Rachel Williamson never envisioned herself as an author, but now that her husband’s survival in an injury that threatened his life She hopes to inspire others hope through her debut book.
In her book “Fear Shook My Heart” she writes about her sadness and exposes the raw emotion from their experience.
Heath Williamson, Rachel’s husband of 16 years, was among the PowerSouth linemen injured in an electrical fire that occurred on January 20, 2021, located in Coffee County. Heath was airlifted into University Hospital in Mobile, where they were treated for just a couple of days short time of 3 months. Heath has undergone 23 surgeries in the time since date after the crash. Rachel kept a diary for all of their hospital stay and a lot of her journal entries can be found within her memoir.
“After returning after a hospital stay, I was in a dark spot emotionally. I started sharing some of the challenges and pain that linger even after I left the hospital. Sometimes, it felt like that our entire family were being torn apart,” she said.
She said that the main motive behind her first novel was her own healing.
“As the book was nearing close to completion, I believed it could provide faith and inspiration to others who are in difficult times. Each struggle is unique but I am now beginning to see that the feelings that are felt during difficulties are similar. I would like people to realize the possibility of hope during the most difficult times If they choose to look to the Lord when they are in grief and pain.”
Rachel stated that the book was not about her family members on a personal level but rather God’s power. God.
“The deep wounds that Heath has suffered on his right leg, as well as the soles both of the feet together with the loss in feeling and functioning in the right hand ought to remind us of the miraculous way he’s doing his daily activities. Every one of us must consider the fact that God has not only spared our families, but the entire community as well by securing the lives of two PowerSouth linemen involved two years ago.”
It was the two year anniversary since the incident took place the Saturday of Jan. 28. As she said, much occurred in the past two years.
“I have felt more emotions in the span of two years than I knew I could feel. Overall there’s no reason as to why Heath survived , despite the intervention of God. The voltage that his body was exposed to would be fatal,” Rachel said.
According her it was impossible to determine the extent the extent of injuries to her husband, even if the man did survive.
“I constructed a barrier over my chest to reduce the intensity of my suffering. I stayed away from all emotional things. It wasn’t until I started writing the book that I began to understand my daily preoccupation with Heath’s passing, even when they returned home from the hospital” she wrote.
The family recently went to the scene of the accident. Rachel explained the visit as an opportunity to honor the mercy of God toward their family.
“Heath brought us back to the scene of the accident , and then shared with the children the story over and over again, explaining the way in which God helped save him. He advised them to always remind one another of the goodness of God so that we do not forget what He did. I think writing down the story can aid in remembering.”
“Fear Grripped My Heart” is available to purchase on Amazon and in stores in Bluebird Coffee Shop. Bluebird Coffee Shop in downtown Andalusia.
“It was never my intention to earn profits from the book However, I feel that it’s an opportunity for me to give back the blessings God did for me,”” Rachel said.
Heath and a few of the couple’s kids also composed excerpts for the book.
“Closing my eyes to the thought that I was headed for death and God in his wisdom deciding to spare my life provided me with a greater comprehension of what apostle Paul meant when he stated”For me to live is Christ while to be dead is to gain. Every day we are here on earth provides an opportunity to praise God and give glory to the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Jesus Christ,” Heath declared.
Heath as well as Rachel Williamson live in the Straughn community. They are parents to the following kids: Maddie, 15; Allyx 13, Maci 12; Ollie 9, Ridge 6, and Jules 3.
The article Husband’s life-threatening injury prompts Williamson to write a novel was first published in The Andalusia Star-News.
