December 14th, 2011 my life changed... forever. I woke up that morning at exactly 6:45 am expecting an average Wednesday. All that was on my mind was what was I getting for Christmas. I got ready at a speedy pace and was out the door by 7:15 but before I left I wanted to take a quick glance in the mirror. I scanned my outfit and was very pleased but then suddenly my eyes were locked in a gaze with their reflection. My stomach churned and knotted up, as if my body was desperately trying to signal me an urgent message. The stare down with my reflection soon broke with the sound of the obnoxious honking of my moms van. I walked away feeling as if my well being was dependent upon that message that my reflection was attempting to signal me but soon disregarded it when my mom began asking me if their we're any final touches that I wanted to make to my Christmas list. We further engaged ourselves into our conversation which I vaguely remember  until we began talking about dreams. My moms smile soon wiped off her face as if she had seen a ghost. She began telling me she had a horrid dream, she had woken up terrified. I knew she refrained from telling me in detail for the sake of me having a good day so I got off the car and took one last glance at my moms concerned expression and had an urge to mouth the words "I love you." I walked into school not wanting to part ways with my mom for our relationship is one of gold.
       I made my way towards my science teachers class and prepped myself for a long morning. I’ve been getting to school early everyday this week for tutoring and staying late for wrestling practice. I’ve been so exhausted I felt as though I might just drop dead! I proceeded to enter the class room and made my way towards my usual seat only to find someone else sitting their. Normally I would put up an argument but I was just not up for it today. My eyes soon grew heavy when the mention of cells and their complex structures was brought up but luckily the bell dismissing all students to homeroom had rung. I went straight to the library and reported to my duties which was hosting the morning announcements. The person in charge of the announcements was a heavyset older women whom always looked the same with her awkward, oily bangs and grouchy facial features which were followed by her rude personality. The announcements were surprisingly short giving me time to hang out with my friends. I made a quick stop in the bathroom to check out how my hair looked and made my way to my first class. The rest of my morning my mind and my body were in two places at once, as the day went on I felt worse.

It was now lunch time and I was starving but my friend texted me to meet them at the bathroom and of course I did. I spent lunch with my girls in the bathroom and time slipped through my fingers. Lunch had come to an end. I had a jabbing pain in my stomach and I realized that this was because of my hunger... I regret not having eaten anything.

I proceeded to make my way to my last class and the rest of my afternoon was a blur. The bell had rung and I gathered my belongings and made my way to the bathroom. Once I had changed out of my uniform and into my workout clothes and made my way to the cafeteria which was where the wrestling team always practices. I carefully placed my hand on the cold handle bar which opened the door and once my hand and that handle had made contact I felt my heart skip a beat and at that point I had no doubt in my mind that my night was going to be a very long night...

I proceeded to walk in the cafeteria with excitement because today I was going to wrestle with people other than my frail partner. Before we began to wrestle we had to warm-up. This required 13 laps around the mat, sit-ups, push-ups and wrestling drills. It soon came to my attention that the AC was off and water access was limited by the coach. At this point it wasn’t a big deal because I was going to wrestle!

My first opponent was this pudgy boy with red curly hair and big light eyes. I could sense the fear by the look in his eyes. The sound of the coaches whistle was my queue to attack. I pinned him down in a matter of seconds and I felt like a champion. My next opponent was my usual partner. She was very frail and petite but I was the only one that could wrestle her in todays practice. The whistle was blown and I was surprised, I had underestimated her strength. Her arms were wrapped around my neck and mines around hers. I pushed and pushed but no matter what she wouldn’t budge. I had a strategic plan that involved my new move, I pushed her with all my strength and she soon lost all balance and fell. On the way down I felt her try to tug away but it was to late... when our bodies crashed on the mat she screamed causing the hairs on my neck to rise. I had broken her arm and tore a ligament in her shoulder but at the moment we weren’t certain of this but judging by the extremity of her scream something was broken. The coaches and team players rushed to her to and within minutes her mother had arrived. I was extremely apologetic but I knew at this point my apology was senseless. My heart sank... all this was my fault. Her pain, her tears and her mothers worries were all my fault.

When she had left practice resumed as if nothing but I still did not return to my normal self. I had this ill and guilty feeling in my stomach but the lack of AC, water and food obviously did not help. I felt anxious and sick so I went to the bathroom. I splashed water on face and looked in the mirror again. I could see myself looking straight at my reflection but it seemed surreal. I felt as though I was looking in the eyes of a different person. This feeling grew worse and I was sure that this was not normal, I needed help. I swung the door open and took one step, I reached out and was about to call out for help when suddenly... mixed shades of purple filled my eyes, lighting struck through my veins, and my life now changed. My eyes opened and I saw everything in double... triple. The coach was pulling me up off the floor, my body was spasming. I was terrified. I yelled “Mam-WHAT HAPPENED TO ME! WHATS HAPPENING!” I had tried to yell for my mother but I was interrupted by the absence of my teeth. I yelled at the top of my lungs, I wouldn’t stop. I heard the coach ask a parent what had happened and her response was “La nina se callo! (The girl fell.)” I looked down and saw the amount of blood pouring out of my mouth. I looked around and in my mind everyone around me disappeared and I was alone. It was just me and the pool of blood. I proceeded to walk to the cafeteria, still seeing double. Before entering I took one look back and I regret this. I saw my blood, everywhere. I looked like horror scene from a bad killer movie. Every step I took the blood kept dripping, I kept yelling, my mind was lost.

I sat on one of the lunch table that wasn’t folded up. The blood wouldn’t stop. I was given paper to bite down on where my teeth were supposed to be. In my mind my life was over. No one will ever think I’m pretty. Why me? Why do I have to suffer this pain. Although at the moment I was not in pain, I was in utter shock. I was lonely and scared. My own screams terrified me. They began to attempt cleaning me up. The blood was all over my body even though I was only bleeding from my mouth, so I thought. I was handed a wet paper towel to wipe my face, I touched my chin and the screams began again. I had never in my life felt raw skin. My chin was busted open and gushing blood. I screamed and I screamed. The cafeteria door opened and an angel had walked in. My favorite teacher had stopped what he was doing and came to comfort me. I swung my arms around him and bawled in tears, I was no longer alone. Everyone had tried to get away from me in fear of coming in contact with my blood, but this man didn’t care. He saw me in fear, vulnerable and guided me through this. He had always been my father away from home but in my heart I knew that he was destined to help me tonight. I clung on to him and kept saying help me help me. He told me everything is going to be okay, I promise. I absorbed his words and believed him. He called my mom and calmly explained to her the situation even though their was no calm way to explain to a mother that her daughter just fainted and broke her face he managed to get her to the school safely. The ambulance was here and they were of absolute no use. I despise the paramedic that was “helping” me. He had the decency to look at me, a young girl in the most vulnerable state and tell me this was all my fault but I know that one day karma will take care of him. My grandma walked in, but it was still not my mom. I needed my mom more than anyone. I needed her strength and her love to fuel the life back into me. When that door opened to no surprise it was my concerned mother. She held back her tears and I could tell it took a lot to look at me in the eyes and tell me I was going to be okay. My sister was crying, and she hugged me and whispered “I love you” into my ear. They handed my mother a milk carton containing my teeth in one hand and a daughter with no teeth in the other and simply told her to drive me to the hospital. I dashed to the front seat of the car and we were headed to Miami Children’s hospital. Out of curiosity I lowered the mirror in car and removed the napkin in my mouth... I began to tremble. I was hideous, how was this ever going to be fixed. My precious smile was now taken from me.

We arrived at the hospital and they did not make me wait. I was rushed to a confined room in which I did not feel comfortable. The nurses in a hurry explained that my teeth had to be put back into my mouth before anything. They cleaned my mouth and had no mercy. They shoved my teeth back into my mouth without any anesthesia. It felt like knives replaced my teeth. I heard my mom on the phone with my father and I heard him crying. I cringed, never in my life had I seen my father cry. My mom had kept it together and did not once shed a tear. The specialist had arrived and it was now time to put a brace to keep my teeth in place. She had to inject anesthesia and till this day I remember the pain. It was a pain like no other, unexplainable. I think about it and I still fear that pain. The process was now over. I did not bother to look in the mirror for I knew I would be greatly disappointed in the reflection. My mouth in pain and my chin busted open, I was a new person. I walked into my room and my heart was now warmed by the love that I felt. My sister, my dad, my brother and his band of six boys occupied my room. They were all there for me, I was so happy.

The rest of my time at the hospital flew by, they sewed my chin up and I was soon sent home. My first meal was mashed potatoes from KFC. I did not know how I would make do with eating only soft food, but most importantly I did not know how I would make do with my shorted and jagged chipmunk teeth either. I was shattered. I went to bed that night scared of what the future will hold. How will I ever recover I thought to myself. I fell in a deep sleep.

Next morning I woke up and like every teen I went on Facebook. I was so surprised to see the mass amount of wall posts and messages I received from my peers telling me to get better. This inspired me too face my fears, I looked my mom in the eye and i told her, “I am going to school tomorrow.” It was the last day before winter break and I had to make my presence. The rest of the day was all about me, everyone babied me. Im not one to enjoy this type of attention. I hate to be the damsel in distress.

The next day I got ready for school and did not give it much thought because I knew if I would , I could change my mind.I walked into the school and I was now a celebrity. Teachers were hugging me random students would stop me and ask me how I was doing. I felt accepted which is indeed what I needed. The principal called me into his office and asked me if I was okay. He was so kind and supportive as were all my teachers. The students were all so kind to me, I was sure I was going to be okay. I just wanted to be normal again. My day was so amazing. I knew I made a good decision by coming to school.

My winter break was very tough. I was self conscious about my smile. I knew I would have to deal with this my whole life. The doctors said that in six months I would get crowns on my teeth and they would look normal. I went through christmas and new years looking the way I did. I was lonely and I would cry to myself. I knew I had to be tougher and I knew I would be fine but it was so tough. My soul was shattered and I felt hopeless, a feeling I shared with no one.

I do have to acknowledge the guidance that my mother provided me with. I know it was just as tough for her as it was for me. She aided me throughout my vulnerability and I praise her for that.The strength that my father gave me and the support that my teachers gave me. I am a different person now. I still believe that the teacher that helped me the day of the accident is one my guardian angels that god had sent into my life. Although some people may not see it, I feel it. I am stronger. I shall embrace my past to excel in my future, I am not ashamed of it. I even have the scars to prove it.
The doctors tested me for everything and did not yet find a reason as to why I fainted. The assume it has to do with the fact that I had not eaten and did exercise. I have had three root canals done. I did get fillings in which helped my teeth look somewhat normal but they were only temporary. Six months passed and I got my crowns. Even though I appear to be “normal” I am still and will forever be jaded. Speaking of my experience never fails to bring tears to my eyes.
This is me, and this is my story. On December 14th my life changed... forever.

“Life will knock me down seven times and I will stand up eight.”