IN THE BEGINNING 10-27-08

After digging and digging through pictures and after an expressed interest in our past experiences I guess I will share, in a sort of choppy way, our life stories. Pictures will come later, I sent a flash drive for Kyle to get our pics off the computer he has down in Mexico. I married the most handsome man. I love a rugged looking man and my Derril has a rugged look. I love his heavy brow and strong jaw. The kids laugh at our wedding pictures because of the popular 70's pork chop sideburns. But hey, it was the fashion. Derril got home from his mission in 1974. We don't agree on this date, he thinks it was 72 (that would actually be the year he left). But I met him in late 74 or early 75. Right after his accident The following is from a compilation put together by Lavern, part from Derril's own journal and part from an account given by his Mother. "After graduating from the Juarez Stake Academy, Derril worked in Bisbee for awhile, then went to Brigham Young University, in Provo Utah. He worked in a Foundry there breaking motor-blocks with a sledge hammer. He had two jobs plus going to his classes. On the week-end he would cook-up a great big pot of beans and then make up six batches of Oatmeal cookies, or enough to last the week, get a whole bunch of bread at the day-old bread place, and all this would last him the week, when he would start this process all over again. This story was found in his diary". He was called on a mission to Vera Cruz from the Colonies. He also learned to play a guitar and the people would have him sing for them, and we would enjoy listening to him play and sing when he came home from his mission. (Kyle sent a really nice email early in his mission about him singing to a family, which opened the door for them to teach and the resulting conversion of the family, like father like son). Upon his release, he went home to Colonia Pacheco, as that is where Mother and Dad were living at that time. Derril had tremendous drive to teach the people the gospel and was doing a fantastic job in the mountains, because all the people liked him. Derril and Dad decided to clean-up, and trimming the trees was part of the program. Derril climbed into the the big Oak tree in the front yard
Front yard of Pacheco home, the oak tree in the back ground is the tree Derril fell out of.
and was leaning out on this limb, when it gave way with him and he fell and broke his back. They took him to a hospital in Chihuahua City where they found they couldn't help him as his spinal cord had been severed. He was paralyzed from the chest down. He spent a few weeks in the family home in Colonia Juarez. Upon hearing of this terrible accident Calvin and LaVerne called around and found that the best hospitals in the West for this type of accident was there in Phoenix. So they took their camper and went to Colonia Juarez to get him.
Derril at Good Sam Rehab
Through a lot of faith and prayers on his behalf, Derril was finally admitted into the Rehab Dept. at Good Samaritan hospital, and through the efforts of a lady named Helen, who came to know Derril through Aunt Viva, they saved his life. He had a fever, sweats and blood clots for which the doctors immediately put him on blood thinners. They said he was very lucky he was till alive and it was a good thing he was there to catch it in time. They helped give him the skills he would need for the remainder of his life. It is my own (Randi) personal opinion that before Derril was born Heavenly Father knew of this accident. I think that accidents happen and that Heavenly Father can intervene if necessary. As tragic as some accidents may seem at the time, I don't think he always needs to intervene. But I have always thought it interesting that out of 8 children, only 2 of them, Derril being one of them, were born in the States. I have thought that if Derril had been born in Mexico, he would not have been able to get admitted into a US hospital in time to save his life. Also having read his patriarchal blessing, which he received before the accident, there are indications obvious to me that the Lord knew full well of the situation Derril would be in. It is also my belief that we are sent here to this life to prove ourselves faithful to the Lord and his commandments. No matter what our trials may be Heavenly Father will help us to get through these trials, not necessarily take them away, because they help us to grow and to become stronger better people. But he can make our burdens light. Oh, did I mention that while D was in the hospital a singles ward visited him, resulting in a girlfriend by the name of Sunny.
Derril's girlfriend, Sunny (I kept the picture for blackmail purposes)