On July 12, the world stopped for Brad and Crystal Sparks. Traveling back home to San Diego from a two-week trip in San Antonio, the Sparks were driving down a pitch-black highway when they lost control of their Chevrolet Suburban.
With them were their six children: 13-year-old Cameryn, 12-year-old Bailey, 10-year-old Landon, 7-year-old Sadie, 5-year-old Jackson, and 3-year-old Wilson, according to a GoFundMe page set up for the Sparks family.
“The Suburban veered from the road and rolled multiple times in a horrific accident that landed it upside down in an area that passing cars could not see them,” reads the summary of the incident. “The Suburban had been almost entirely crushed.”
Now recovering in separate hospitals, Crystal — who is seven months pregnant — and Brad are coming to grips with the unfathomable. Two of their kids, Bailey and Landon, died in the crash.
Miraculously, the Sparks’ unborn baby appears to be OK.
“We’re obviously dealing with the loss of our two kids, Bailey and Landon,” Brad told KFMB-TV. “So I have momentary breakdowns, just like anyone else, but spiritually, I know where they are, so that grounds me and allows me to breathe and keep going.”
Next week, Brad plans to travel back to the site of the tragic accident to thank the first responders who helped save him, his wife, and their children.
As for Crystal, on Sunday, she shared Christian artist Matt Redman’s song “Blessed Be Your Name.” In the post, she said the accident put her in a place of “shock.”
“Brad was quick to start checking on the kids — calling out their names,” Crystal recalled. “Sadie was able to tell us that she could see Landon outside of the car, but his eyes were closed, but that Bailey was missing. My soul immediately shriveled, but I cried out to God in my spirit, ‘Lord, you know what I want — but Your will be done.’ I never could have imagined saying that in a situation so dark. Thank you, Lord.”
Laying in her hospital bed, she overheard the doctor tell her husband two of their children, Bailey and Landon, had died in the accident.
“Though my heart was crushed in an instant, knowing life on earth would never be the same, I know the Holy Spirit was with me, interceding on my behalf,” Crystal wrote. “With closed eyes and tears streaming down my face, I uttered the words, ‘The Lord gives and takes away, so I will CHOOSE to say — blessed be the name of the Lord.’”
Two of her children “are currently giving praise to the Holy God who created everything” and “walking on streets of God” and “not crying another tear for all of eternity,” she continued.
The San Diego mother used the lengthy Facebook post to encourage readers to “please ask” if they want to know more about God, because “He loves and cares for you deeply.”
“If you have been living a lukewarm life thinking you really know and love the Lord, press in,” wrote the grieving mother of seven. “You might be surprised to know how much you, in fact, are really just relying on yourself. And you can’t save your soul.”
She concluded her post, writing, “God is so good. He has been here in such tangible ways — from the moment we went off the road. And in all of the comfort and peace He continues to give abundantly.”