What started off as a normal cold, snowy December morning in Northern New Mexico almost ended in death for Alvin Sandoval.

Sandoval, 31, is from San Isidro Norte, a rural village between Santa Fe and Las Vegas, N.M. In the early morning of Dec. 28, Sandoval was doing what he was used to doing — going to work at his job at an Eldorado grocery store. Like many other days, he couldn't get his truck up an icy road that leads to Interstate 25. So, for the fourth time that week, he called his dad, Roy, to give him a hand.

But things went horribly wrong.

"I had already pulled him up the hill three times that week," recalls Roy. "But that morning it was so icy my truck couldn't pull his."

They got out of their trucks, and within seconds — in what Roy calls a "freak accident" — Alvin was sandwiched between them.

"I remember yelling at him la troka (the truck) — that's all I got to say," Roy says.

"I looked up and the truck was on top of me," said Alvin, sobbing as he recalls that dreadful moment. "I got crushed between the trucks. I told my dad I was going to die."

Roy remembers yelling back, "You're not going to die." And he was right.

After seven surgeries, including several skin grafts, and four months spent in three hospitals, Alvin is back home.

"I don't remember being in the hospital for the first month," says Alvin. "God gave me the strength to pull through."

Roy says it is a miracle that his son is alive.

"The doctors told us on several occasions that he was going to die," he says. "It has been really hard on our family over the last few months. Aside from my son's injury, we had to bury my wife's brother, who got run over by a car. But one thing is for sure, my family has gotten even closer than we were before."

Alvin is the oldest of four Sandoval children; he has a younger sister and two younger brothers. Life hasn't been exactly easy on the family. Sadie, 26, was born with cerebral palsy and has never been able to walk.

As it is right now, Alvin is learning to walk again. He can take 10 to 15 steps at a time.

"We made a promise to God that if he gave my hito a chance to live we were going to unite the whole family and get closer to God," says Roy. "We found out the hard way that God is really the only answer to things. We prayed, prayed and prayed and our prayers got answered."

San Isidro Norte is an old-fashioned Hispanic village that hasn't changed much over the last 50 years, including its generosity. During a recent bingo and auction, the little community and surrounding areas raised a little more than $3,000 for the Sandoval family.

"People really do care," says Alvin. "I used to always say that it was boring living here. Now I love it. I was always complaining and I didn't really listen to my dad. Now I do. I just wish my younger brothers would listen to him."

Roy, who has worked at the Glorieta Conference Center for 31 years, plans to retire at the end of the month to spend more time with his family, especially Alvin.

"When something like this happens to you, you realize how short life can be — you can be gone tomorrow," says Roy.

For now, the Sandovals are taking it easy. Roy and Alvin spend a lot of their free time watching NBA basketball on TV.

"Although there are days when I feel really bad, I know I'm getting better," Alvin says. "I just like the fact that I'm around my family. It means everything to me. Everything."

FOR MORE INFORMATION

To donate to the Alvin Sandoval Recovery Fund, send a check or money order to: Alvin Sandoval Recovery Fund, General Delivery, Ilfeld, NM 87538.