In 2005, I thought my life was clearly mapped out. I was studying Metallurgical Engineering at the University of Missouri–Rolla, had completed a successful internship and believed my future career was already waiting for me. I felt certain about where I was headed but God had other plans.

On December 22, 2005, while home for Christmas break, I was involved in a tragic accident at a train crossing. The crash took the life of my classmate’s father and left me critically injured. I spent a month in a coma and when I woke, had to relearn how to do everything… to eat, speak, sit up and eventually walk again. Recovery was long and humbling, and for many months my future felt uncertain.

Through that time, even when I could not see the path ahead, God was present. He carried me through healing, through years of rehabilitation and back into school. I also experienced His presence through the compassion and generosity of the Cor Jesu community. I was awarded Penny Queen Funds which helped support the cost of my care, and I remain deeply grateful for that support. It’s a concrete example of CJ sharing the love of the Heart of Christ in a time when I needed it most.

Although I returned determined to finish my engineering degree, I eventually had to accept that the memories and abilities I once relied on were no longer there. Letting go of that dream was difficult, but it opened the door to something new. I graduated in 2014 with a degree in Technical Communications and a minor in Materials Science.  It’s not the plan I had written for myself, but clearly part of God’s plan for me.

Soon after, God’s direction became clearer in other ways. I became engaged, married in 2015 and welcomed our son, Kenneth, in 2016. In the years that followed, I was called to a vocation I never expected but deeply cherish: being a wife, mother and homeschooling parent.

Looking back now, I can see that when my own plans fell apart, God was gently guiding me toward a different life filled with grace, family and joy. Sometimes when we are unsure of what comes next, the best thing we can do is step back, trust and allow God to show us the path He is setting before us. What once felt like loss became an invitation to a new calling, and I am grateful for where He has led me.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in You.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I believe in Your love for me.

When your own plans feel uncertain or disrupted, how is God inviting you to trust Him more deeply and to support others along their path?

Laura Warren Schattke ‘02