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Recovery and Rediscovery
Posted 13 years agoGreetings!
It's been a long and very personal road to recovery for both my wife and I after our car accident in early September. At first, I thought I was going to lose my soulmate, my key to my heart, as the woman I married lay unconscious in the hospital with a severe brain injury. Then, miracles upon miracles, she awoke and quickly regained her faculties to the amazement of our doctors and nurses. Steffi is a strong woman, in body and mind, and within weeks she was up and talking which puts a smile on my face whenever I see hers. She is going through physical therapy sessions to minimize recurring vertigo, head aches and dizzy symptoms she gets in certain conditions.
As for myself, I broke my left tibia and fibula (the leg bones below the knee) and had crushed my left ankle between the side wall of the car and the break pedal. The ankle was the serious injury that required two surgeries to fix. I was in a full leg cast for two months and I'm wearing an ankle brace that restricts movement and provides support. I'm going through physical therapy for my leg and doing light exercises to strengthen it as well. My ankle is still kinda off limits for the time being until I'm given the go ahead to start a physical therapy regimen by my doctor. I'm cheating a bit by putting some weight on my ankle and so far it feels pretty strong, so things are looking good!
We've been able to put the accident into perspective as something we have to overcome as a part of our lives. Our injuries were bad but the cause of the accident wasn't malicious or nefarious in the least, it was simply that, an accident. It is up to us to rise to the challenge of returning to our normal healthy selves as best we can. The world is a mix of good and evil people, most of us fall somewhere into the gray area between these two extremes and we don't attribute blame for our injuries to anyone besides pure chance. Life is too short and precious to point fingers, we choose to look ahead and try to make our little corner of the world a better, and nicer, place to live.
I was cleared to work earlier this month and our lives are settling into a familiar schedule. Steffi's symptoms are greatly reduced however she has yet to pass stress and concentration tests before being cleared to return to her job as a nurse. She is confident that she can pass those tests in the new year and I do not doubt her ability to do whatever she wants.
Now, as for my intent to continue writing, I have to admit I wasn't feeling inspired or motivated to do anything creative during the months when we were semi-confined to house and bed. I need to be exposed to all the normal things that happen to me over the course of a day or week in order to get these cogs in my head a-turnin'. But, the main reason I even started to write was to express my feelings for Steffi and our relationship as a cohesive story. As a result of being with her day in and day out, I lost that need to express myself with fthe written word since I could just tell her what I was thinking whenever I wanted.
Fortunately, that itch in the back of my mind to write is returning little by little. I need some time to review my notes and where I was going in my stories but rest assured I will continue both of my story series as the urge to write gets stronger. I've learned a lot about story structure in recent months and what may interest people in terms of exciting plot and meaningful pacing. While we were on vacation in August I came up with an entirely new story and several interesting ideas for other shorts that may or may not work out. I intend to finish that mostly completed story and upload it as soon as it is ready. The Fertile Ground series will continue once I get through all my notes and stuff that I have tucked away in the recesses of this hard drive. Suppressing Fire may or may not continue depending on where I planned on taking those characters and if I think I have an interesting climax to the story.
That's all for now. Many thanks to everyone who sent us positive energy over these past few months. Our love goes out to Daralyn who helped us in so many ways during those boring days spent at home.
Hug the one you love today and twice as hard tomorrow. The future is what you make of it so make it a good one. #BackToTheFuture
It's been a long and very personal road to recovery for both my wife and I after our car accident in early September. At first, I thought I was going to lose my soulmate, my key to my heart, as the woman I married lay unconscious in the hospital with a severe brain injury. Then, miracles upon miracles, she awoke and quickly regained her faculties to the amazement of our doctors and nurses. Steffi is a strong woman, in body and mind, and within weeks she was up and talking which puts a smile on my face whenever I see hers. She is going through physical therapy sessions to minimize recurring vertigo, head aches and dizzy symptoms she gets in certain conditions.
As for myself, I broke my left tibia and fibula (the leg bones below the knee) and had crushed my left ankle between the side wall of the car and the break pedal. The ankle was the serious injury that required two surgeries to fix. I was in a full leg cast for two months and I'm wearing an ankle brace that restricts movement and provides support. I'm going through physical therapy for my leg and doing light exercises to strengthen it as well. My ankle is still kinda off limits for the time being until I'm given the go ahead to start a physical therapy regimen by my doctor. I'm cheating a bit by putting some weight on my ankle and so far it feels pretty strong, so things are looking good!
We've been able to put the accident into perspective as something we have to overcome as a part of our lives. Our injuries were bad but the cause of the accident wasn't malicious or nefarious in the least, it was simply that, an accident. It is up to us to rise to the challenge of returning to our normal healthy selves as best we can. The world is a mix of good and evil people, most of us fall somewhere into the gray area between these two extremes and we don't attribute blame for our injuries to anyone besides pure chance. Life is too short and precious to point fingers, we choose to look ahead and try to make our little corner of the world a better, and nicer, place to live.
I was cleared to work earlier this month and our lives are settling into a familiar schedule. Steffi's symptoms are greatly reduced however she has yet to pass stress and concentration tests before being cleared to return to her job as a nurse. She is confident that she can pass those tests in the new year and I do not doubt her ability to do whatever she wants.
Now, as for my intent to continue writing, I have to admit I wasn't feeling inspired or motivated to do anything creative during the months when we were semi-confined to house and bed. I need to be exposed to all the normal things that happen to me over the course of a day or week in order to get these cogs in my head a-turnin'. But, the main reason I even started to write was to express my feelings for Steffi and our relationship as a cohesive story. As a result of being with her day in and day out, I lost that need to express myself with fthe written word since I could just tell her what I was thinking whenever I wanted.
Fortunately, that itch in the back of my mind to write is returning little by little. I need some time to review my notes and where I was going in my stories but rest assured I will continue both of my story series as the urge to write gets stronger. I've learned a lot about story structure in recent months and what may interest people in terms of exciting plot and meaningful pacing. While we were on vacation in August I came up with an entirely new story and several interesting ideas for other shorts that may or may not work out. I intend to finish that mostly completed story and upload it as soon as it is ready. The Fertile Ground series will continue once I get through all my notes and stuff that I have tucked away in the recesses of this hard drive. Suppressing Fire may or may not continue depending on where I planned on taking those characters and if I think I have an interesting climax to the story.
That's all for now. Many thanks to everyone who sent us positive energy over these past few months. Our love goes out to Daralyn who helped us in so many ways during those boring days spent at home.
Hug the one you love today and twice as hard tomorrow. The future is what you make of it so make it a good one. #BackToTheFuture
Wrong place, wrong time
Posted 13 years agoGreetings. Bad news to report folks.
Less than a month ago, my wife and I got into a severe car accident on our return trip from her parent's house. We were stopped at a red light and a driver hit us from behind at high speed. I suffered a slight concussion, a broken left leg and a crushed left ankel (in between the pedals) along with bruises and minor cuts and scrapes. My wife was sleeping at the time and hit her head on the side supports which caused brain trauma. Because of the angle she was sleeping at, the seatbelt compressed her chest and throat cutting off her air for several minutes.
I don't remember anything until I was in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. I needed surgery on my ankle however I was more worried about my wife who was in critical condition at the time. When I awoke from the surgery my doctor told me that my wife was unconscious and had undergone surgery to relieve the pressure building in her brain. At the time, she was still in serious condition and I was only able to see her the following morning for a few minutes.
Steffi (my wife) was in a coma for about 4 days total then drifted in and out of consciousness for another 3 days but was not responding to me or any outside stimuli. Needless to say, I was in a state of panic and unable to think clearly. The doctor prepared me for the worst, saying that due to her trauma and lack of air it wouldn't be uncommon for her to suffer some kind of brain damage. Our whole family was there at the hospital and I was unwilling to leave her room at all, despite advice from my doctor.
After a week, Steffi woke up for good to my infinite relief. She responded to me and to her doctor and showed no signs of brain damage which made me the happiest husband in the world. Unfortunately, she couldn't speak due to a vocal chord injury, but she was able to make slight sounds if she tried. The biggest worry was a persistent nausea, vertigo and balance issues.
We spent a bit more than two and a half weeks in the hospital. I had to undergo a second surgery on my ankle to put in two screws and Steffi showed remarkable strength and will to heal quickly. We are back at home now with my mother to help us out and a health care worker to change my bandages and to get Steffi to her daily therapy sessions.
It's been a terrible and wonderful month for us. I was at my lowest and at my best in the past three and a half weeks. Steffi's resilience shocked her doctor but I always knew she was a strong woman and capable of remarkable feats. It will be a long road to recovery for us and we are getting a bit better every day.
Love and thanks to our family, friends and co-workers who lent us their energy and support over this past month. Special love goes out to Daralyn and to NegativeTheory who helped me through this difficult time.
With a bit of luck and a lot of hard work, we will return to our normal lives sooner rather than later. Please, cherish the time you have with your loved ones, you never know what will happen tomorrow. I know that Steffi and I have grown closer to each other, her love gives me strength as I'm sure my love gives to her.
Less than a month ago, my wife and I got into a severe car accident on our return trip from her parent's house. We were stopped at a red light and a driver hit us from behind at high speed. I suffered a slight concussion, a broken left leg and a crushed left ankel (in between the pedals) along with bruises and minor cuts and scrapes. My wife was sleeping at the time and hit her head on the side supports which caused brain trauma. Because of the angle she was sleeping at, the seatbelt compressed her chest and throat cutting off her air for several minutes.
I don't remember anything until I was in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. I needed surgery on my ankle however I was more worried about my wife who was in critical condition at the time. When I awoke from the surgery my doctor told me that my wife was unconscious and had undergone surgery to relieve the pressure building in her brain. At the time, she was still in serious condition and I was only able to see her the following morning for a few minutes.
Steffi (my wife) was in a coma for about 4 days total then drifted in and out of consciousness for another 3 days but was not responding to me or any outside stimuli. Needless to say, I was in a state of panic and unable to think clearly. The doctor prepared me for the worst, saying that due to her trauma and lack of air it wouldn't be uncommon for her to suffer some kind of brain damage. Our whole family was there at the hospital and I was unwilling to leave her room at all, despite advice from my doctor.
After a week, Steffi woke up for good to my infinite relief. She responded to me and to her doctor and showed no signs of brain damage which made me the happiest husband in the world. Unfortunately, she couldn't speak due to a vocal chord injury, but she was able to make slight sounds if she tried. The biggest worry was a persistent nausea, vertigo and balance issues.
We spent a bit more than two and a half weeks in the hospital. I had to undergo a second surgery on my ankle to put in two screws and Steffi showed remarkable strength and will to heal quickly. We are back at home now with my mother to help us out and a health care worker to change my bandages and to get Steffi to her daily therapy sessions.
It's been a terrible and wonderful month for us. I was at my lowest and at my best in the past three and a half weeks. Steffi's resilience shocked her doctor but I always knew she was a strong woman and capable of remarkable feats. It will be a long road to recovery for us and we are getting a bit better every day.
Love and thanks to our family, friends and co-workers who lent us their energy and support over this past month. Special love goes out to Daralyn and to NegativeTheory who helped me through this difficult time.
With a bit of luck and a lot of hard work, we will return to our normal lives sooner rather than later. Please, cherish the time you have with your loved ones, you never know what will happen tomorrow. I know that Steffi and I have grown closer to each other, her love gives me strength as I'm sure my love gives to her.
