I couldn’t tell you what year it was or my age at the time. I know it was some year before the age of 10 with the solid fact that I was living in Oregon.

Winter still had a good grip on Spring. Vast quantities of rainfall were also a prime ingredient, the river currents were swollen as a result. I was part of a little expedition group that included exploring mountains, hiking through woods, and finding waterfalls. Our group consisted of mainly adults, teenagers and the tour guide. It was highly suggested that I stay behind because of how dangerous these activities can be for kids. As my memory replays it in my head, I pleaded and insisted that I could hold my own with the rest. The trip took off to a great start. Lots of nature as far as the eye could see. Soothing nature sounds and the absence of man-made structures made the world seem like a bigger place. I felt like I could get lost in the beautiful misty green lush of the forest. After what seemed like hours of hiking, I found myself falling behind at the end of the group. Slowly my young body was beginning to fatigue. A hidden trail gave away the sound of a river. The group seemed to easily prance ahead without struggle as I followed. They approached the body of water. The roar buzzing through my ears was the sound of an enormous waterfall. We stood there in awe.

The unthinkable happened, the guide started crossing a slippery moss-covered ledge that stretched to the other side. The rest of the group followed single-file line style. Everyone was screaming over the waterfall’s crashing explosions. I followed behind. The water level reached up to my waist. I could feel with every step I took that the current was forcing my legs towards the cascade of death. Once I reached the middle of the river I noticed the guide and a few of the adults had already reached the other side. I wasn’t paying attention to my steps when I realized my right leg had gone over the ledge. Luckily I caught myself and was able to pull my body back over. I felt relief and my mind was at ease that I didn’t go over the ledge. I felt this “weak in the knees” sensation except throughout my whole body. Once I collected my thoughts and found my breath again I continued on my journey forward. The next thing I knew a current similar to a mini tidal wave came crashing toward my fragile body. This time both of my legs were swept out from under me. My immediate reaction was to turn towards the ledge and grab onto it. But the current smacked me in the face like a baseball bat and it all happened so quickly. Plus I couldn’t get a good grip on the thing because it was covered in slick moss. I glanced in the direction where the group was as I was going over, they had all successfully crossed. NOT ONE OF THEM WAS FACING MY DIRECTION. I had no time to scream for help either. Not that it would have done any good, the waterfall would have beat anyone in a screaming competition. I WAS DOOMED. As I was freefalling in this now enemy of mine waterfall, I was hitting all sorts of jagged rocks on the way down, my lungs felt filled with water and all I could see was blur, nothing but water. I was cursing and praying simultaneously, hoping that someone witnessed what had just happened to me.  I finally reached the bottom of the fall and got pulled down to the bottom. Instinctively I begin to swim up, but of course I feel hostage to my flannel shirt and denim jeans, which didn’t help my losing struggle to the surface. I almost reached the precious air, when the next thing I know I’m being sucked back under. In my head, I honestly thought that this was how I was going to die. I also remember thinking “Why didn’t I listen to the adults and stay behind?” I decided I was not going to die today. I tried once again to swim up. I reached the surface and took the biggest breath of air but got sucked under again!!! I decided to break this repetitive whirlpool effect, I was being tossed around like a piece of laundry during the spin cycle, except I was being slammed into rocks. Thankfully I was hanging on to that last breath, my plan B was formulating quickly and I decided to swim underneath the whirlpool hell. I couldn’t see exactly what I was doing, it was all very dark. I just continued swimming, with my hands I felt along the bottom of the river. There was a point where I had to exhale the rest of my oxygen supply. Horrible thoughts overcame me once more “Well this is how I AM going to die” and “Why is NO ONE HELPING ME???”. By pure chance I swam in the right direction, the next thing I knew I surfaced and got shot out directly into another undercurrent. At this point I didn’t care what I had just gone through I was riding along this current as if it were a water slide, and I knew that I was going to make it. I tried to swim towards land, but that was another struggle. I grabbed ahold of the nearest boulder and lifted myself up. Once I stopped coughing I turned around to see what I had just survived. All of the adults were standing on the side of the waterfall that I was also supposed to be on. They were all waving and hollering things all at once I couldn’t understand. Then in unison, they said “Stay on the rock, do not move. We have called for help”. The guide asked if I was okay and if I thought I had broken anything. I took a breath, looked down examined my body, nothing was broken. Just evidence of a hell of a fight I put up with nature. My knees were sticking out through my denim jeans and my kneecaps were covered in blood. My arms, shoulders, and face were all bleeding. While I was crying, shivering, and waiting on my help I remember thinking that I couldn’t wait to go to school on Monday so when the teacher asked what we did over the weekend I could have the ultimate story that would top everyone’s weekend.