Thank you all for the lovely feedback regarding the story I posted up about Mum A few days ago! It makes me happy that her hard work, and ability to live a great life of service, even though she came from very bad circumstances is recognised by many of you.

Many of you may know the phrase ‘a blessing in disguise’, which refers to something happening in life which may look very bad from the outside, but perhaps it end up being something very positive when looked at from a different angle or when viewed after the event has taken place.....

‘I can’t wait to take this out for a ride!’ Paul thought, as he was filling up his brand new motorbike with fuel. ?? 

He had recently been bought a brand new motorbike for his birthday, and as a passionate car and bike enthusiast, he was keen to get it out on the road. 

He filled it up and then took it for a ride. As he was only 19 years old, this was quite special to him and the feeling of independence it gave made him extremely proud.

He was always sensible when driving his cars or motorbike, as this is the way his Dad had raised him. He never sped, and was always such a careful driver. Enjoying the freedom and ability to go where he wanted rather than just going fast. 

10 minutes in to his journey, out of nowhere a lorry (big contained vehicle) pulled up alongside him, leaving barely any room between the two of them. It was so close to him that he felt uncomfortable, as this was not the way he liked to ride. 

That was the last thing he remembered....and he woke up in the hospital on a life support machine one month later.

It turned out that the lorry had hit him and pushed him in to the curb, causing the bike to flip over with him on it. The impact had seriously injured him, damaging his skull, back and legs, and nearly killing him. There was blood everywhere and he was lying in the road unconscious. He was initially believed to be dead.

Ambulances shortly arrived, and he was taken in to hospital, although still had not woken up. His head had been seriously damaged and they did not know if he would survive. 

He was put on a life support machine to keep him alive, and a team of experienced nurses and doctors were assigned to him 24 hours each day and 7 days of the week.

After many weeks which involved him temporarily dying and having to be brought back to life, he woke up!

He was in a terrible state and the damage he suffered would likely affect him for the rest of his life. But simply to be alive was the best news his family could have possibly had.

Over the course of the weeks that he was in a coma, the family of Paul had become very close with the nurses and doctors, as they would be speaking with them every day and waiting to hear updates. One nurse in particular was extremely helpful over this time, and had worked extra hours to be by his side, and to console his family. Telling them that she believed he would not die and would wake up soon.

She became his primary care nurse now that he was awake, and they became very close friends. She was so happy that he had woken up, and it was now her main goal to ensure that he was as comfortable as he could be for the following months where he would have surgeries as the doctors attempted to rehabilitate his body. 

They laughed and joked together each day, and having this Woman by his side each day gave Paul something to live for. He promised the nurse, who’s name he now new as ‘Yvonne’, that when he finally got out of the hospital, he would take her out for a meal to thank her for all her hard work. Deep down he told himself ‘I will marry this woman one day’, but as he was lying in a hospital bed, and barely alive, he thought it was best not to tell her this now!

She was flattered, and told him that ‘I am only doing my job!’, when really she was started to feel strong emotions towards him, and wanted to live through this tragic ordeal more than anything in the world.

After over a year in total, Paul was finally able to leave the hospital and live a normal life. He was able to take Yvonne out for the meal he promised her, and they had become even closer. Paul was surprised that his parents were so close to Yvonne, but all the time whilst he was in a coma, she had been with his family and so they had become good friends and his family were extremely thankful for what Yvonne had done for him.

She was always round Paul’s house and eating dinner with him and his family, or going out together with Paul to the cinema or walking in nature. They had become best friends and soulmates. Having gone through his horrible situation together they had become extremely close, and within one year they were married.

Paul had lost his job, his life, and his youth through this tragic event. He made a full recovery eventually, although his brain was damaged and it is believed that this may be the reason he still suffers from terrible migraines every month which leave him stuck in bed for days and unable to see. This is a small price to pay in his opinion, and he not only has his life, but also the woman of his dreams and the love of his life by his side.

You could say that this event was a ‘blessing in disguise’ for Paul, as it is through this negative situation that he found a positive, and has now been happily married for over 40 years to Yvonne. This event brought them extremely close together, and they are not only husband and wife, but also best friends. 

They travel the world together (when they are not busy working hard!) go and watch football matches together, and cook meals for each other. 

They have since had two adult children and are extremely happy even today. They are the closest couple I have ever known, and I have never seen them argue even once.

This is the story of how Paul and Yvonne met, and how what appears to be an extremely negative situation, can be turned in to an extremely positive one. 

This is the story of my wonderful Mum and Dad.

Paul and Yvonne Lewis.

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I am a highly experienced professional English teacher, Yoga Instructor, Tai Chi teacher, Nutrition Consultant and Personal Trainer from London, UK. I recently left London to work and travel around Japan on a Working Holiday Visa with my best friend and longtime girlfriend Ashley (who is also a teacher on Cafetalk : https://cafetalk.com/tutors/profile/?id=54542&lang=en ). We love sharing adventures travelling, teaching, exploring and understanding new cultures. We hope to speak with you soon!