Jennifer Eikenhorst and Amber discuss the accident that caused an accidental death, her healing journey and how she is helping other CADi’s.

Questions discussed in Hope After Causing Accidental Death:

1. (5:03) Tell us a little about your faith journey with Jesus.
2. (12:38) You are a part of a group no one aspires to become a part of, but you serve this community, raise awareness for this community, and love this group of people God has placed you in.  What is CADi?
3. (16:47) Take us back and share the story of your accident?
4. (23:10) In the months following the accident, what was day to day life like for you emotionally, physically, spiritually, and even legally?
5. (44::07) Tell me a little bit of the impact your girls experienced.I
6. (48:19) Would you say that  your journey of emotional healing began after the legal process was over?
7. (57:16) Alec Baldwin’s accident has recently brought CADi’s conversation front and center.  You had the opportunity to speak about your experience on Red Table Talk with Jada Pinkett Smith.  As you did in that space, if you were speaking directly to someone who is a CADi what would you say to them?

Hope After Causing Accidental Death Quotes to Remember:

“CADi means causing accidental death or injury…it’s an acronym that was coined by Dr. Maryann Gray.”

“I had this really sweet exchange with my husband and left. Five to 10 minutes later, I was in an accident that changed everybody’s life.”

“We would have been home in five minutes. I didn’t know that there was an approaching motorcyclist from my left. I didn’t see him. I didn’t hear him. And when I pulled out it’s was too late. I became a first responder that night. I left my girls crying in the car, ran to him and administered first aid. I called 911. And he passed away two days later. His name was David. He was a father and veteran. And he mattered. And thankfully, he was also a Christian is what people tell me.”

“The first 48 hours was shock, but also I was just certain God was gonna work this miracle.”

“I went from a person who would confess that God is a good God and I would give my life for that to….suicidal, questioning my faith….”

“There were times where I really didn’t think I would make it. I didn’t want to because everything hurt so badly.”

“So the spiritual side was like, ‘Wait, God, you had the authority to power and you didn’t. You abandon me.’ You feel abandoned by God. You feel like your identity that you had before is destroyed. It did not matter that I was a teacher. It did not matter that I was a good mom or a voter. It did not matter that I recycled. I just killed a man.”

“The number one cause of accidents in America reported is daydreaming.”

“This [CADi] affects 40,000 Americans alone every year. There are zero resources for us. One nonprofit, one podcast, no ministry, no protocols, nothing. We are left to our own devices. And unfortunately, that is very deadly.”

“We don’t have any hard statistics, but 100% of all CADi’s I’ve ever met talk about suicidal ideation, feeling no longer worthy to live.”

“I had decided to fight to live at that point. It took about six weeks where I was like, I either can’t live like this anymore, or I need help, and I’m gonna fight…. Because I really thought my heart would give out. I thought I would die from a broken heart….I decided that I was worth fighting for not really for me, but for my own children to not allow the enemy to steal anything else.”

“This is a part of our story.  I can’t ever change this. And people will try to shame us for it. And there is an accountability, too. I don’t pride myself in this past, but it’s a part of us. And we can only try to live our lives, loving the Lord, depending on Him and let what He says about us be louder than the voice of the world.”

Resources Mentioned:

• Accidental Impacts
• Accidental Hope
• Red Table Talk: What Happens When You Accidentally Take Someone’s Life?
• TED Talk: It Hurts To Hurt Someone by Maryann Gray

Related Episodes:

• 159: Mattie Jackson Selecman | Tidbits of Joy & Debilitating Grief
• 36: Treva Kuyper | Hope and Healing After Unexpected Loss

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