We tend to have a bad idea about what is a real risk and what just stands out as a danger. Most of us know that heart disease is a major killer, but few people are as afraid of it as being hit by lightning (you have a 1 in 15,300 chance of being struck at least once in your life,) even though a heart attack is really an unfortunately common way to go.
Someone asked “What's the one thing you thought could never happen to you, but did?” and netizens shared their stories. From poignant to funny, get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorites and be sure to comment your thoughts and experiences below.

#1

Bird's s**t hit me in the mouth while driving once. I pulled over and insta-vom’d. Called my boss and told her I would be late… I was interning at a bank at the time. She told me to take the day off, but also to get a lottery ticket. Apparently, getting s**t on by a bird is good luck? Anyhoo… I bought two, $1 scratch offs.—-Won $50 on both. My grandma lived close by, so I showered there. I scratched the tickets while smoking a cigarette with her in her kitchen. Good memory.

Image credits: choubledin

#2

Getting a really serious case of pneumonia as an active healthy 40 year old.
I went from feeling a bit ill , developing a cough to a coma in intensive care on life support in just 3 days!
Spent 5 weeks in a coma with full lung and then kidney failure, and another 3 doing physio and recovering.

Image credits: Brave_Hippo9391

#3

I was 51. I had the day off and was feeling great. Decided to take an afternoon nap. As soon as my head hit the pillow I had a massive heart attack that destroyed 40% of my heart. I woke up 3 days later on a ventilator and had no idea what the heck happened.

Image credits: TadpoleVegetable4170

#4

Suffering with anorexia. And recovering from anorexia.


We watched an eating disorder documentary in school and I remember seeing footage of people in hospital crying over having to eat chips and thinking wtf is wrong with them?


A few years later being in and out of eating disorder units was the next 15 years of my life.


I was so entrenched I thought I’d never recover. Hell, I had consultants tell me I’d be a revolving door patient for the rest of my life. As I was leaving my last hospital admission the consultant told me he’d see me back in a month.


That was 5 years ago.


It’s not be smooth sailing but I’m in full recovery now, with a full time job I love, able to enjoy life and eat freely. The life of hospitals is a distant memory.

Image credits: huhshrug

#5

Got attacked by an entire swarm of k*ller bees on top of a mountain. Almost fell off the mountain running down the trail and nearly considered jumping in my panic. Was raking bees out of my hair as they tried to get to my scalp and had to cover my face with my shirt to prevent them from climbing into my face holes. Thought I was gonna die. Got pretty scraped up and stung as I clawed my way down the trail without stopping. I never knew the sound of a swarm could be so loud and terrifying. I had nightmares for weeks after!

Another hiker in the same area had been attacked by k*ller bees a few years prior and they stayed on his body for 8 hours, preventing rescuers from recovering his body.

I now have an extreme fear of flying insects lol.

Image credits: notreallywatson

#6

I made it past the age of 18.

I was severely bullied in middle school and was very s***idal. My parents celebrate every birthday as a huge accomplishment because it didn't seem like I'd make it.

I MADE IT TO 28 YALL.

Image credits: the-who-hawk

#7

Got cancer. Wish me luck!

Image credits: hezorabora

#8

Getting laid off unexpectedly after years of loyalty to my company. It was a wake-up call about job security and the need to always be prepared.

Image credits: SundrezzBlushBabe

#9

Lost myself and my life to alcoholism before hitting 30. Somehow survived rock bottom and looking at 4 years sober on Independence Day!

Image credits: FroggiJoy87

#10

I got fat, lol.

When you’re slim/fit pretty much your whole life, you take it for granted in many ways. It was very easy (at least it was for me) to fall into a rut of bad habits for a variety of reasons and now I’m in a place where I’ve got a decent amount of weight to lose and I feel like I’m back at square one when it comes to fitness.

If you don’t use it, you can in fact, lose it.

Image credits: burnfaith

#11

I was shot, also winning a 1000$ in the lottery 3 times from the same kind of ticket.

Image credits: SweatpantsJoe420

#12

Being in a domestically violent relationship.

Image credits: LiteratureAdept9807

#13

Brain tumor at 21. I’ve had six brain surgeries so far and I’m 50 now.

Image credits: CallingDrDingle

#14

Bad stuff: mass shooting.

Good stuff: I never thought I would get married, but we're coming up on five years in the fall.

Image credits: emilycecilia

#15

I slipped on a banana skin, no joke.

Image credits: Hat_Potato

#16

I had leukemia as a child and was told I'd never be able to have kids due to radiation and chemo therapy. I have 2 healthy kids who graduated from high school. So to the doctors at mc master in hamilton thank you.

Image credits: -LightMyWayHome-

#17

Getting MS (multiple sclerosis).

I've always been the healthiest, strongest, fittest, most athletic one of all my friends and family.

This can all change overnight. It can happen to anyone.
Please be kind to those with disabilities, it could be you tomorrow.

Image credits: Shniddles

#18

Losing my mom.

Like yeah it’s expected to outlive your parents, it’s “the natural way”.

But losing my mom last year before I even turned 21 from s***ide…destroyed me. I thought she would always be here. I thought she would grow old, be there when I get married and have kids…

It still doesn’t feel real…hug your mom and tell her you love her. You’ll miss those “annoying” calls and texts.

Image credits: MrsCyanide

#19

I’ve made it to 1 year and 29 days selfharm free!! I have never been clean for this long so I’m really proud of myself. My mom and I celebrated my year clean time at Dave and Busters.

Image credits: toriachip

#20

A tornado damaged my roof while I was trying to sell my house. Two years later, the next house burned down. Six months after that, a massive ice storm dropped four trees and completely crushed the next house. In that same year, I took an antibiotic that destroyed my connective tissue, my husband got third-degree burns in the house fire, and my son got bit by a copper head snake, my grandfather died of covid, and my car caught fire. I've learned to never, ever assume that something won't happen to you.

Image credits: Over-The-Ish

#21

House fire. All the things you are “sure” that you’ll grab? Nope. Outside at 2 am in February, in my pjs. I had my phone and my husband, and that’s it. No one was hurt, which is the most important factor. Neighbor's house caught our house on fire--inner city, 100+ year old wooden houses.

#22

Traveling overseas for vacation. For the longest time growing up I thought my only option for going overseas was to get into military service. Never thought I’d be able to afford to do it otherwise. But I did and have done it several times. .

#23

I got old.

#24

I have a few big T's like being SA'd as a kid, teen, adult... Abusive parents. Being homeless for a time. Being in a DV relationship. Lost two babies. Lots of trauma. But truly the one thing that's happened that I never thought would? Finding my husband and the happiness we have together.

There's some cheese for ya.

Edit - Thank you for award ❤️ lots of love to everyone out there!

#25

I won a full oven and top unit in a kitchen sale lottery. I was 8.

#26

My husband of almost 20 years left because I was sick and needed surgery.

#27

Have a special needs child.

#28

I never thought i’d lose my best friend so soon, but it happened, my lifelong best friend died 3 months ago

so many people responded and i thank you all for your well wishes and kind words, and to all who shared their stories of losing a loved one, im deeply sorry and we will get through this together! thank you all for the kind responses! so many comments to go through and reply to!

#29

Achieve my biggest dreams and still struggle with depression.

For the longest time I told myself if I got a well paying job, if a had a great partner, if I lived in that trendy neighborhood, if I had cool friends that actually liked going out.

I have all that now and still struggle sometimes.

#30

In 1996 or so, I went to my wife's company Christmas party. While there, a candle got close to some of the table decorations, and I put out the small fire with 2-3 napkins dipped in a water glass.

I never expected to do this at least two more times, each at a formal banquet, each with a candle igniting decorations. The most recent (2018), I put out the small fire with iced tea, not water, and did not break the discussion.

#31

My ex husband of 12 years got court summons because he was being convicted of internet child s*x crimes, then my 24 year old sister died in the same week.

I trusted him, everyone trusted him. He got 7 years. He turned out to be an actual sociopath, using my naivety and trauma from growing up in a narcissistic family dynamic to manipulate me my entire life.
My sister had down syndrome, she was amazing and I expected her to at least live until she was 50. I miss her so much.

I still struggle with both and have severe loss trauma. I can't fully feel happy because I'm so afraid of everything going so wrong again.

#32

I witnessed a car fly off the railings onto the freeway on ramp I was on. The guy was stuck inside his vehicle upside down and I broke him out of it with a log splitting maul I had in my truck at the time.

#33

I got robbed at gun point while working in a bakery at 3am on Christmas eve of 2012.

#34

SA. I admire those that tell me about their stories. Some days just feels like I’m trying to survive other days are lighter and more manageable. I lose my appetite and sex drive a lot. And intimacy is harder in relationships for me.

#35

I was diagnosed with premature ovarian failure. And I grieved over the loss of never being a mother. My heart would melt (and break) every time one of my students would accidentally call me mom.

Fast forward 4 years from that point, and thanks to donor egg IVF I am currently 11 weeks pregnant. I'm so grateful for this possibility and for going on this journey.

#36

I never thought I would lose a child, but I did. My son died unexpectedly 9-1/2 months ago. I will never get over it.

UPDATE: Many thanks to all of you who offered your condolences.

#37

I met the most perfect man for me who is so gentle with me. I was in an abusive relationship for six years, it ended ten years ago and I KNEW I'd never get married. He proposed eight months in. We hjust celebrated our first wedding anniversary. We literally have the perfect marriage. We NEVER fight. It's the best. He is the best.

#38

Getting pregnant. There was a problem on my partner's end.

Somehow, two weeks after my mom died, we conceived and I'm now 31 weeks pregnant.

#39

My baby being one of the unlucky babies with trisomy 13. My Angel in heaven will always be missed and loved.

#40

My gf tried to k*ll me by locking the door and setting an apartment on fire. Didn't expect that, but I managed to find an extra key in the drawer blinded by smoke while I couldn't breathe. She's my ex now, wouldn't recommend, 4/10.

#41

Bitten on the face by a wild python while trying to take a shower.

#42

I never thought I would be 56 years old and raising my grandchildren. Surprise! I am now adopting a 13, 8, and 7 year old. They all have complex ptsd. The youngest has autism. All positive vibes, energy, and juju appreciated!

*Edited to correct punctuation*.

#43

Never would have thought that I would be disabled. I had a stroke from a massive brain bleed in 2020, it caused me to be hemiplegic, and wheelchair bound and unable to take care of myself. It f*****g sucks. I’m living in a nursing home in my mid thirties surrounded by elderly people who are completely unaware of their surroundings but it’s better now than it was last year and getting better because I’m moving into a house where I will receive direct support services from my state’s Choices program-10 more days, almost to single digits!

#44

Becoming homeless.

#45

Find somebody to love.

#46

Cancer at 19, losing my mom at 24, losing my aunt at 21, the list goes on. It's rough man.

#47

I got manipulated by someone who stole everything from me. My child, my home, my cars, my possessions, everything. And now just trying to get my child back seems impossible, and I'll be in debt till the day I die, maybe even after.

#48

Three human botfly eggs were deposited into my shoulder by a mosquito in Belize. Six weeks later, the newly formed maggots burrowed their way out of my flesh. The entire time, i thought it was spider bites. Nope.

#49

I never thought I'd be in an abusive relationship, I was always a strong person that didn't take any s**t but this man completely changed who I was. Worst year of my life!

#50

Depression.

Thought it was a joke, thought it was an excuse. God depressed and diagnosed with treatment resistant MDD. I am fortunate to be in a place where I no longer need meds but, damn. I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy.

#51

Having a kid with a serious health condition. I had two who were perfectly healthy and it never occurred to me that my third would be any different.

#52

I turned my mental health around. I thought I would commit s***ide by 23.. I just couldn't see a light at the end of the tunnel despite medication, therapy, a great partner, exercise and diet.
I had a huge mental breakdown, was hospitalised, diagnosed with BPD. I ended up moving states and starting over. Now I'm 25 and have the best friends anyone could ask for. I haven't been s***idal in a year now.. I'm even back working fulltime like a normal adult. I actually smile now.

#53

Addiction.

#54

Staying married to someone after they did things that I shouldn’t have tolerated and stuck around after.
It’s easy to judge other people’s relationships from the outside and have your whole perspective change when it happens to you.

#55

I never thought I could get any uglier... but nature finds a way ?.