Many of us remember the heart rendering news that a young girl had been struck by an automobile while jogging near her home in a residential area of the Santa Clarita Valley. The incident occurred on July 24, 1999. Just six months ago, and the prognosis for this young person was not good. Many friends and acquaintances, and parishioners who did not know Christine personally, immediately joined her family in prayer to ask the Lord for a blessing. A Mass was quickly arranged on her behalf, and OLPH Church was filled to overflowing. Christine and her family are thankful to the Lord for having heard the prayers of the many, and are forever grateful to those faithful who supported her recovery with their prayers.

     Christine is doing well now, although the trauma of her severe injuries will be with her for a long time, and possibly for the remainder of her life. She has had four operations since the accident, most of which were directed at healing severe injuries to her left leg. Immediately following the accident Christine lost seventy percent of her blood requiring her to receive six pints of blood during her first night in the hospital. Christine’s mother, Nona, also expresses her thanks and praise for a neighbor, a registered nurse, who witnessed the accident, and immediately administered first aid to slow the severe bleeding.

     More thanks and praise were expressed for the paramedics at the scene, and for Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital and their emergency staff. Also on duty, at the time, was a top trauma surgeon (Doctor Lo) from UCLA, a doctor who is scheduled to be on duty, at HMNMH, only three times a month. Nona credits him with having saved Christine’s life by his immediate and decisive action backed by his professional expertise.

     Experiencing a life threatening accident is not what one would be willing to endure just to be treated like royalty for a few days; but that is pretty close to what happened to Christine. Through her sister Mary, who works for Jay Leno, Christine was given a special invitation (along with her family) to attend a showing of the Tonight Show. In addition, while Christine was in the hospital, the staff of the Tonight Show sent her a gift basket full of black and white cow figurines which they had been informed she collected as a hobby. Not to be outdone by his staff, Jay Leno sent Christine a black and white cow clock, which he removed from the wall in his office and autographed for her. That was nice, but it gets better.

     Christine is a big Garth Brooks fan, and accepted the invitation to visit the Tonight Show on the evening, early last October, that he was scheduled to be a guest on the show. Christine brought along her favorite Garth Brooks CD, hoping for an autograph. Being an honored guest, she was invited backstage (along with her family) where she took the opportunity to thank Leno and his staff for their kindness and for the basket full of figurines.

     As luck would have it, while backstage she ran into Garth Brooks, and he very willingly autographed her copy of his CD. He also inquired about her condition, and for details regarding what had occurred. Christine explained that she had just been released from the hospital again, and that she was scheduled to return on October 18 for a nerve graft operation on her injured left leg. Without hesitation, he invited her and her entire family to visit the Saturday Night Live show where he would be making a guest appearance on November 13.

     On November 11, Christine and her parents (Nona and Sparky), along with her sisters Carolyn and Mary, arrived at Van Nuys Airport and were driven directly to a private, eight passenger, Hawker 800 executive jet. Treatment on board the aircraft was first class all the way. The jet landed at Teterboro Airport, New Jersey, and was met by a limousine and driver who were to be at their disposal throughout their stay in New York City. The family was taken to the Le Parker Meridian Hotel located on 57th Ave and 6th Street, just three blocks from Central Park. For three nights and four days, Mr. Brooks had made two suites available for the family’s comfort. Christine’s sisters Kathy and Elizabeth, and brother Michael soon joined the group along with Elizabeth’s husband Alex, Michael’s wife, Renee, and their son Michael, Jr. It was truly a family get together to help celebrate Christine’s recovery.

     Along with leaving the limousine at her disposal during her four day stay in New York City, Mr. Brooks had his business manager (Garth’s brother) stop by to ensure that all were comfortable, and to present her with an envelope with some spending money in it. Christine took full advantage of her stay, and said she was "impressed" with New York City, and what it had to offer to the first time visitor. She had an opportunity to tour the Statue of Liberty, Wall Street, and Central Park, where she took the famous horse drawn carriage ride through the park. She also got to see the Broadway show, "Ragtime." The trip was special to Christine for another reason. On November 15, the day of her fifteenth birthday, she got to celebrate by going out to dinner with her entire family.

     Of course the whole purpose of the trip was to be an audience participant when Garth Brooks made his guest appearance on Saturday Night Live on November 13. Christine and her family were there by special invitation, which meant they got to go backstage and meet with Garth Brooks before the start of the show. She was very impressed with the fact that he was not only generous with doing things for others outwardly, but that he took a sincere personal interest in those he wished to honor. He spent an hour and a half visiting with Christine and her family, and personally pushed her around in her wheelchair giving her the honored guest grand tour backstage.

     In early December Garth Brooks appeared once again on the Tonight Show, and Christine was invited to be an audience participant, and met with him backstage once again. Mr. Brooks displayed a sincere interest in Christine’s progress, and was pleased that she and her family had enjoyed their visit to New York City.

     Christine is doing much better now, and is left with many fond memories of a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Since the accident she has not been able to attend school, but has continued her studies utilizing a home study program. On January 31, she started her freshman year at Hart High School, and is elated to once again have the opportunity to attend school with her peers.
 
 

Copyright © 2000 Ted Spatrisano