| Due to graphic content and a few photos, DO NOT read my story if you are easily upset......... I am only being open and honest about my experience with my spinal cord injury. |
| Don't fret----- We all have our little draw backs, our little quirks.. things that make us special individuals. Yours may be a golf game not up to par, or being late for work sometimes, or you can't stand the taste of peas...whatever your quirk, know that we all have them, BUT for some people our draw backs are a little more deeper, more physical..... more challenging for all concerned.....read on if you want to know more, and if you wish to comment on this page or any other page on my site, please feel free to do so..... in the guest book. I was married for almost 7 wonderful years to a very good man. We had 2 children. A son & a daughter. We had our own business for the better part of those years and we were doing well..........until, the night of Aug.11/12, 1984...a few minutes before midnight. The tie-rod on the 67 Mustang we were driving broke sending the car into an uncontrolable fish tail spin, thus causing the car to roll 7 times. My Bernie, was thrown out of the car on the first roll, his body landing near the road side. His neck broken, he died a few minutes there-after. I on the other hand, stayed in the car til the final roll, which threw me out the passenger side window, hurling me over 300ft. into a muddy area... a witness found me, cradled my head from sinking into the mud, and the EMT's tried their best to get me out. First they had to figure a way to move me....my body landed in an odd twisted position. I was on my back, but at the waist, I was twisted so that my butt & lower limbs were pointed sky-ward....I don't envy their job that night, but they did it well and saved my life. Thanks guys.. you were great !! I was taken by ambulance to a hospital far away from my kids/family. There the Doctor's/specialist's performed their magic..after an 8 hour operation to fuse 4 herrington steel rods into my back, I was sent to ICU. I woke 3 days later long enough to tell my father that he had to go to Bernie's funeral and stand in for me. He went on his 3 1/2 hour drive back home, but before he got there I suffered a stroke. Dr.s said my body could not withstand the trama of the injuries. Yet, with the help of morphine and demerol I became more aware 2 weeks later. Here I was told I would never walk again and would probably have to be tied in the wheel chair as the rods were preventing me from sitting properly. I went through many emotional stages in those first weeks of recovery. Anything from hate, anger, depression, and more anger. I think if it wasn't for the anger, I may not have come this far.??...but saddly, I didn't have time for grief..couldn't or didn't want to know that Bernie was no longer around. And that our 5 year old son & 3 year old daughter would only have half a mom & no daddy. After 5 weeks in that hospital, I was sent to a hospital even further from my kids. But at least here, I had my grand-ma to visit, my sister and her husband to keep an eye on me.... The first thing upon arrival at this 2nd hospital, I was finally able to go to the bathroom....yep..that's right..the first 5 weeks I wasn't able to go....they tried everything, but the paralysis was too internal as well. But boy..did they know how to get me going at this new hospital. Then I was taught how to caterize myself as I couldn't P on my own, so with this under control and laxatives to keep me regular, I was allowed to go to my sisters on the weekends..but she & her hubby had to be trained on how to transfer me & sis to learn about my personal needs..they were so wonderful....they did more than I could have asked for in another human....I thank you both for being such an important factor in my rehab.........love you sis...xoxoox I had theraphy each day. I can't begin to describe what they make you do, but the most amazing part was when they started the water therapy...the very first session there was a small miracle.....I was staring at my toes and the big toe on the left foot..it moved!!! The nurse couldn't believe it either..she went running for the head Dr. He examined & tested and said that I had a 1 in a million chance to walk again. He said I had the unusuall ability to use my eyes as the main contact to the lower limbs. You can bet your bottom dollar, I used every ounce of strength I had in me to further my healing process. I remember the first time they said they would help me stand to see if I could carry my weight while in a walker.....I felt so dizzy....my head felt like I was in a cloud...the therapists teased me about my being so short in height,,but I just said to them, * Today, I am the tallest person on the planet*..and I was. From there on I was called * the house on fire* meaning always dragging myself through the halls in my walker, no stop light in my way.I was determined to be with my kids at Christmas................but the pain did not stop here...... >>>>>>> |
 |
 |