How Do You Rewrite a Tragedy? Young Mom Shares in New Book
What began as a peaceful family hike in Ohio’s picturesque Hocking Hills turned into every parent’s worst nightmare.
What began as a peaceful family hike in Ohio’s picturesqueHocking Hills turned into every parent’s worst nightmare.
Melissa Harris,a mother of three young children, set out on the trail with her familyon what seemed like a perfect day in 2020. But in an instant, the ordinary turned unthinkable when a massive tree branch came crashing down, striking her youngest daughter, Mia, on the head.
In the chaos that followed, time seemed to stop. Harris, a 2002 graduate of Cedarville’sathletic training program, watched helplessly as her daughter’s life hung in the balance—her training no match for the fear and heartbreak of a mother facing the unimaginable.
Now, five years later, Harris is telling the story she once feared would have a different ending. In her newly released memoir,“Rewrite This Tragedy,”sheopens upabout that harrowing day, the long road to healing, and the quiet, powerful miracles that turned a moment of devastation into a testimony of hope.
“Wethought she was gone,” said Harris. “We reallybelieved she died on impact.”
After what felt like an eternityof waiting for rescue personnel to arrive,Miareceived medical care and was transported to ahospital.While the diagnosis was uncertain, placing Mia in a medically induced coma was the medical team’s bestoptionfor her recovery.
Less than 24hourslater,Mia miraculouslywoke up—talkingandmovingin her hospital bed.
Though she initially lost function onherleft side, Miabegan intensive therapythat allowed her to regainfull mobilitywithinsix monthsof the accident.Now a thriving third grader, Mia shows no signs of physical,cognitiveor emotional impairment.
Driven by a deep conviction to share how God met her familyin the midst oftheirfear, Harris wrote “Rewrite This Tragedy” as a testimony of faithduring times ofcrisis.
“I never planned to be an author,” she said.“ButI knew this story wasn’t just for me to hold onto;it was for others who are walking through their own tragedies.”
The book’s title comesfrom a SaraGroves song Harris often listened to during college.
“What happened wastraumatic,butIbelieve God rewrote the ending,” said Harris. “Not because ofwhathedid,but because of whoheis.”
Throughout the book, Harris reflectsonher family’s faithin the midst ofuncertainty.Shealsorecounts how her oldest daughter was the one tofirstprompt prayer for her little sisteras thetragedyunfolded.
Harris hopes readers willfind encouragement to trustGod duringtheir own moments of heartbreak.
“God doesn’t always promise the outcome we want,” saidHarris. “Buthepromiseshispresence, and that promise held us together.”
“Rewrite This Tragedy” is available now on Amazon and through major book retailers.
Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offersundergraduateandgraduateresidential and online programs across arts, sciences, and professional fields. With 6,384 students, it ranks among Ohio's largest private universities and is recognized by The Wall Street Journal as being among the nation’s top three evangelical universities. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics, and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.