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PROVO — When Lexi Hansen's family first heard of her near-fatal longboarding accident, their hearts almost immediately went out to the driver who hit her.
The family tried to contact the driver without any luck, but a few days after the accident he sent a letter to Lexi Hansen's hospital room. Since then, the family and Karson, who like Lexi Hansen is a BYU student, have been able to develop a close relationship.
“From our side, I’ve never had any bad feelings,” said mother Marcia Hansen. “The only thing I ever felt was sorry for him that he had to go through so much pain, and that we couldn’t find him sooner to let him know our feelings because I’m sure that was a big part of why he felt so horrible — that he was worried about how we felt."
Lexi Hansen, 18, was originally given less than a 5 percent chance of survival after the accident on Feb. 26, according to her family. She defied doctor's expectations when she woke from a coma and recently returned home from the hospital. Her mother said she is still in a lot of pain, but is steadily improving and can walk.
"They said her brain is sheared, there's nothing they can do. And here she is. She's walking, talking and doing everything. So we know God did this," Marcia said.
Karson was in agony when he thought Lexi would die, Marcia said. After receiving the letter from Karson, she called to let him know that she wasn't angry or upset and that the family knew accidents happen.
Marica invited him to have dinner at the hospital with the family and he arrived in a suit and tie with cupcakes in hand. Marcia Hansen said he seemed scared when he arrived and didn't want to eat, but that he spent a long time sharing his story with her other children.
"After that, when he would come he was like a different person than that first night — he was just light and happy and it was just like a burden had been lifted that he didn’t have to bear anymore," she said. "That was really cool.”
Karson visited the family at least once a week following the accident. Marcia Hansen said he always brings her chocolates, because he knows she loves them, plus something for her husband.
After that, when he would come he was like a different person than that first night — he was just light and happy.
–Marcia Hansen
“From the very beginning I just said, ‘you feel like you’re one of my kids,’ and gave him a big hug,” she said.
"They've had a life-changing impact on me, to see their strength and their love," Karson said.
Marcia Hansen shared the story of the family's relationship with Karson on the "Pray for Lexi" page on Facebook Monday. So far, the post has been liked more than 8,000 times and shared nearly 300 times.
She thinks the reason so many people have been touched by the story is because everyone makes mistakes and both Karson and Lexi Hansen are great individuals. We never know what will happen to us, she said.
"It’s just a great story that we all wish could happen in our lives,” Marcia Hansen said. “We are really grateful for how much it has helped people and maybe buoyed up their own faith and love for people, because I know there are other people who have had a similar thing happen, but they have held onto a grudge even if it was an accident."
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BYU student hit by car while longboarding identified
A BYU student was rushed to the hospital in critical condition Wednesday after getting hit by a car just outside the BYU campus boundaries in Provo.She said to her it isn't a story of forgiveness, because she never felt Karson needed to be forgiven since what happened was an accident.
The family created the "Pray for Lexi" Facebook page to receive support during Lexi Hansen's time of need while sharing their belief in a God of miracles with others, Marcia Hansen said. The page currently has more than 28,000 followers.
“I think people were longing to know that God answers prayers and when they saw that he did and they were part of it — I just think it’s just been overwhelming for people," she said. "I see people I don’t know in the store and when they find out I’m Lexi’s mom, they just start to cry because they were part of that miracle and it’s helped to strengthen their faith that God hears us, he knows us, and he loves each of us.” Contributing: Andrew Adams
