December 2004 Ensign - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day ...

PHOTOGRAPH BY JED CLARK
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When Emily first began to attend LDS Business College, she wore leg braces, which she no longer needs. “Ever since the
accident the Lord has never left my side, and that has been so incredible,” she says.
her a lot of credibility in dealing with other people who
suffer. They listen when Emily talks to them because they
know she knows what they’re going through.”
But getting through school will be a difficult journey
for Emily. In order to get ready and to school on time, she
wakes up at four each morning. She dedicates herself to
her schoolwork, often studying up to 10 hours a day. The
effects of trauma to Emily’s brain make it hard for her to
read and almost impossible to write. But Emily will do
whatever she can to get through school. Already she has
taught herself to type on a computer. Though it is still a slow
process—one finger at a time—she is grateful to again have
that avenue of communication.
An Ongoing Battle
Each day presents challenges as Emily works to gain her
life back. She tries to remain positive and put her trust in
the Lord, but there is much that she and her family still
struggle to accept and overcome. Sister Jensen comments
that oftentimes when people talk about their struggles,
they conclude with a fairy-tale ending. “But that’s not how
it is,” she says. “There have been so many days when I’ve
wondered how we’d ever survive. I think people who struggle
with challenges need to know that the battle goes on
every day and must be fought with courage and honor and
faith. We need to remind ourselves that God is allowing
our faith to grow as we reach and stretch for Him.”
Emily’s speech is labored and often unclear; she longs
to be able to share her thoughts and be easily understood.
She explains, “It’s really hard because in my head I hear my
normal voice, but when I speak it doesn’t come out the
same—and I have so much to say!” She also longs to be
able to play the hymns on the piano again. But Emily says
her greatest challenge is probably loneliness: “People often
treat me like I’m not a real person because I can’t talk or
walk ‘the right way.’ They don’t see that I’m still me.”
And yet, as those close to Emily testify, she just keeps on
trying. Her mother says, “Emily doesn’t let the experiences
of life defeat her or break her heart or soul or spirit. She gets
right back up every day and goes at it and does what needs
to be done with heart and determination, courage and faith.
What makes Emily unique though is that she does this all
with great sensitivity to and compassion for her fellowmen.”
Even as Emily has struggled daily to regain her physical
and cognitive abilities, she hasn’t let herself become selfabsorbed.
Her compassion for others has grown as a result
of her trials, and as soon as she was physically able, she began
devoting time each week to performing service for others.