Woman Falls into a Coma after Car Crash, 'Sees' Late Grandma Who Said 'It's Not Your Time'

When a young woman attended the funeral of her friend's grandma, she was utterly oblivious to what the next couple of hours would bring. A day later, she met with a devastating and unexpected accident. While lying pale and fragile in the hospital bed, she heard a strange voice.

Life can take us by surprise in moments we least expect. Despite our fool-proof plans and best possible intentions, nothing is definitive, and anything can happen at any time, leaving us at a crossroads and lost for words.

Indeed, change happens to be the only constant, even though some changes can be so significant that they turn everything topsy-turvy. We all go through situations that influence our emotional and mental well-being and can even result in massive personality and attitude shifts. The woman in today's story went through a similar experience.

A Passionate Youngster

Jesi Stracham was a lively young girl, passionate about racing and going fast. Even before her feet could reach the pedals as a child, she wanted to embark on exciting new adventures. She told TODAY:

"I went from the Power Wheels Jeep to go-karts. My dad built me a custom mini Grand Prix car all DuPonted out, 'cause I love Jeff Gordon. It was great."

When she turned 17, Stracham began excelling in motorsports as a professional racer. She loved the thrill and feeling free and said nothing ever compared to it.

Experiencing Something Unusual

On January 17, 2015, Stracham was at the funeral of her friend's grandmother when she experienced something. As the priest spoke, she said she felt a wave of calmness wash over her, followed by a strange feeling that everything would be okay.

The duo said they kept things strictly professional until things took a turn.

Unable to fathom her emotions, Stracham thought it was because she was attending a solemn gathering. Little did she know that her feelings at the time were, in reality, preparing her for what was about to come.

The Accident

A day later, on January 18, Stracham had dinner with a friend and said she climbed on the back of his motorbike. While they were leaving Highway 85 onto Brookshire Boulevard toward downtown Charlotte, Stracham said a woman in an SUV cut them off. Consequently, she and her friend sustained severe injuries.

Stracham noted that her injuries were so severe that she coded twice and had to be resuscitated. The then-22-year-old woman's life came to an unexpected halt, leaving her lost and clueless. Following the horrific crash, she underwent not only physical but also mental and emotional changes.

Hearing a Voice

Ohio native, Stracham, recalled taking summer church camp as a kid and believing in God for some time but said she lost her faith when she grew up. She added that she turned to atheism, became self-centered, and had no belief system.

But while lying fragile and nearly lifeless in the hospital bed after the crash, Stracham had an unusual experience that left a lasting impression on her mind and heart. She recounted:

"I saw my own grandmother. She told me 'Jesi Mae, it's not your time; you can't stay with me and I can't stay with you. You have things to do and people to get back to.'"

A Strange Vision

When Stracham woke from the coma, she related everything to her mother. After hearing the story, Stracham's mom knew the vision was real because her grandma, who had died when she was young, had called her "Jesi Mae," a long-forgotten childhood nickname.

The weeks after the terrible accident were incredibly challenging for Stracham and her family. The woman said she gained consciousness a week after the accident and was paralyzed from the chest down.

She was transferred to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, where the doctors suggested an experimental surgery. Stracham noted that she was the second person in the world to receive spinal fusion surgery. Jordan Fallis was the first to undergo the treatment in October 2014.

A Rare Connection

According to Stracham, Fallis had the experimental surgery after doing a backflip on a dirt bike that left him paralyzed. A short time after her accident, Stracham said she contacted Fallis to get more information about the procedure and his injury. The duo said they kept things strictly professional until things took a turn.

They began talking regularly on FaceTime and met in person in April 2015. Fallis and Stracham connected over their situations and helped each other push through the tough times. At the time, Stracham described their relationship in these words:

"I've never connected with somebody on the level that I do with him. It's my fairy tale. Get paralyzed and fall in love."

Changing Her Focus

After spending almost three months in the hospital, three weeks in the ICU, and three weeks in rehabilitation, Stracham said she contracted an intestinal infection. Then, she decided to focus on her recovery, making changes to her diet, mental well-being, and exercise routine.

One year and three months after the life-altering accident, Stracham said she met one of the nurses from her resuscitation team who was astonished to see her alive. Gradually, the Charlotte resident began focusing on everything she could do right to become her best possible self.

To regain strength, she joined World's Toughest Mudder, an annual extreme outdoor obstacle course, and stayed a part of it for three years with her loved ones' support. With slow and steady steps, Stracham was able to master her mental limitations and carve out a path for herself.

Her Superpower

The North Carolina woman said she struggled at times when she saw the people around her settling down and starting a family. Regardless, she felt grateful for overcoming the hurdles and finding her purpose after the crash. She also credited her parents for their unwavering love and support.

As of September 2022, Stracham is a full-time orthodontist and continues going strong. She considers her faith her biggest power. She reflected:

"My life almost stopped, my existence almost stopped, and then God was like, 'Hey, I'm not done with you yet; you have things to do that are bigger than what you can even wrap your mind around."

Truly Inspirational

Before becoming a person of faith, Stracham said she placed a lot of importance on materialism. However, after surviving the accident, she learned to cherish people and the beauty of human connections.

Despite being a wheelchair user, Stracham is helping others find strength and motivation through a fitness application and her initiative, Wheel with Me Foundation. Indeed, Stracham's touching life story proves that we can fight the most cumbersome battles with the power of faith and determination.

Click here to read another story about a boy who was on the brink of death when he woke up from his coma and said he saw Christ.