no ‘justification’ for what happened – it just is. Why it happened and to her specifically – we can only speculate. As Clifford said, it is sad indeed.
I had someone else write me to say that they were profoundly grateful for their own life after they read her story. Perhaps there is value in this tragedy if we look for it. Although this innocent girl has to sacrifice a normal life to potentially benefit millions of others (with gratitude for their own life) that’s one possible purpose. And this isn’t counting her own potential soul growth as a result of being forced to look beyond an Ego identity. Or perhaps her tragedy is just that, a tragedy. The lesson here is whatever YOU decide it means for your own journey. Wish I could give you more to go on, unfortunately life’s lessons aren’t always rational.
- James Rick
P.S. Regarding Pictures: I have found the pictures in public use elsewhere and assume they are okay to post for non-commercial purposes. It is in that assumption I have used the pictures.
May 10th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
As I read the story, my first words were: Oh My God! Later, I’d rather be dead or blind, next, why did this happen? I never questioned why her though because I agree with you, nobody deserves to be in that situation.
But knowing that she has accepted her fate and is helping a lot of people feeling thankful of their being, I learned the answer to the question I didn’t dare ask. Jacqueline is very strong and I admire her. She has beautiful heart that is capable of seeing beauty even in the ugliest circumstances.
May 16th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Wow! Powerfull beyond belief to the brutal truth and reality of life’s lessons. This story has touched me and my children in a powerful way. I am Thankful Jacqueline has taken this lesson and chose to share it with millions of other people whom perhaps just “existed” in life not truly “appreciating” every single thing, person, place we have in our own personal lives.
My ego wants to shed tears for the pain, tragedy and experience she has went through but then my heart swells with joy knowing she is a large enough soul to take something we would preceive as “bad” and truly make the very best of it by sharing her experience.
James, you truly have impacted my life as a whole by reading all you personally write, and by reading what you suggest to read.
I am on my way to living my Full Potential, and I Thank you for your gifts! As I use to tell you…your words of wisdom are delicious appetizers for the main course on its way to me!
Signed,
A Very greatful Soul
JP
June 14th, 2008 at 4:50 am
Let this be lesson to others. Powerful message here.
June 14th, 2008 at 6:22 am
An amazingly sad and yet uplifting story. It could well have been your paraphrase of Ghandi that struck me the most, as hatred is something so many of us carry for the most trivial of reasons. A story like this makes you snap out of your petty day-to-day squabbling and look to a bigger design. Thanks for posting this – I will bring others attention to it.
June 14th, 2008 at 10:20 am
Syahid, Peter – thanks for reflecting on this. There certainly is a powerful lesson to be learned here. I’m grateful for Jacqueline’s unconscious but massive contribution.
June 14th, 2008 at 10:24 am
JP – Thanks for the appreciation.
The lessons here are different for everyone, what you find is yours to keep. Spirit operates through ‘James Rick’ for your Soul’s journey. I’m glad you have found something to take with you.
- JR
June 27th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
oh my god, i started crying, i can´t believe it
June 29th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
How much time have any of you logged into a Natal Intensive Care Unit? Or a burn ward? Your display of this poor girls suffering is gratuitous and self-serving. What is the point of this pathetic existential horror-show? The fact is horrible suffering and death is a part of life. Those who believe in God and his mystery can find meaning and relief from the most terrible of tragedies. Look into a person’s heart and soul. The world of flesh… whether tortured, diseased, maimed… remains nothing but that.
June 29th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Eto
Thank you for commenting.
One need not log time in an intensive care unit to feel compassion, which is in my observation at the root of many of these comments.
And as for the point of what you view as a ‘pathetic existential horror show’ (one of many possible perspectives) there are several points. Aside from the obvious one which is to deter drunk driving, here is an inspirational young woman who teaches us acceptance and forgiveness by example. In addition, her unfortunate disfigurement is a poignant reminder that the flesh in all its forms is indeed temporary.
I can see the good intention behind your confrontational comments and I appreciate you taking the time to share your views here today.
- JR
March 19th, 2009 at 10:29 pm
Great quality stuff.
September 25th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
I enjoy this site, it is worth me coming back
November 18th, 2009 at 11:51 am
Have been waiting for this kinda stuff for years
January 30th, 2010 at 9:24 pm
wow that is so sad but such an inspiring story!! good on jacqueline for making the best of such a horrible situation!
February 13th, 2010 at 10:48 pm
This should be shown in all the high schools in the United States of America. A picture is worth an thousand words takes on a profound meaning when coupled with these images of this young woman. No amount of preaching to your children can have anymore impact than what is portrayed in the pictures!