Five Years!!

Today it has been five years since I fainted and fell out of that truck and totally, drastically changed the rest of my life.  I still keep waiting to wake up from this nightmare.  Life for a quadriplegic is quite challenging and sometimes comical.  I hate to ask someone to help me with such simple tasks, normal daily activities,  all the time and when I try myself I have made some pretty crazy messes.  I think Leonard has gotten in the habit of looking around whenever he comes in the house to see what I've dropped or spilled or messed up.

After a long day working in the disaster relief food truck, my team members decided to take a break.  I wanted to do "just one more thing" and stayed behind.  Feeling light headed and an irregular heartbeat, I walked to the back of the truck for some fresh air, fainted and fell out to the cement below.
As soon as I hit the ground I woke up and I knew right away that I had broken my neck and was paralyzed. I felt like my whole body had turned into a big block of concrete and it was very scary.  Becky Gates is one of the teammates with the Baptist Disaster Relief Team and she stayed with me on the ambulance ride to the hospital and she stayed until one of my sisters arrived.  I will always be grateful to Becky.  When I arrived at the hospital they gave me something, I guess in my IV, and I don't remember anything else for several days.     Over the next few weeks  I became more aware that I had no control over any part of my body,  I couldn't talk. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't eat.  I could open my eyes. It really didn't sink in until I was in rehab and the rehab nurses were teaching my sisters how they would take care of my basic daily needs.  I think that was the most difficult challenge, I never wanted my sisters to have to do those things for me.  But OMG they have been amazing, as you all know who have been reading my blog!

These past five years have been a struggle I would never have wished for and certainly would not want anyone else I know and love to have to go through this.  

Before the accident, I thought I would spend my retirement traveling. Well, they can't keep me down!  During these five years I have still been able to go on 2 Caribbean cruises, traveled to Fremont, California twice, to Chicago 3 times, visited friends in Palm Springs,  I’ve been to Branson, MO and have my second lake cabin retreat planned in a month.  I have also had some wonderful blessings.  I have been so fortunate over the years to meet wonderful people who have touched my life and stayed faithful friends and your love, support, prayers and encouragement have helped keep my chin up, keep a smile on my face and face each day with enthusiasm.