“The guardian angels of life fly so high as to be beyond our sight, but they are always looking down upon us.” ~Jean Paul Richter
*NB – The names have been changed to protect the identities of the family involved in the following post but I have permission to share their story.
On the morning of December 29 my husband and I went down to Byron Bay for an early swim and coffee in a favourite cafe. The power was out from a storm the night before, and I’d cancelled a day of work. We had just said goodbye to the last of our Christmas guests and were looking forward to a day on our own. We felt relaxed and happy. The surf was gentle, we bumped into friends and shared laughter and news, and we wound our way home through the hills singing along to the radio.
But as I sat under a tree in the back yard I began to feel uncomfortable. Something was wrong, although there was nothing I could think of to make me feel that way.
Out of the blue I thought of Mandy, a student of mine I have not seen for years. The last I’d heard of her she had two small boys. The skin of my arms was covered in goosebumps, and I felt sweaty and anxious. Something was not right with her husband. Something was not right about her kids. I couldn’t put my finger on it, I couldn’t get a clear picture. I just knew I had to call her.
I ripped through my database until I found her details. The landline was disconnected, but finally I found a cell phone number for her. She picked it up on the third ring.
Of course she was surprised to hear from me, and I made it all the more awkward by blurting out, “How’s Wayne?”
“Oh,” she paused for a moment, a catch in her voice, “we separated just before Christmas. I’ve moved back home with Mum and Dad til we work things out. Wayne’s changed so much in the past six months, Nic. So depressed and unmotivated, when life is going well for us finally. I don’t get it! He just isn’t who I married any more. I still love him but I didn’t know what else to do…”
“Is Wayne with you right now?” I asked her.
“No, he picked up the boys for a sleepover early this morning. Why?”
Why? I didn’t know why. All I knew was something wasn’t right.
Before I could say anything, Mandy continued. “He’s got a place just around the corner.”
“Go. Get your Dad and go there now. Call me when you get there!”
“Why? Is something wrong?” I heard the panic in her voice.
“I don’t know. I hope not. Just hurry.”
She hung up and I sat in my backyard with a desperate anxiety. It took three hours before she called me back.
They’d found her husband and three small boys in the family car, the engine running in the enclosed garage, semi-conscious from exhaust fumes. Ambulances took them to hospital. Their two older sons stayed in overnight, their toddler a few nights longer, and her husband is still there.
By some kind of miracle, a tragedy was averted.
Mandy called me again today, and we had a long talk. Two things emerged.
Firstly, one of her sons, Blake, who is five, told her roughly what had happened. Daddy had put them all in the car and said they were going on a trip. But Daddy wouldn’t stop crying. Blake hadn’t known what to do, but then he remembered his mum telling him that he could always talk to his Guardian Angel. So Blake said to his Angel, “Please help Daddy. Please stop Daddy crying. Please help us find out what is making Daddy so sad.”
Blake fell asleep, and he had nice dreams about a kind lady.
Secondly, as part of a routine set of tests, it was discovered that Wayne had a serious thyroid problem. Serious enough to have created the mood swings, fatigue and depression that had led to him growing away from Mandy. Serious enough that he’d gotten to a place where he felt life was hopeless.
He’s getting the medical help he needs. Doctors are convinced that it is the thyroid issue that created this sudden change in Wayne’s personality. And the family is going to get counselling.
Wayne and Mandy wanted to share their story. They wanted to reach out to others suffering from depression and ask them to seek help. Speak with your family doctor. Get a health check-up, including a thyroid work-up. And reach out to loved ones, friends or a help line and let them know you’re struggling. There is help out there. You don’t have to battle this alone.
In Australia you can contact Beyond Blue or Lifeline, and for people outside Australia you can find help here.
And as for Blake, I am sure that his childlike faith and certainty helped change the outcome for him and his family. How can I not believe in Angels?
So happy you are so well connected! <3
Thank u for making me relise there r angel I will always pray for u and all my need to my guardian angel.
Wow! That is amazing. I recently have started taking thyroid medication, but the doctor didnt actually do any tests. I had a thyroid test last year sometime with another doctor and I was in the “average’ range, which does not suit everyone and that doctor didnt even bother to investigate why my energy levels were non existent and was so depressed. Doctors are quite lazy these days. Im glad you were able to help him. Kat 🙂
Hi Nicole, I know exactly how her husband is feeling, I have a thyroid problem diagnosed just recently, I thought I was going nuts, and still do, the down days are far more often than the up days, All I want to do is hide, I have never had a weight problem, until now I went from a size 10, 12 months ago to now a size 18, I hate it I sweat all the time and cry.
I feel for you, and I hope you can get some help to get this all sorted out. A friend recommended a good website to me for thyroid stuff. It’s http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com
I’ll also include you in my daily healing meditations. Bless xx
Incredibly powerful story! Thank you so much for sharing! <3
Wow, what an amazing story. I’m so glad you had an inkling and went with it.
Thank God everything worked out.
Blessings to you Beautiful Lady.
what a beautiful story, thanks for sharing it and preventing the devastation that follows.
Inspiring and so glad you connected and acted for that family.
Absolutely amazing — thank you for being YOU and for sharing with us. I believe in angels!!
Thank you Nicole…angels really help us I know for sure. Something similar happened to me. Just last month my new girlfriend started to send me sms messages she wanted to end her life. She was in Jakarta, I was in Bali. I caught the first plane there not knowing where she was staying in this massive and completely foreign city to me. I prayed to Ark Angel Michael to guide me to her to save her and he did. I literally saved her life by seconds from leaping from a high-rise. It truly was a miracle. Thank you Angels
Oh my…I love when you share these stories, Nicole. They scare me a bit – but – I also get something wonderful out of them.
Wonderful story….I think the angels sent you to be the guardian angel. I love you act on your feelings.
Wow that was quite a tale. I am glad that everyone is going to be ok and they will get the help they need. I am glad that you listened to your intuition. You helped out and I am sure it is appreciated.
You are an angel…..xx
Wow, Nicole, you really are an angel! Your intuition is perfect!
Blessings and love xxx
Incredible. What a way to end 2012! But it sounds like 2013 will be a healing year for your former student and her family.
Beautiful story, Nicole. I’ve always believed in guardian angels and I know, for a ffact, that they do exist. Happy New Year! xx
What an amazing story.
my god Nicole. . .what a story. . .much love xxx (would really like to have coffee/tea with you one day. . maybe this year. . .xxx)
Good job! Sounds like the boy’s guardian angel set up a conference call with you. Glad you picked up.