EDITORIAL:

It was nearly 10 years ago when Amanda Arthur was riding in a Chevy Blazer with nine friends. It was the spring of 1997. She was a Newport Harbor High School student. She had her whole life ahead of her — then she likely saw that same life flashing before her eyes as the Chevy flipped over after its driver failed to negotiate a dangerous curve on Irvine Avenue.

She died. But, thankfully, only for a moment.

She hung on for three months in a coma as the community bonded together to help defray the medical costs. And they were steep as Amanda lacked insurance at the time.

When she finally woke up she encountered new battles. She tried college, but it was too difficult to get around.

She never gave up, though. She spent four years in physical therapy and she visited a few high schools to warn students about “the consequences of going too fast in your car and stupid mistakes.”

The accident dashed her dream of a career as an obstetrician, but again she showed that fighting spirit and eventually found work as a doctor’s assistant for a few years. Then she fell in love and married Mike Edwards.

Now we know her as Amanda Edwards, proud mom of Audrey, who was born on Christmas Eve at Irvine Medical Center.

It’s not hard to understand why the family’s motto is “miracles happen.”

“This is my life now, and I’m very happy,” Amanda said. “Miracles do happen.”

Indeed they do. And for that we’re all grateful.