SAVIORS: Here they come again

MacGregor family — thank you for divine intervention.

Several years ago, my granddaughter, grandsons and I decided to take off on kayaks across Lake Coeur d’Alene.

The weather was cold, windy and water choppy — not the best conditions to go out, but the kids persisted. We ventured off along the shore at first, then the kids headed across the lake, against my wishes.

We were three quarters across when all of a sudden my granddaughter turned over in her kayak. There were logs with heavy chains nearby to hang onto. We were both caught in a whirlpool and current smashing her into the logs, her life jacket creeping up over her chin.

My kayak, also caught in the current, was hitting her in the head and I had to constantly row backward, trying not to hit her. I sent my grandson for help while I tried to keep my granddaughter calm. I feared hypothermia would set in or no help would come.

There was only one boat on the lake that day, due to the conditions. I saw it in the distance, screaming and waving my paddle, in hopes they’d see us, but they went off in the distance. Meanwhile I’m still rowing backward, getting exhausted, but keeping calm for my granddaughter’s sake.

There, out of the distance, comes the same boat. I again waved, prayed and screamed. They finally saw us and saved us from a very dire situation. One of them jumped overboard and helped us up on the boat, along with the kayaks, and we were off to shore.

They wrapped my granddaughter in blankets; she was trembling uncontrollably. We were both weeping — completely traumatized by the experience, but so, so thankful for them saving our lives.

Lifeguards examined her at shore, checked her vitals, and after a half hour or so she was released to go home.

Our rescuers that day were the MacGregors who lived in the area and were our “Lone Saviors” on the lake that day.

There are no coincidences in life. I’m sitting on a rock several weeks ago, overlooking the lake, when a lady and her husband walk by. There are hundreds who walk that path every day. I stopped her to ask if she knew where Stevens Point was. As she pointed, I told her a story of when my grandkids and I got saved years ago at that same place.

Gasping, she said, “That was my husband and me who saved all of you that day.”

I believe there are no coincidences in life, and you never know who you’ll meet on the path.

Thank you once again to the MacGregor family.

P.S. My granddaughter is alive and well and has “No Fear.”

JANICE SHARON AND GRANDKIDS

Coeur d’Alene