DRASTIC CHANGE IN THE LIFE OF FREEDOM, IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS

30 years ago, on any given day of the month of September, Libertad (pseudonym chosen by the protagonist of this story), walked alone to her house. That night, it seemed darker than other times. It was about 8 o'clock at night. She was then 24 years old. She was working, studying, and living with her parents and brothers. The surface through which she was traveling, was on a stretch of rugged terrain. Located in the Department of Tolima, in a humble neighborhood of Ibagué,

Suddenly, as if out of nowhere, a tall, dark man appeared and saluted, and came to her to dock her. Violently, he covered her mouth, put a dagger in her neck, and dragged her to a precipice. The abyss was approximately 5 meters deep. The man when he saw that she slipped and fell, fled the place.

When she fell, there was a thump on his back. Some people who passed by, heard her, rushed to help her, and took her to the nearest clinic.

After several days of hospitalization, the medical report reported as a result of the fall, which had "TRM" (TRAUMA RAQUIMEDULAR). "Which usually results in death or disability, with its implicit complications." (Phrase of the Magazine CES in article on the subject).

Faced with this situation, Libertad's first reaction was one of total rejection, of great pain, sadness, bewilderment, anguish and depression. She says that in her spiritual part she had recently approached to hear the word, a Church of Christian formation. She knows that this gave her strength. That she did not let her consider the option of suicide in the face of that difficult reality.

She thinks that "true FREEDOM is not in the one who runs, nor in the one who flies, is not outside, but is within us".

Little by little, with the passing of days, she began to become aware that she now had a different physical state. She says she was getting closer to God. And as she expresses it: "suffering makes one more sensitive to the things of the spirit".

After 15 days of entering the clinic in Ibagué, she was sent to Bogotá, to the San Pedro Claver Clinic. She arrived with her father, who returned almost immediately, due to the high expenses he could not afford.

In San Pedro Claver, Anita de Pinto worked. Who was an Angel that God put on the road. Anita or Benny, as she is also known affectionately, belonged to ACEP, a movement led by Father Miguel Triana Uribe. According to comments, a friend named Celizar, had recommended it. Anita went up to visit her room, at 9 o'clock at night, and when she saw her, she was shocked, because of the condition she was in, and also because of her beauty.

She promised to speak with the Chief of Orthopedics of the Clinic. The next day the doctor told her the seriousness of the situation, and told her that they had to return it to Ibagué, because there were no materials and they had to rebuild the column. Anita spoke with the Director, got the authorization for the purchase of the surgical elements, and finally left her to get surgery. ¨Every night I would pick up her clothes to take it and wash it¨. She also recommended it in the Commissary. And when she left the clinic, she took her to her home, and she stayed there for a period of 6 months. In addition, she managed to enroll her in the Social Security Rehabilitation Center, where she graduated in weaving, and was given a knitting machine.

Libertad comments, that she arrived at the Clinic in the month of September. And she was discharged, in the month of December. Remember that on the day of departure, she was in such a hurry that I wanted to fly, so that they would not return her.

God gave her the joy and strength to overcome and transcend that stage. In 2 years she adapted to a new life.

Four years after the accident happened, Libertad formed her home. The following year, her first child was born, and 5 years later, the second child was born. Later she separated. She states that her two children "are a gift from God, a blessing, they are my company, moral support, support on earth, they are my home, and they are always there." She considers, that the center of her life has always been her home.

Currently attends another Christian Church. She comments that: "After the accident I met this Church, and the Gospel strengthened me." She also says that she has many perspectives yet, that she lacks more experience, that she feels peace, and adds: "Waiting in God. Without leaving aside goals and responsibilities that I have not fulfilled ".

She says that nowadays, she takes advantage of the confinement and the exit. It makes fabric and crafts. Write and study. She lives in a third floor without an elevator, and her children help her up and down. When she goes out on the street she makes her laps independently, to what she got used to since she was single.

This testimony, I received from Libertad by phone in June of the year 2018. I met her by Anita, shortly before having her home. Anita also commented on details that complement this story.

Without Divine help, the meaning of life is lost, and even the smallest of problems suffocates us and we feel that it can drown us. Again we see, like faith, it is the best we have. Because it gives us peace, joy, hope and strength, to face the day to day. However difficult the situations of life may be.