There are moments that dramatically alter our lives forever, and sometimes, we don’t even see them coming. One evening, an event changed Jacqueline’s life in an unimaginable way while she doing something she dearly loved. That single instance led to a young woman fighting for her very life.
The dramatic rescue and recovery in this video may be hard to watch, but Jacqueline’s overcomer story is too inspiring to miss.
Jacqueline Durand, a 21-year-old college student in Texas, was at a house in a Dallas suburb taking care of two dogs. That night, emergency crews rushed to the residence after Jacqueline had been savagely attacked by two animals – a German shepherd mix and a boxer-Pitbull.
Jacqueline, according to the video, was trapped and pinned down by the two canines. The dogs proceeded to tear “off her nose, ears, lips, and cheeks to the bone.” Jacqueline said that during the attack, she “felt like she was gonna die.”
The college student had lost 30 percent of her blood and sustained nearly 800 bites to her body.
Jacqueline was rushed into surgery, which lasted for seven hours. Her parents, John and Shirley Durand, told the outlet that the young woman had to be “resuscitated on the trauma table” several times.
Despite the devastating and nearly deadly attack on Jacqueline, the young woman and her family are an inspiration, an example of love and survival.
Following emergency surgery, with her face covered in bandages, John told Jacqueline that her survival was an act of divine intervention.
“I just kept telling her that she was a miracle and that she was going to be restored,” John said.
Sixty days after the attack, Jacqueline left the hospital. The young woman now undergoes physical therapy. She is looking at dozens more surgeries. But somehow, through everything, she manages to keep a positive outlook and keep hope for the future.
"It's not fun to think about, and I also think about how amazing the doctors are. And so I'm putting it in their hands to help me,” she said.
Despite the horrific encounter, Jacqueline still has plans for a career with animals. She said that she might even want to be a dog trainer.
"The sky's the limit with her attitude, her survival instincts, her hope," John shared.
Praise the Lord that Jacqueline survived and has the love and support of her parents and long-term boyfriend. God has big plans for this young woman’s life!
James 1:12 “There is a blessing on the man who undergoes testing; because, if he has God’s approval, he will be given the crown of life, which the Lord has said he will give to those who have love for him.”