Michele Bailey is sore today. She is bruised, broken, and facing a long road to recovery. But above all, she is deeply grateful. The 56-year-old mother of three describes herself as both lucky and blessed because, in one terrifying moment on Highway 77, her quick instincts may have saved the life of a child.

Last Friday morning, Michele was driving toward Attalla, with her daughter’s three-year-old foster child safely strapped into the backseat of her Lexus RX 350. What began as a routine drive suddenly turned into a moment she will never forget.

“I saw a car speeding through the stop sign,” Michele recalled from her hospital bed at UAB Trauma Center. In a split second, she realized the other vehicle was headed straight for her. Traffic was stopped ahead, leaving no room to speed forward, and to her left, more cars blocked any chance of swerving out of harm’s way.

But to her right, strapped securely in her car seat, was the three-year-old child she was protecting.

“I had cars on my left and in front of me—my options were very limited,” Michele said. With a surge of adrenaline, she made the only choice that could protect the child. She slowed her car and swerved just enough so that if a collision was unavoidable, the impact would hit the front passenger side—away from where the little girl was seated.

The crash was violent. Michele’s Lexus flipped three times before finally landing on its side. The driver’s side was pinned to the ground, trapping Michele, while above her, the little girl dangled safely in her car seat, shaken but alive.

A crowd of bystanders quickly rushed to the scene. With sheer determination and teamwork, they pushed the vehicle upright. “The first responders and paramedics were incredible,” Michele said, her voice heavy with gratitude and relief.

Her husband, Jeff, shared those feelings. “You can replace cars, but you can’t replace human lives,” he said. The car—ironically, the very first vehicle he ever custom-ordered in their 24 years of marriage—was now destroyed, but the family knows that what truly mattered was spared.

Both Michele and the child suffered injuries in the crash. Michele’s list was long and painful: a broken arm, a fractured sternum, a broken ankle, three broken ribs, and deep bruises covering her body. The foster child sustained a broken leg but is expected to make a full recovery. The driver of the other vehicle was taken to a nearby hospital, and Michele says she prays for their wellbeing.

For Michele, the outcome could have been far worse. She faces multiple surgeries and months of physical therapy ahead. But she is alive—and so is the little girl she fought to protect. Her split-second decision, made under unimaginable pressure and fear, may have quite literally saved a young life.

When asked about her actions, Michele humbly shrugs off any notion of heroism. “I just did what I could,” she said simply. “And I believe God was there watching over us all.”

This story is a powerful reminder of how quickly life can change, and how love, courage, and instinct can shine brightest in the darkest and most unexpected moments. It highlights the strength found in a mother’s heart and the unbreakable bond between caregiver and child, even in the face of danger.