BAILEY GASCH
No one could have prepared Texas sixth grader Bailey Gaush for all that would happen that day or the way God would work in her life. She had been involved in sports most of her life, but her true love had always been rodeo. That day was especially important. It was the final rodeo in a saddle series and her point average was so far ahead of the other competitors all she had to do was ride in every event to win. But, Bailey wasn’t happy to just “show up”. She had already missed one rodeo that season to show her Angus heifer and was still ahead in points, but even if she and her horse, Sissy, simply walked the event, she would win the saddle.
But, this day was to prove just how things can change in the blink of an eye and for her; the course of her life would be altered. That morning after she and Sissy competed in the first event, her Mom was a little concerned because Bailey may not be focused and do her best. Having fun is great, but as in any competitive sport, accidents and injuries can happen to the best and most prepared athlete. Riding a horse at breakneck speeds, although incredibly exciting, is not to be taken lightly. So when it was time for the second event, pole bending, not only their favorite event but the event they loved the most, Bailey and Sissy rode hard. Even though she didn’t have to win the event, Bailey said she felt her competitive nature take over and the run was perfect.
They were finishing the last turn when they hit the pole. She reached back to keep it from falling and Sissy hit another gear. Not expecting this new burst of speed, she lost her balance and came out of the saddle, hitting the ground hard and landed flat on her back, knocking the air out of her body. Later she was told the sound was terrible, so loud it was heard by everyone in the arena. She remembers curling up into a ball and could not straighten her body. She knew something was really wrong. She couldn't get up. In fact, she couldn't move at all. As she laid there in the dirt of the arena, she couldn't feel my arms or legs. She was terrified. She realized she was paralyzed from the neck down.
When she was able to open her eyes, the first thing she saw was the face of a man and he was just holding her. She recognized him as the father of another competitor. He was there from the time she hit the ground until she was loaded into the ambulance and she never forgot that kind face looking down telling her she was going to be okay. Right then, she didn’t feel okay. She was scared.
Bailey remembers her Mom running into the arena and she could see that she was touching her but couldn’t feel anything and that scared her even more. Because of the power lines, the rescue chopper couldn’t land near her and she had to be carried, risking further injury. Her Mom wasn't allowed on the chopper, so she had to drive to Children's Medical Center in Dallas. Can you imagine what that was like, following the helicopter, scared and not knowing how badly her daughter was injured?
Once in the emergency room, all the equipment had to be brought in so she wouldn’t have to be moved. X-rays, tubes and wires were hooked up everywhere. The room was packed with people working on her. The x-rays showed nothing broken but she still couldn’t move. The doctors ran tests after tests and they finally called her parents aside and to tell them that their daughter would never walk again. They were devastated. How could they tell Bailey, the one that loved sports, being outdoors and riding horses, that she would never walk again? Horses were her life, what she ate, breathed and slept. What would they do now? The doctors gave them no hope.
But, God had other ideas for Bailey that day. He always promised that he would provide Guardian Angels to watch over us. Her horse was uninjured and had been taken home. Back at the arena friends and anxiously waited for news. The accident had looked so horrific that when the rescue helicopter left it didn’t seem there would be a good ending to this day.
Even as a young girl, Bailey had faith. Lying in that hospital bed with all the needles, wires and tubes in her body, she began to pray. She praised God anyway and said no matter what, she would love Him. As she laid there, no feeling below her neck and not being able to move, she continued to pray and asked God to touch her. Six hours after being admitted to the emergency room and being told she would never walk again, her foot twitched. The nurse saw it and asked if she could try and move it again. She tried and it moved. She asked her to try and move her fingers and she could. It was nothing short of a miracle. The doctors could not believe it.
The doctors kept her there for a few more hours for observation and she remembers her Mom curling up in the hospital bed with her, holding her close. The doctor told her parents she could go home but they must be very careful, she would be extremely sore and it was important that she not get jostled or bumped because her damaged nerves could easily be reinjured. He said she also had severe whiplash and would be severely bruised.
Bailey left the hospital that day and never had a bruise, not a bump, not one scratch, knot, not one outward sign to show for that terrible fall. But, she has never forgotten that day and the way God intervened and sent his Guardian Angels to watch over her. She lives life to the fullest every day and even though she understands she will still make mistakes, knowing God’s love and forgiveness she knows she is OK.
When she was lying there in the arena she remembers walking into a light and she met a man who told her to go back because she had not finished what she was supposed to do. You see, she realizes that fear comes from not knowing who you trust. She did not give into that fear because she knows who she trusts. She hopes to live each day deliberately, intentionally, consciously and with purpose.
Today Bailey is a beautiful young lady and a junior at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas majoring in Animal Production with an emphasis on Equine Science. She competes in breakaway and team roping, both as a header and healer and also a barrel racer, training her own horses. She has eight horses and rides almost every day while still attending classes.
She is happy to share her story and hopes that it will be a blessing to others who have experienced setbacks in their life. She will never forget the day she was surrounded by her Guardian Angels and knows they are ever with us, seen and unseen, invisible and in the form of that man who held her in the arena, the doctors and nurses in the hospital and even our precious family and friends. She is so grateful. No matter what obstacles you encounter in your life, you are never alone.
Written by,
Bennie Jean Kuehnle,
January 2012
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