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.
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.
#21

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.
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.
57points
#22

I won a full oven and top unit in a kitchen sale lottery. I was 8.
54points
#23
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.
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.
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51points
#25

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.
47points
#26

Bad stuff: mass shooting.
Good stuff: I never thought I would get married, but we're coming up on five years in the fall.
Good stuff: I never thought I would get married, but we're coming up on five years in the fall.
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47points
#28

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.
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.
45points
#29
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.
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40points
#30

I was shot, also winning a 1000$ in the lottery 3 times from the same kind of ticket.
39points



