Struck by lightning, but alive and well by God’s grace

Oct 21, 2013 News

These days, Lindie Mendonca views lightning and thunder with much more awe and some amount of trepidation.
Now the fierce flashes of lightning, and ear splitting claps of thunder, that seem to have become more prevalent in this region will forever remind her of her near death experience, almost a year ago.
The day had begun as usual, bright and sunny. So after completing some household chores, Lindie decided to do the family laundry.
For this West Watooka woman, laundering meant taking the piles of dirty clothes, down to the nearby riverside.
After she had finished that task, the next step was of course to hang the laundry out to dry.
Lindie was however never able to complete that chore.
“I had just started to hang out (the clothing), when the clouds suddenly became dark, and all I see was this terrible blinding flash. At the time I was about to hang out another piece, but as soon as my hand touch the line, I was hit by a force I can’t describe.”
Lindie was hurled off her feet, and fell crumpled to the ground, as she lost consciousness.
“When I regained consciousness, I was in the hospital, where my husband had taken me.
My entire right side felt dead, like I was paralyzed-I couldn’t feel anything on that side.”
She would spend several days in the hospital recuperating; then later had to join the physiotherapy department, where she had to learn to walk all over again.
“I became like a baby ; my daughter had to everything for me- bathe me, dress me and everything. It was bad, I never thought I would walk again, and there were times that I felt like giving up, and I thought that I would die.”
But Lindie would survive, and after a few months of grueling therapy, she would walk again.
“At first I felt like a baby taking its first steps, but I persevered and today I can walk again.”
Lindie still experiences some pain on her right side, and can no longer walk long distances like she used to, but she is forever thankful to God, for sparing her life.
“I think he spared my life because, a few years before my accident, I actually saved the lives of two persons.
You remember when that boat capsized during that fun day at the Watooka Club?
Well, I was the person that saved a woman and a teenager.
That afternoon, as the fun day was in full swing, I was washing clothes by the river.
I saw the boat when it took the people out for the ride, and then just as suddenly it turned over.
“Without thinking, right away I jumped into my boat and paddle across, to try and assist.
But by the time I reach, a few people had already gone down, but they had these two persons floundering in the water, and so I tell them to hold on to the boat, and I paddled ashore with them. I didn’t put them in the boat, because the lady had a lot of weight, and I was afraid that she would overturn my boat; however I reached the shore safely, and put them ashore.”
There were other persons that rendered assistance, and helped save the lives of a few persons. Their names were mentioned in the media.
However there was no mention of Lindie Mendonca, the woman who had crossed from the other side of the river and by so doing, saved the lives of two persons. There were no accolades for her, as she had just quietly disappeared into the ensuing darkness, amidst the pandemonium, that had enveloped the Watooka Complex grounds, after news spread of the tragedy that claimed two other lives.
But today Lindie is grateful for the greatest “accolade” that she could receive.
“I think God saved my life because I had saved two, and I will forever be grateful for that. I give him praise and thanks, because despite some pain which I still feel on the side that was paralyzed, I’m alive and well. Now I know what it means to have a new lease on life- I cherish all the little things more.” (Enid Joaquin)

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