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Linda Baumeister/Review
Tina Hickman, a Tartan English teacher, shared with members of church the moving story of Tina, Ben, and now 2-year-old Jackson. Hickman, pregnant at the time, was rescued from the 35W bridge collapse. |
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A day of blessing
Family has new outlook two years after bridge collapse
Katy Zillmer
staff writer
Ben and Tina Hickman have told their story many times, but recently have developed a new outlook on the events that occurred in their lives on Aug. 1, 2007.
Ben and Tina have been married for four years and live in Maplewood. They met through Tina's aunt, who owned a day care where Ben took his son, Jarrod, now 14. He also has a daughter, Tessa, 18, from his previous marriage.
"We went on a date and we've been together ever since," Tina says.
Just two years into their marriage, they had no idea just how many challenges, tragedy, struggles and eventual blessings they were about to encounter that summer.
Tina, an English teacher at Tartan High School in Oakdale, is a survivor of the Interstate 35W bridge collapse. She and Ben have a son, Jackson, who is also a survivor.
In fact, Aug. 1, 2007, is Jackson's birth date.
Tina was eight months pregnant at the time and Jackson was born about an hour after the bridge collapse.
Tina had been rushed to Hennepin County Medical Center with a severe head injury. Jackson's heart rate started to increase, prompting doctors to perform an emergency C-section.
Jackson was a healthy newborn, but stayed in the hospital for 10 days since he was a premature birth, Tina says.
She had a more difficult battle and doctors put her into a drug-induced coma to help heal her injuries. The coma lasted for over a month, and when Tina woke up Ben says she was anxious to recover and get home to her infant.
Jackson's birth is the reason Tina and Ben have come to see Aug. 1, 2007, as a day of blessing more than a tragedy.
A matter of time
But it took some time for Tina and Ben to reach that point, after the harrowing events surrounding the bridge collapse.
Tina was in her car on her way to a summer book club in Richfield. When the bridge collapsed, her auto fell 50 feet, with a semi-truck and sport-utility vehicle not far behind.
Tina was able to scream for help, and another survivor and two paramedics pulled her out of the car while debris from the bridge was still falling around them.
Tina doesn't remember anything from that day or the month afterward. Her memories of the accident are from what people have told her.
She and Ben both say it was hard for them to come to terms with missing their son's birth, and Tina was not able to see Jackson right away due to her acute injuries. For his part, Ben spent the night frantically trying to locate his wife.
Ben remembers he was at Jarrod's middle-school graduation party that night when other parents started coming in and sharing the news of the bridge collaspe. Ben tried unsuccessfully to reach Tina on her cell phone, which was left behind in her purse in the car after she was rescued. He then went to their Maplewood home to see if she had left a voice-message there. She hadn't.
He eventually got in touch with Tina's friends in Richfield and learned she hadn't attended the book club meeting.
Since he works as a financial analyst at Hennepin County Medical Center, Ben says he called there to see if a pregnant woman who was in the bridge collapse had been admitted.
He had called the right place, but by the time he arrived there it was after 11 p.m., and Tina was in intensive care. Ben says he asked about their unborn child, and doctors pointed to a picture of newborn Jackson next to Tina's bed.
Although he was still recovering from the enormity of everything that had happened, when Tina woke up, Ben remembers having to be strong for his wife. "I had to be positive," he says. "You just have to show your strength, and it's kind of like opening a new chapter."
Sharing recovery
That new chapter is celebrating their lives and Jackson's, Ben and Tina say, and sharing their story in a new light.
Faith has helped the couple do that. They joined Arlington Hills United Methodist Church in Maplewood after the bridge collapse.
The Rev. Chip Nielsen recently asked the Hickmans if they would share their experience with the congregation.
Talking about "the process of moving forward" was key for Ben and Tina.
"A focus and important part of us (being) willing to talk to anyone was that it not be about the tragedy of the day ... it just felt more comforting in our church setting when we talked about it," Tina says.
Until they shared their story, most church members did not realize what the couple had been through, even though they may have heard about them on the news after the bridge collapse.
The couple did interviews with KARE 11 and the Star Tribune after Tina was released from the hospital.
They say telling their story this time, in front of their fellow worshippers, was different.
"I wanted them to be able to offer a word of encouragement and hope to people," says Nielsen, the Arlington Hills pastor. "I think it's amazing that they've come through this time in their life and reflected on it and said 'God has been gracious to us and we need to share that with other people.'"
During their talk, Tina says they focused on their recovery process after the bridge collapsed and the support from their family, friends and the community.
"It felt good to kind of get it out and inspire people," Ben says.
And they say Jackson is a part of their inspiration.
Now a vibrant 2-year-old, he likes his Elmo and Blues Clues toys and exhibits curiosity as he runs with energy around the living room with parents Tina and Ben keeping a close eye on him.
When asked about their recovery process, Ben says after the first year they wanted to put all their energy into celebrating Jackson's life and not dwelling the past.
"We really want to make Aug. 1 about Jackson's birthday, not about the day Mommy and Jackson fell on the bridge," Tina adds.
The big picture
Looking back on her recovery, Tina recalls all the support they received, including from people they didn't know or have close relationships with.
"We received so many thoughtful words and kindness from some strangers ... from parents of our kids' friends that we didn't really even know," Tina says.
Tina took a year off from teaching at Tartan to recover and raise Jackson. Her co-workers at the school raised enough money for a maid to clean their house twice a week, Tina says.
"With everything bad you see about society and all the bad news, I always still hoped and believed that people were genuine and kind and generous, and that experience definitely showed me how kind and generous people are," she says.
Now Tina and Ben want to give back to the community and teach their children to do the same.
"I'm a true believer that everyone has a purpose in life and to me, when I think of the future, I am fascinated to see some of the coming forth of Jackson's purpose," Tina says. "I really am looking forward to sort of seeing how he makes his place in this world. Giving back is very important, and we find as we're doing it that we get so many blessings."
Ben volunteers at their church offering financial counseling and Tina tutors refugee students.
With the approaching holidays, Ben and Tina say they are more adamant about sharing with each other what they are thankful for and looking at the big picture when small problems arise.
"We try to stop when we get ourselves frustrated and say, 'Well you know what? In the big picture of our whole life, this isn't that important.'"
Katy Zillmer can be reached at kzillmer@lillienews.com or at 651-748-7822.
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